Gorgeous Chocolate!

The Chocolate Connoisseur May 28th, 2007

Chocolate candy has been consumed and enjoyed for many years. Hawaii is the only place in the United States where cocoa beans are grown and on the large island of Hawaii cacao plants thrive in the warm, tropical climate. Cacao is the tree in which large pods grow up to ten inches long and each pod can have forty seeds, which are called cocoa beans. After the beans ferment, they are dried and roasted and the meat of the seed is then ground into a powder. Cocoa beans contain 50% of fat and when the beans are ground, a liquid is produced containing pure, bitter chocolate liquor. As the liquid cools, it solidifies, forming a chocolate form known in stores as baking chocolate. When the chocolate liquor is pressed, the fat is removed. This creates two results, one being cocoa powder, while the other is known as cocoa butter. The powder is used usually for baking and the butter can be used for making other products such as cosmetics and soap products.
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• History of Chocolate , Types of Chocolate
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The Chocolate Connoisseur May 21st, 2007

Dark chocolate, milk chocolate, white chocolate or any type of chocolate has been one of the most popular confections for people of any age for many years. Studies in scientific journals now say that dark chocolate is a healthy chocolate, so people who love to eat dark chocolate will never need to feel guilty again. Studies show that just two ounces, or fifty grams, of plain, dark chocolate, containing seventy percent chocolate solids, has a health benefit. It offers protection against high blood pressure, heart disease and other heath hazards by removing free radicals from the blood so that it circulates through the body more freely. Many people have always eaten dark chocolate because they love the taste so these newly discovered health benefits are a bonus.

Many wonderful recipes call for dark chocolate. A deep dark chocolate soufflé is a great dessert to serve family or company and is easy to make.

Ingredients

· ½ cup plus 3 tablespoons of white sugar
· ½ cup of cocoa
· ¼ cup softened butter
· ¼ cup of all-purpose flour
· 1 cup milk
· 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
· 4 eggs, separated

Preheat the oven to 350 F degrees. Butter a 6-cup soufflé dish and then coat, using one tablespoon of sugar. In a medium mixing bowl, stir together the flour and cocoa, add butter and then mix well. Using a medium saucepan, heat the milk until very hot, reduce the heat and add your cocoa mixture. Beat this until it is thick and smooth, remove from the heat, and stir in a half-cup of sugar and then the vanilla. Cool this slightly and start adding the egg yolks individually, beating well after each one. Let this mixture sit until it reaches room temperature. In a large bowl, mix the egg whites until foamy, gradually adding the last two tablespoons of sugar and beating until the mixture is stiff. Stir in a little beaten egg white into the chocolate mixture and then fold the chocolate mixture into the rest of the egg whites. Carefully pour this into your six-cup soufflé dish and bake for forty to forty-five minutes, until puffed. Serve this wonderful deep dark chocolate soufflé immediately with whipped cream or a scoop of ice cream.

A quick and easy dark chocolate topping for ice cream or any dessert requires only two cups of dark chocolate chips, one cup of whipping cream and a teaspoon of vanilla extract. In a medium, microwave-safe mixing bowl, stir together the whipping cream, dark chocolate chips and microwave this on high. Stir after one minute and continue heating and stirring if necessary, to melt any remaining chips. Serve this wonderful topping over ice cream for a taste-treat sensation.

• Chocolate Recipes , Types of Chocolate
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The Chocolate Connoisseur May 15th, 2007

Purchasing chocolate online is a great way to enjoy some of the world’s finest chocolate, which is sometimes very difficult to purchase locally. Along with having a great variety of chocolate to choose from, there are often excellent discounts and promotions available as well. With just one click of your mouse you will find yourself in the wonderful world of luscious chocolate. Whether the chocolate your purchase is a gift or for yourself, the endless variety will keep you glued to your computer. There is gourmet food and chocolate available online, such as strawberry Bavarian mousse made with strawberries, real cream and vanilla on rich chocolate cake and finished with a wonderful strawberry glaze and apricot jelly.

When someone discovers shopping for food and chocolate online, they are very amazed at the variety of gifts, food and merchandise available. Think of your computer as a worldwide grocery store, with access to virtually any national specialty chocolate item. You have the ability to shop all over the world without ever leaving the privacy of your own home, which is extremely convenient. You can shop at four in the morning wearing only your pajamas, on your lunch break at work, or even from a hotel room when you are traveling. There is no fighting traffic, looking for a place to park, no fighting crowds or standing in line waiting for a sales person to serve you and no dragging screaming kids around a store. Because online shopping has grown in popularity, many price-comparison websites make it very easy to find lower prices on merchandise and chocolate products. Many also offer rebates or specials on shipping costs.

When shopping for merchandise and chocolate online, there are a few general tips that make shopping easier and safer. Be sure to shop only at reputable, familiar, secured web sites. To tell if you are looking at a secured website, check the bottom right-hand corner of the browser screen for a padlock. A locked padlock means a secured website and an unlocked padlock means an unsecured site. Make sure your login account information is confidential and extremely strong. Never use your name as the username, or your birthday or social security number as your password. A good password needs at least eight characters, such as numbers, letters, different capitalizations and special characters. This way it is extremely difficult for anyone to figure out your password. Never click on unfamiliar links and have an anti-virus program running which is up-to-date. Be sure the site you order your chocolate from has a money back or replacement guarantee. The next time you want to purchase chocolate online, get into something comfortable, put your feet up and enjoy yourself.

• Ideas , Manufacturers and Stores
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The Chocolate Connoisseur May 3rd, 2007

Everyone loves chocolate gift baskets. Coming up with gift ideas can certainly be very difficult, so a chocolate basket can be an easy and well-loved idea. Everybody loves getting presents and gifts, especially one that is unexpected. That is why more and more people are choosing wonderful and unique chocolate gift baskets to give as gifts to family and friends. Although there are chocolate gift baskets already made, it is fun and easy to make your own. The only limit, when it comes to making a gift basket, is your imagination.

The first step in making a chocolate gift basket is selecting a basket or creative container for your masterpiece. In craft stores or large department stores, there are many wonderful, unique baskets and decorative paper available, but sometimes it is fun to be creative and use items such as:

· Wire container – great for a gourmet cook or wine lover
· Plant pot – indoor or outdoor gardeners
· Ceramic containers – works well for almost any occasion
· Ice bucket – men’s gift basket
· Toy dump truck or pail – children’s gift basket
· Cookie jar – house warming gift
· Basket made of chocolate – great for anyone

Come up with a theme for your chocolate gift basket so you can create a unique basket that is fun and different. Pick products for the gift recipients’ basket that fit the occasion, age, dietary restrictions, gender or other requirements. Start your chocolate gift basket by filling the bottom with decorative, shredded paper, which is available in several different styles and colors and add a piece of floral foam to anchor any enhancements. Start adding the products with the tallest or largest in the middle and then working forward. Strong, clear packing tape is a great way to anchor the items. Be sure to place your products outward at the back of the basket, so it also looks nice. Use items such as silk flowers, tissue paper, handmade bows, and chocolate bars, to fill in bare spots. Once your chocolate gift basket is complete, use either cellophane or shrink wrap to complete the basket. Curling ribbon works well for holding the cellophane in place.

In a chocolate gift basket for the true chocolate lover, fill the basket with chocolate goodies such as home baked chocolate cookies, chocolate recipes, chocolate bonbons, chocolate flavored coffee beans, chocolate sauces, chocolate covered coffee beans, hot chocolate mix and chocolate dipped coffee spoons. For the connoisseur on your list create a wonderful chocolate gift basket by filling it with two wine glasses, a bottle of fine wine, cheese and crackers, gourmet chocolate - and don’t forget the corkscrew.

• Gifts , Ideas
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