Delicious Shapes: Chocolate Molds
A chocolate mold is a cavity, usually made of plastic, used for forming chocolates in desired shapes. A chocolate mold can usually withstand up to 160 degrees F of heat so should be used with low-heat melting chocolate. Some molds are made from rubber or silicone, while other chocolate molds are made from metal. Most chocolate molds produce one sided chocolates which are flat on one side and formed on the other. Some manufacturers provide three dimensional molds that create a fully shaped chocolate. This is usually achieved when two molds are used then joined together in a semi-hardened state. A newer solution to achieving round shaped chocolates is to use a magnetic chocolate mold. This allows the melted chocolate to be placed inside the sphere with the magnets holding the mold together until it hardens in the desired shape.
A chocolate mold can be used for different types of chocolate. Most stores that sell chocolate molds will indicate what chocolate is the best for each different mold option. Some molds can withstand higher heats and can be used for harder chocolate, which requires more heat to melt it. Colors and flavors can be added to the chocolate in the melted stage to enhance the finished products. White chocolate will help to achieve the most pastel look to the chocolate if a subtle color is desired. For dark and deeper colors, darker chocolate can be used to reach the richer hues.
When cleaning a chocolate mold, soap should not be used as it can alter the taste of the next batch of chocolate, since the soap can penetrate into the plastic mold. Hot water should be used to remove any excess chocolate from the mold. If the chocolate comes out cleanly form the chocolate mold, leaving the mold with the remaining cocoa butter will aid in the removal of the following batches of chocolates made in the mold. All in all, a chocolate mold is a very versatile piece of equipment and can provide chocolates made into many desired shapes for different themes or occasions.
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January 28, 2010
Small Coffee Maker Reviews & Tips
Small coffee makers offer you many of the same features of a larger sized coffee maker, just with a smaller, more convenient size. With all the options on the market, you can find the perfect coffee maker for you in the small size you need.
Best Small Coffee Maker
The reviews from customers are averaged to create a list of the top five best small coffee makers, so you can get a good idea of what you should buy.
Best Five Small Coffee Makers
To help you to understand which one of these five coffee makers will be the best for you, there are some features of each listed. You can now easily find what small coffee maker works best for you.
Black & Decker DCM18S Brew ‘n Go Personal Coffeemaker with Travel Mug: This coffee maker is personal sized, meaning that it will brew up coffee by the cup. Its features include:
• Produced directly into mug
• Supplied with stainless steel cup
• Permanent filter
• Auto shut off
• Dishwasher safe mug and filter parts
Mr. Coffee NLX5 4-Cup Programmable Coffee Maker: It has a lot of features that make it easy to use. Just program it to brew when you want it to brew. The features are :
• 4 cup capacity
• Programmable clock and timer
• Pause function
• Detachable filter basket
• Automatic shutdown
Black & Decker DCM675BF 5 cup Drip Coffee Maker: It is a great product in a small package. This is feature loaded and comes with many advantages of convenience. Its features are :
• Brew time program
• 5 cup capacity
• Glass carafe
• Digital soft touch pad
• Automatic shutdown
• Permanent filter
• Cord storage built in
• Removable filter basket
• Timer and clock
• Water level indicator
Zojirushi EC-BD15 Fresh Brew Thermal Carafe Coffee Maker: It is one of the best coffee makers. It has a stylish design. It’s something you’d like to own on your counter and also comes with excellent features. The features are :
• 1.5 liter thermal carafe
• Stainless steel carafe
• 1025 watts
• The preset option of electric clock and timer
• Auto shut off
Keurig B40 Elite Gourmet Single-Cup Home Brewing System: This one brews one cup at a time for great fresh taste. Features include:
• 1500 watts
• Uses k cup coffee with no mess or hassle
• Removable drip tray
• Removable water reservoir which holds 49 ounces
Do You Know All About Vanilla Chocolate?
The processes of making vanilla chocolates are the same as with dark chocolate, the difference is in the ingredients. Vanilla chocolate is made from sugar, cocoa butter, milk or milk powder and vanilla. The Food and Drug Administration does not recognize white chocolate as a chocolate at all, as white chocolate contains no cocoa solids at all. There is an organization that is working on having white chocolate recognized since, without this standard, vanilla chocolate can contain vegetable fat instead of cocoa butter, and this can affect the taste and quality. The process in which different chocolates are made is the same. When the seeds are ripe inside the fruit of the tree, the pods are picked off. The seeds are then placed in the sun to dry out and this process takes up to a week. This allows the seeds to ferment and dry. The beans have distinct flavors depending on where they are grown, how they are processed, and how they are mixed with other bean varieties. The chocolate maker blends the beans to create the right mix of flavor.
Some chocolate manufacturers use Vanillin in place of real vanilla, which can effect the quality and taste of the vanilla chocolate. The first process for the chocolate is to be finely ground into a paste. The following step is to allow the paste to develop its flavor and smooth texture. This stage is called conching or kneading. The smoothed chocolate is then tempered to achieve the correct temperature. Next, the mixture is poured into molds or on a specially prepared surface to allow it to cool. It is then wrapped and packaged. The amount of time allowed in these processes will affect the outcome of the quality, taste and texture of the finished product. There is an option to use a mixture called confectionary coating, which can also be referred to as summer?coating. This is where a vegetable coating similar to soy bean oil or palm kernel oil is used instead of the cocoa butter.
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January 27, 2010
Serious Facts On Belgian Milk Chocolate
If you’re one of many folk out there who are a Belgian milk chocolate or gourmand Belgian chocolate fan, then you are really going to need to be conscious of what options you have when it comes to purchasing Belgian chocolate on the web. The Belgian milk chocolate is particularly popular, and here are a few chocolate companies worth checking out for the best selection.
One of the most renowned and respected chocolate companies in the world is Chocolat. Totally worth checking out for Belgian milk chocolate products of all sorts, Chocolat features one of the most massive and thorough selections of Belgian and other chocolate in the world, making them one of the top corporations in their industry.
This is another company well worth checking out for Belgian milk chocolate products. They have over 20 years of experience which is definitely something that is assuring because you know that whenever you are searching for Belgian chocolate you can find the best of the best here.
Each year they deliver personalised gifts to over two thousand firms worldwide to offer to clients and staff at exhibitions, conferences, and other special events. They are a respected and reputable company and one that you can definitely trust in for your chocolate needs.
They feature everything from leonidas, chocolate seasheels, napolitains and gift boxes, and chocolate bars and tablets to chocolate coins, chocolate gift boxes, molded chocolate shapes and more.
Belgian milk chocolate is totally savory, and you may find a great selection at Neuhaus Chocolates. They feature Belgian chocolate products of all sorts, including chocolate ballotins, Brussels collection, Prestige collection, connoisseur chocolate, chocolate bars, tea time chocolates, gift chocolates, liqueur chocolates, specialty chocolates, and more.
Of all of the different sorts of chocolate out there Belgian chocolate is unquestionably unique and better tasting. There’s no other sort of chocolate like it in the world, and if you’ve not attempted it before yourself, it is certainly time for you to. No matter how often you hear it described, you will never really be able to understand what Belgian chocolate is all about unless you taste it for yourself.
There are a ton of different Belgian chocolate products out there to choose from which is great because then no matter what your personal preference, you will be able to find a great product that you love. You can even check at your local convenience store but a specialty chocolate store will be your best bet.