Showing posts with label Food. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Food. Show all posts

Extreme Chocolate Mousse! – How to Make the Best Chocolate Mousse Ever!

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Chocolate mousse recipes abound in all shapes and sizes, some are complicated, and some, like this one, are very easy to make. However, that doesn’t make it any less delicious. This one gets made frequently in our house, and doesn’t last long! I use a blend of white and milk chocolate because I feel that creates a perfect complement to the baileys, and the amaretti biscuits.

This is the sort of recipe that can be easily adapted with all sorts of different flavours, as long as you retain the same ratio of chocolate to cream, and don’t add too much of any ingredient that contains a lot of water, as this could affect the ability of the chocolate and cream to blend together smoothly. I’ve included some other varieties we frequently indulge ourselves in at the end of the recipe, which will hopefully spur you on to dream up your own concoctions.

HELPFUL HINTS: The trick with this recipe is to get the chocolate and cream to the right temperatures so that when they are blended together, the chocolate doesn’t “melt” the cream (which has all the lovely little air bubbles in it because of all the whisking you’ve been doing), and the cream doesn’t make the melted chocolate instantly solidify into little bits. For that reason, I’d suggest you get the cream out of the fridge about half an hour before starting, so that it can warm a little, and don’t forget to let the chocolate cool a little before adding it to the cream!

INGREDIENTS:

300ml (10 fl oz) Double Cream
100g (3.5 oz) Milk Chocolate
200g (7 oz) White Chocolate
100ml (3 fl oz) Irish Cream (Baileys, or any other brand)
Half a dozen small hard amaretti biscuits

METHOD:

Melt the Milk and White Chocolate together gently in a double boiler (or a pyrex bowl over a saucepan with a bit of water in the base), and then set aside to cool a little. Meanwhile, whip the double cream until it just shows the trail of the whisk. Gently fold the cream and melted chocolate together. Then add the Irish Cream, a little at a time, stirring constantly and gently. Pour into individual ramekins, and top with an amaretti biscuit to garnish.

Leave to set in the fridge for a couple of hours. The finished dessert should be consumed within 3 days of making, unless it is frozen, in which case it will keep in the freezer for at least 3 weeks, if kept inside a tightly sealed box.

Calories per portion: 585 kcal
Fat per portion: 44g

Makes about 6 portions


OTHER OPTIONS:

Substitute dark chocolate for the milk and white chocolate, and add about 200g of fresh raspberries to the mix at the end, folding them in gently to avoid squashing them.

Replace the milk chocolate with white chocolate, and add a few drops of peppermint oil to counteract the sweetness of the white chocolate.

Make some caramel by boiling up 90g of granulated sugar with 3 tablespoons of water in a heavy-based saucepan until it is a pale golden brown. Pour it onto a greased baking sheet, and leave for a few hours until cool, then put in a bag and break into small pieces using a rolling pin. Replace the white and milk chocolate with 100g dark chocolate, and 200g milk chocolate to make a really richly chocolatey milk chocolate, and stir the little pieces of caramel into the mousse at the end.

Double the batch size, omit the Irish cream and amaretti cookies, and split the chocolate content into dark, milk and white (i.e. 200g each of white, milk and dark chocolate. Mix them up in separate batches, and either pour into a loaf tin in layers (allowing them to set in between), or pour small amounts into a large serving bowl, stirring together gently at the borders between the colours, to achieve a marbled effect. Delicious served with a fruit coulis!

Article Source: http://www.bigfreearticles.com

If you like chocolate, you’ll love this recipe – it’s rich, smooth, superbly chocolatey, and a generous splash of Baileys makes it utterly irresistible and totally indulgent. It is also surprisingly quick and easy to make too.

About the Author:
Joe is a keen amateur confectioner, and runs an online Chocolate Delivery service, Chocolate Now! with her husband Nigel. You can find more of her chocolate recipes at www.chocolate-now.co.uk/recipes


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Ways To Create Delicious Chocolate Truffles

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Many chocolate truffles you buy in stores are manufactured in factories and most of them are loaded with sugar so they aren't really good for you and are extremely high calorie. Some store-bought chocolate truffles do not contain enough cocoa to give you the benefits of consuming anti-oxidant rich cocoa. If you love eating chocolates, then you should always look at the option of enjoying those that are also good for you instead of those that are high in calorie, high in sugar with zero benefits. For healthier, tastier chocolate experience, then make your very own chocolate truffles.

You should not be daunted by the idea of making chocolate truffles because it is not as hard as you thought. You don't have to be a major dessert chef or even a great cook in order to produce some really great truffles. If you are able to melt the chocolate without burning it, then you are all set! Still unsure? Then read on for more tips on how to make absolutely wonderful chocolate truffles that you will fall in love with and tastes far more superior to those store-bought ones.

Before setting out to make chocolate truffles, the first things you need to do is to stock up on the essential ingredients. The most important one is of course, the chocolate. I'd recommend dark baking chocolate that has high cocoa content of 70% and above. We want high cocoa content because only chocolates with high cocoa content are of better quality, richer and has more anti-oxidants that are also good for you. But if you don't really like the slight bitter taste of dark chocolate, you can also choose to get milk chocolate with a lower cocoa content.

Next, you should have on hand other ingredients you would want to be included in your truffles. Some people like almond nibs, crushed roasted peanuts, raisins, dried fruits and other nuts. So, have on hand whatever nuts or fruits you would like to add to your truffles. You can also get some colorful chocolate rice or other decorative items for your truffles.

The very first thing to do is to break or chop the chocolate into smaller pieces. The put the chocolate into a heatproof bowl. Add in butter and then place the bowl over a simmering pan of water. Be careful to ensure the bottom of the bowl do not touch the boiling water. Using a wooden spoon, stir the chocolate butter mixture until it is thoroughly melted. If you like cheese, you can also get some cream cheese on hand so that you can add it in later.

When the chocolate butter mixture is melted into soft, silky brown liquid, remove it from the pan and leave aside to cool down. You can then add the cream cheese, the nuts, dried fruits or whatever you want to add to your truffles. Use a mixer to blend it all together until it is all well combined. You want to make sure that the whole mixture are evenly combined so that there won't be concentrations of nuts or chocolate or clumps of cream cheese. Lastly, you just pour the thick mixture onto a pan and leave it to cool for awhile. If it is very thick, use an ice cream scoop or a spoon to form small balls out of it. Dip the chocolate balls on the chocolate rice or some cocoa powder. Then put the balls on wax-paper lined trays. Place the trays of chocolate truffles in the fridge to firm up and there you have it, you very own delicious chocolate truffles!

Many chocolate truffles you buy in stores are manufactured in factories and most of them are loaded with sugar so they aren't really good for you and are extremely high calorie. Some store-bought chocolate truffles do not contain enough cocoa to give you the benefits of consuming anti-oxidant rich cocoa. If you love eating chocolates, then you should always look at the option of enjoying those that are also good for you instead of those that are high in calorie, high in sugar with zero benefits. For healthier, tastier chocolate experience, then make your very own chocolate truffles.

About the Author:
Breanna thinks combining honey and chocolate are great for cakes and loves these chocolate cake recipes. You are welcome to reprint this article - but get your own unique content version here.


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Chocolate Are Good For Health

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When we talk about chocolates, there's this misconception that chocolates is not good and that it causes acne and obesity. This is not really true so if you love chocolates, you will be glad to know that consuming chocolate is also good for health. This means you can eat this heavenly mouthfuls without feeling guilty all the time. You don't need to avoid chocolates thinking that all it does was to make you fat because there are some health benefits to chocolates.

It is true. Chocolates are good for you and this has been proven by various research conducted over the years. You must remember that chocolates are made from cocoa and cocoa came from the cacao beans which came from the fruit of a cacao tree. So, indirectly, chocolate is a fruit that has undergone some process to make it so delicious and addictive. If you take away the sugar and the milk, what you have left is just pure cocoa. Cocoa by itself is bitter but it still has that rich chocolate scent.

Now, pure dark cocoa is very high in anti-oxidants which means it fights the free radical floating around. Also, research has proven that consuming a certain amount of dark chocolate each day will be able to help to lower your blood pressure and even prevent heart disease. Therefore, eating chocolate is not all bad but could be beneficial to your health.

But before you rush out to start buying loads of chocolates and start eating them like there's no tomorrow, you should know that there's a limit to everything. Control your urge to binge on them and know that some commercial chocolates are quite high in sugars and fat. Milk chocolate, especially, have lower cocoa content, higher fat and more sugar than you really need so its not exactly healthy. This means, you will need to divide the chocolates into good or bad chocolates.

You read right. Some chocolates are good and some are bad. Bad chocolates contains loads of sugars and after eating this, it will give you a sugar rush and perhaps even help you on the way to getting diabetes. These high-sugar chocolates can cause obesity and these are the ones that gave the good chocolates the bad reputation. Good chocolates are the ones that do not have high sugar. To be able to filter out the bad chocolates, just read the labels and look at the ingredients. If the first few ingredients have the word 'sugar' in it, put it back and don't eat it!

Now, for good chocolates, it is easy to find. You need only look for sugar-free, extra dark chocolate with loads of numbers on the front. This means, look for chocolate bars with 70% cocoa content and above. These are the good guys. If you are worried about diabetes, then go for the sugar-free ones. Don't worry, they aren't bitter or anything, just artificially sweetened. If you are worried about too much artificial sweeteners, you can even find those organic sugar free ones with high cocoa content that are sure to satisfy your chocolate craving and also be good for your health.

Article Source: http://www.bigfreearticles.com

When we talk about chocolates, there's this misconception that chocolates is not good and that it causes acne and obesity. This is not really true so if you love chocolates, you will be glad to know that consuming chocolate is also good for health. This means you can eat this heavenly mouthfuls without feeling guilty all the time. You don't need to avoid chocolates thinking that all it does was to make you fat because there are some health benefits to chocolates.

About the Author:
Anna has several favourite chocolate cake recipes to share too and loves the convenient five minute chocolate cake recipe the best. Get a totally unique version of this article from our article submission service


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A Look At Some Of The Most Famous French Chocolate Makers

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French chocolate is one of the most popular types of confection in the world. It is used in many tasty treats such as chocolate mousse and the ever popular chocolate eclair. Chocolate truffles have long been favored for their rich taste and texture and chocolate covered pralines were also made popular by the French. Chocolate was not just considered a confection in France. It was also used for medicinal purposes and reported to be beneficial with health problems.

You may be interested to know that the French had a hand in making chocolate famous in areas besides France. During the mid 1800s, a Frenchman named Etienne Guittard was hoping to make his fortune in the California gold rush. He headed to the Barbary Coast where instead of mining for gold to make his living, he ended up growing rich by selling chocolate. In 1686, he opened the Guittard Chocolate factory where it is still family owned and operated to this day.

The first London chocolate store, then called a chocolate house, was established by a Frenchman in 1657. The name of the store was the Coffee Mill and Tobacco roll. The chocolate that was sold there was so expensive that only wealthy patrons could afford to purchase it.

There are other very famous, French chocolate makers that still have shops and factories that have continued to be popular long after they were established.

In 1945, Maurice Bernachon opened the Bernachon Chocolate Factory in Lyons, France when he was only 26. He was trained in the art of chocolate making by his parents at the young age of 14. Today, 60 years later, the Bernachon factory is still famous for its delicious chocolate.

In 1660, a Frenchman named Debauve was dubbed the first "Royal Chocolate Maker", by King Louis the 14th of France after he had received a wedding gift of chocolate from his wife Marie Therese. In 1800, approximately a century and ½ later, one of his descendents named Sulpice Debauve established a chocolate shop in Paris.

His chocolate was so revered that he was able to open additional shops and had established 60 of them by 1804. He had a nephew named Antoine Gallais, who partnered up with him in 1823 and the name of his shops changed to Debauve and Gaillais. Continuing in the tradition of his ancestor, Kings Louis XVIII and Charles X appointed them the Official Chocolatiers of the French Court. Although Sulpice Debauve died in 1836, his legacy still continues with the company he founded in 1804.

French chocolate has had a strong impact on history. Many of the delicious chocolates that you enjoy today are due to the innovations of the French who took the simple cocoa bean and turned it into an entire industry.

Article Source: http://www.articlenorth.com

Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Florida. Find more about this as well as French chocolate at www.frenchchocolatedelivery.com

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Do You Know What Chocolate Truffles Are?

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Many know the word truffle as a type of fungus and are therefore a little set back when they hear the term truffle but what they need to realize is that the chocolate truffle is not a truffle like they are thinking. It is not a chocolate covered fungus, the entire thing is made in the kitchen and no fungus is involved in the making of it!

First off the actual ingredients of a chocolate truffle are liquids, flavorings and chocolate which is called a ganache. For a long time the confectionary treat was only available to the wealthy and affluent just as other chocolate treats were for so long. Some people even still conjure up the image of some famous person lying on a lounge chair by a pool sipping champagne and eating the delightful chocolate truffles.

Gone are those days when the sweet treat was only for the rich, now they are available just about anywhere from candy stores and chocolate shops to even supermarkets. It is amazing what competition can do to the market.

Another big improvement is that chocolate truffles now come in just about any possible flavor you can imagine from milk chocolate or dark chocolate to white and even with fruit flavors included. If you are the type of person that enjoys the fine liqueurs they also come with flavors such as Frangelico and Kahlua. Now you can find truffles that will suit nearly anyone's taste and they are also reasonably priced.

If you live in an area where truffles may be hard to find you can always take the do it yourself route. With the internet you can find tons of websites that will have recipes, ideas, and tips with a wide variety of flavors of truffles that you can make. You will make your family ecstatic by giving them home made truffles and make them love you all the more.

Making this chocolate treat doesn't require any unusual ingredients as you can create a chocolate truffle with cocoa, corn syrup, whipping cream, and butter which you probably already have most of in your pantry already.

So now you know that the chocolate truffle is not just for the wealthy anymore and you know it isn't a chocolate covered fungus. Once you try one you will probably be hooked just like everyone else and you will have to have them on a regular basis. Treat yourself to a rare chocolate treat and take the time to enjoy every morsel.
Author Resource:- Gregg Hall is an author living in Navarre Beach, Florida. Find more about chocolate as well as french chocolate gift baskets at http://www.frenchchocolatedelivery.com
Article From New Ezine Articles
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Grab Some Homemade Candy Recipes And Make Candy Gifts For Christmas

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Christmas is a wonderful time, but finding great Christmas gifts can be a little difficult. But everyone loves candy. Why don't you find some hot homemade candy recipes and make some great homemade candy for Christmas gifts this year?

With most Christmas gifts there is always the risk that the recipient won't like their gift. But just about everyone loves candy, especially homemade candy, and it's not hard to make. You just need some good homemade candy recipes to get started, some simple tools and a little dedication and time.

There's so many great homemade candy's you can make. I'm getting hungry just thinking of things liek chocolate peanut butter candy, corn balls, cream candys, chocolate fudge, candy corn and so many more. You can find recipes for homemade candy for hundreds of different candy's, and most of them aren't all that hard to make.

Butterscotch, nut brittle, candy apples, angel food candy and so much more, all are relatively simple to make.

There's some absolutely wonderful hard candies or mold candies you can make yourself without too much practice.

And in my view a gift of homemade food is a gift from the heart. It's so easy to go to a candy shop and just buy some candy, ask them to wrap it and the jobs done. Christmas gift purchased, nothing more to do. But if you're prepared to spend some of your own precious time and put in the effort to make the candy yourself, that says something about how you feel about the recipient.

Homemade candy says I love you so much more than store bought candy, and can taste just as good, or better.

And there are very few people who dislike candy. It's so popular that if you make some homemade candy for a gift the chances are pretty high that the recipient will love it, and eat it happily. They may even decide to reverse the idea and make some candy for you next year.

Even if you haven't made candy before it's not that hard. Spend some time on the net and you'll learn. You need some time, some dedication to learning if it's your first time making candy, a kitchen and a few basic candy making tools.

Some recipes are a little more difficult than others. Any homemade candy recipe that requires you to simmer water with sugar to a certain temperature can be a bit of a challenge for the beginner because if you get the temperature wrong it won't work so well, but with a little practice you'll be making homemade candy like the pros.

So if you're looking for some good Christmas gift ideas for this festive season, grab yourself some homemade candy recipes and start cooking. Do it now while you've got some time to practice, don't make it hard by starting on Christmas Eve, and you'll have a stack of great Christmas presents ready when you need them.

Just remember, don't eat too many as you eat them, that's always a risk.

So get out there and find yourself some homemade candy recipes.

BlueWaterArticles.com: - Grab Some Homemade Candy Recipes And Make Candy Gifts For Christmas


About the Author

Want to find some great Homemade Candy Recipes? Visit Peter's Website Homemade Candy Recipes and find out more candy making at http://homemadecandyideas.com/


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New Healthy Chocolate That Could Change Your Life

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There are times in life during which it seems that all of the planets are aligned perfectly which allows for positive circumstances to flow in our direction. Examples of this might be having good fortune in business, falling in love, or just a feeling of goodwill surrounding us. There has occurred in recent weeks the birth of a phenomenon that may be included with these types of advantageous events. It’s a new healthy chocolate that shifts moods, lifts energy and curbs appetites.

Traditionally the words “healthy chocolate” seemed to be an oxymoron. There was then the proof that dark chocolate had an antioxidant power. There now exists a new product that can put you in a good mood, give you more energy, help satisfy your cravings, provide a very powerful combination of amino acids, vitamins and minerals great for your brain health and perhaps may be the best tasting chocolate you have ever had.

This healthy chocolate, which can also be considered a “happy chocolate” was developed by Dr. Paul Anderson who has a history of helping people with non-drug and nutritional remedies for chronic pain and depression. He does not consider his product to be chocolate like the traditional dark chocolate in stores but rather “what this is is a dietary supplement. We’ve put amino acids and vitamins and minerals but we happen to put them into a chocolate and the reason we put them into a chocolate is chocolate potentiates or makes the nutrients work better.” In effect it’s about “turning on that brain, elevating that mood.”

Another advantage that this new healthy chocolate has over the typical fat and sugar packed variety is that each piece has only 40 calories and contains little sugar. Also, the energy received from this new nutritional wonder is not the frantic kind as received from standard chocolate that lasts for a very limited time and leads to a crash into a sense of listlessness. The new variety can keep the mood elevated from 4 to 6 hours after each enjoyable consumption and its effect fades away gradually.

In addition, there will be no craving to binge once your brain’s need for healthy brain chemicals or neurotransmitters has been satisfied. That means that only between 2 and 4 of these healthy chocolates will be necessary to keep the brain’s feel good system going during the day. Weakness for junk food sweets should become a thing of the past when the brain is not starving for the nutrients that it needs!

Want to hear these words of advice and more from Dr. Anderson? Simply click on (or cut and paste) http://www.isadelight.com/video6.html and press “Click to Play”. Hear about the revolution that will make you healthy and happy as well as the only way that you can purchase the product.

Article Source: http://www.articlenorth.com

Brian is an Independent distributor of Isagenix products and wishes to inform everyone about the amazing benefits of a new product known as IsaDelight. He invites you to visit the product webpage at victory4u.isagenix.com/us/en/nutrition_isadelight.dhtml for more product information and to order IsaDelight for yourself. Email Brian at brian_connors@comcast.net with any questions including how you can sign-up and get the product at the wholesale price.

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How to Make Chocolate Dipped Candy?

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If you are dipping candy in chocolates, then the only chocolate you should use is top quality chocolate. Consider using confectionery chocolate, made especially for coating candy. It melts smoothly and has excellent characteristics as well as wonderful flavor and texture. Do not use baking chocolate from the super market or milk chocolate candy bars because you will not be able to get professional results with these products and the flavor will be poor.

You will need an electric frying pan, ample space for the candy before and after dipping, and a cool room to work in. It is not a good idea to dip candy in chocolate if the room temperature is above 70º F. Chocolate dipping is a cool-weather project or you need to set the thermostat on your air conditioner very low.

One of the easiest ways to melt chocolate is in the oven. Break off about two and a half pounds (or more if you have more than two pounds of centers) of chocolate and break this into smaller pieces. Then put the chocolate in an oven-proof container and place in the oven with the temperature set at the lowest setting. Stir frequently until the chocolate has melted. Do not allow the chocolate to get too hot or it will burn. You can also use a double boiler for melting chocolate, but do not use a microwave because you risk burning the chocolate.

Once the chocolate is melted, transfer some into the cold frying pan. With your fingers together, cup your hand slightly and start moving the chocolate in an "S" motion until it feels cool. At this point the chocolate is ready to start dipping.

Take a candy from the tray and drop it into the chocolate. With your chocolate hand, flip it over to coat both sides then lift it out, tapping the back of your hand on the edge of the frying pan to remove the excess chocolate. Flip the coated center onto a waxed paper- lined tray.

Keep moving the tempered chocolate in the "S" motion when you do not have a center in it. When you have used approximately ¾ of the chocolate left in the pan, add more from the bowl. Move this chocolate in the "S" motion as well, and keep dipping your candy until you are finished. If the chocolate starts to get too stiff, turn on the frying pan for two seconds, no more, and keep the chocolate moving at all times. While this may sound complicated at first, it will get easier and more natural with time.
Author Resource:- Author Barney Garcia is a proud contributing author and enjoys writing about many different topics. Please visit my web sites @ Candy and Chocolate Recipes and Chocolate Candy
Article From New Ezine Articles
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How To Find Out What Is Belgian Chocolate Neuhaus

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From the 18th century, the Belgian chocolate has risen in fame. In 1912, a chocolate genius Jean Neuhaus created a new procedure and increased its popularity ten-fold. He used a "couverteur" which is a specialized chocolate version. It is also the pralines cold shell. But it is different from the American sugary treats found in most candy shops. Chocolate pralines from Belgium are filled with varieties of flavored creams or nougats, such as hazelnut, fruit, more chocolate, or coffee. Some of the chocolatiers in the time of Neuhaus could duplicate his pralines complex flavors.

Jean Neuhaus' successful years were after the end of the First World War And this time, Louise Agostini, his wife made another breakthrough by creating the ballotin or praline box, significant type of pralines preciously made by hand. It has a very practical green and gold packaging embossed with letter "N". Because Jean never patented this ballotin, it became the design favored by all chocolate manufacturers in Belgium since its creation.

The creativity of Jean Neuhaus led to the development of new methods for applying a precise standard quality to all praline productions. They ensured that the finest ingredients are selected to produce chocolates of high quality. He became the unfaltering source of ideas for creating new pralines. Even the Royal Family of Belgium is one of his satisfied customers. In 1918, The Prince of Wales and Prince Leopold have visited the Neuhaus shop to try what everybody is talking about in town. In 1923, the son-in-law of Jean Neuhaus Adelson de Grave was initiated in praline manufacturing and was taught the secret of the family's business. His creations also brought additional distinction to the Neuhaus Company. His son Pierre also contributed his genius by helping his father create Tentation and Caprice and opened other Neuhaus shops outside Brussels.

In 1978, the Neuhaus Chocolate Company was put under the management of Claude Poncelet and Jean-Jacques. Their goal of making Neuhaus the world's most famous brand was clear to capture the foreign markets. Thus, more Neuhaus outlets were opened in Japan, Canada, Guadeloupe, Colombia, United States, and other capital cities in Europe.

In 1991, Neuhaus became the leader in the luxurious praline sector industry in Belgium as well as in Luxemburg. Their well-defined strategies for marketing and international networks kept Neuhaus in maintaining an enviable position in the market. Modern technology investment also contributed to the success of Neuhaus, but one-third of praline productions remained handmade. In 2000, King Albert accredited Neuhaus as their chocolate supplier.

Neuhaus Company has remained in the chocolate industry until today. The legacy of Jean Neuhaus continues to make the best Belgian chocolate pralines. Their technical advantage among other chocolate manufacturers is the couverteur storage before use. In the process of making chocolates, the fine grinding of cocoa beans is first done. Afterwards, it is mixed with cocoa butter and sugar and then smoothened through tempering. Adding heat during the process must be carefully done. Many chocolate companies received the chocolates in solid forms. It means they have to reheat it to become usable. But Belgian chocolate companies often received the chocolates in a heated tanker after the tempering process. Chocolates that are not cooled retain most of its aroma.

Belgian chocolates can be expensive. However, those people who have tasted it revealed that nothing can compare with its true quality. And this is what Belgian chocolates are known for throughout history.


About the Author: To learn about chocolate pictures and dog eats chocolate, visit the Chocolate Facts website.

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The Gourmet Belgian Chocolates

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When you think of gourmet food, you'd think of edibles that is expensive, heavenly delicious, and of very high quality. Gourmet Belgian chocolates are considered to be the best kind of chocolate in the world. It is so delicious that people from all over the world flock to Belgium just to experience the taste of the original Belgian chocolate because nobody in the world has successfully duplicated these sweet little things.

Belgian chocolates are the toast of the chocolate world. It is the gourmet of all chocolates that exist and nothing beats it for being in the number one list of all chocoholics. Even diabetics crave for it! The good thing is that there are now sugar-free Belgian chocolates that are now available in the market.

The special factor that makes Belgian chocolate standout among its contemporaries is the great respect for the chocolate manufacturing techniques that have been perfected by Europeans for centuries as well as the excellent quality of the ingredients used for making the chocolates.

In the age of mass production, everything seems to be just the standard to deliver the products to as many people as possible which sometimes have sacrificed a bit of quality of the products. Good thing that Belgian chocolatiers did not give in to the pressure of the global market and still stick with the old tradition of small production but with topnotch quality tastes of their chocolates.

The country of Belgium is populated with chocolate shops and manufacturers that up to now are still making chocolates by hand and/or with the original equipment from the olden days. The chocolate in Belgium is like wine to France. Like the French wineries, chocolatiers in Belgium provide chocolate tasting programs for the visitors to sample the gourmet chocolates.

Although Belgian chocolates has been around for a long time, the new way of making chocolates that is very popular nowadays only started in the early years of the 20th century. This new way of making chocolate is the placement of a filling inside a chocolate nugget. Fillings can range from fruits, creams, hazelnut, coffee, or other forms of chocolate. This kind of chocolate is called pralines, which refers to the chocolate covering.

Another factor that makes gourmet Belgian chocolates special is the technique of storing the chocolate nuggets before filling it up. The course of making the chocolates is quite interesting as the grounded cocoa beans are combined with the mixture of cocoa butter and sugar. It is then eventually spread out by tempering or gradual heat addition. A lot of chocolate houses in Belgium obtain their chocolate in forms of solid. These solid forms of chocolates are then heated again for it to be formed or structures into the desired shape and taste. Since the chocolates are not chilled, Belgian chocolates have the luck of preserving the cocoa essence much more than the other inferior chocolates.

A lot of Belgium's old family owned chocolate houses have their own line of gourmet Belgian chocolates. They have been around for a long time and can be trusted of the high quality chocolates they manufacture. Through the years and generations of family owners, they have perfected the way of making the perfect gourmet Belgian chocolates.

These delicious sweets may come with a price but once you have tasted its palatable flavors you will realize that it is worth all your money. You can actually taste a part of heaven. And that is what makes gourmet Belgian chocolates tick.


About the Author: Information on pictures of chocolate can be found at the Chocolate Facts site.

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Belgian Chocolates Are The Alpha Male Of All Chocolates

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Believe it or not chocolates are good for your health. There have been studies that were conducted by major research institutes that people who constantly eat chocolates have a longer life span than those who don't usually eat them.

Chocolates are also filled with antioxidants that fights off cancer, cardiovascular diseases, thwarts off strokes, and lowers down blood pressure. Chocolate also has large amounts of iron and magnesium.

Other than its health benefits, chocolates can make you feel much better in a more legal and tasty way compared to alcoholic beverages and medications. The ingestion of chocolates induces the release of hormones called endorphins which promotes a state of happiness or a feel-good emotional experience.

Chocolates are also believed to be an aphrodisiac. It has been so since the time of the Mayan and Aztec civilizations in South America. It is believed that ingestion of chocolates stimulates sexual energy and consequently makes people fertile.

It is also said to relieve exhaustion because of its nutritional aspects. Energy bars of athletes are mostly chocolates mixed with another substance for energy enhancement.

The team up of chocolate's health benefits with the best chocolate confection the world, Belgian chocolates, then there may be no more stopping for people who are still skeptics of the chocolate magic that has been driving people crazy since it's coming to European shores.

With chocolates, nothing beats the Belgians in making this sweet taste of heaven make its way to salivating chocolate crazy individuals. Belgian chocolates are deemed to be the alpha male of all chocolates. Even its rival Swiss counterparts bow to its gastronomical powers.

The distinctive factor of Belgian chocolates that makes it outstanding is the excellent quality of the ingredients and the perfect chocolate making techniques that has been refined through the centuries.

Belgian chocolates come in many shapes in sizes. One of the preferred forms of Belgian chocolates is the seashell shaped ones. After all, a seashell is a symbol of many positive things in life. Seashells are thought to be gifts from the ocean. With its various shapes and forms, it is the symbol of uniqueness and beauty.

One great symbolism of the seashell is created by Boticelli in one of his artistic creations. In his painting of "The Birth of Venus", the seashell is depicted as the vessel of beauty, rebirth, love, and godly attributes to the earth.

Therefore, seashell shaped Belgian chocolates are perfect for symbolizing the chocolate's representation of heavenly experience of a sweet filling wrapped in a beautiful chocolate shell or praline. One bite will surely bring you to the heavens.

With the Belgian seashell chocolate's rich in symbolism, it has become a popular item for gifts to loved ones. As gifts, packages for these chocolates should also be perfect. With the finesse of Belgian craftsmanship, chocolates are made of excellent materials which include top notch delicious fruits, high quality chocolate, and natural vanilla.

Artificial flavoring, which is common among inferior types if chocolates, is never included in the ingredients of Belgian chocolates.

In the quest for Belgian seashell chocolates, do not just opt for ones that are sold in supermarkets that claims to be made by the use of Belgian techniques of chocolate making. The most likely that you will be having a taste of real Belgian chocolates is in Belgium.

There are no other places here on this planet where you can perfectly eat Belgian chocolates. Plus, with the country's fine tourist destinations, Belgian chocolates, especially the seashell shaped ones, are the perfect snack as you go on sightseeing in the beautiful country of Belgium.

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About the Author

Allan Wilson specializes in providing ready made affliliate sites and private label articles. To speed up your website creation results visit Allan's site at: http://www.readymadeaffiliatesites.com

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Do You Crave White Chocolate?

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White chocolate is so delicious, it is actually one of my favorite types of chocolate and I get my quick, cheap fix with the new white chocolate M&Ms that just came out!

So, how is this tasty concoction made? The main difference between white chocolate and other dark chocolates is that white chocolate is based on cocoa butter, which gives the ivory white confectionary delight its appearance and distinctive taste. White chocolate also contains milk solids, sugar, and lecithin as well as other flavors, most notably vanilla. Cocoa butter is the active ingredient used in other chocolates to keep them solid at room temperature yet melt easily in your mouth. Does that sound familiar?
This is why I feel white chocolate has a texture like that of chocolate but does not have quite the same taste. Some will find the taste similar to milk chocolate.

White chocolate was first introduced in Switzerland after World War I. It was first popularly distributed in America in the early 1980's with the introduction of Nestl?'s Alpine White Chocolate bar containing white chocolate and almonds.

Because of the fact that white chocolate does not contain cocoa solids or cocoa mass as in the finer dark chocolates, it does not meet the standards to be called chocolate in many countries. Since 2004, the United States has required that white chocolate needs to be at least 20% (by weight) cocoa butter, at least 14% total milk solids, and less than 55% sweeteners such as sugar. Before 2004, US chocolate marketers had to obtain temporary marketing permits to sell this cocoa solids-free chocolate. In the European Union white chocolate needs to contain not less than 20% cocoa butter and not less than 14% dry milk solids. Did you ever realize that there were such stringent regulations on chocolate?

Because of the high concentration of cocoa butter, white chocolate can be very difficult to work with as sometimes when it is melted the cocoa butter can come apart and create an oily mess that cannot be recovered and must be thrown out. As with any other form of chocolate, the introduction of water into the melted product makes it rapidly turn lumpy, grainy and unusable. It must then also be discarded. Some brands respond better to baking more than others; some even have a tendency to brown from being baked which is why there are specific kinds of chocolate made just for cooking.

Just like any other chocolate, white chocolate can be bought in large or small bricks, but these can often be difficult to work with as one must cut off sections with a knife, which often results in inaccurate portioning. Small chips are more often than not a more precise way to make use of white chocolate.

White chocolate can be used for decoration of milk or dark chocolate confections or in any way the chocolates might be used. Some people such as myself actually prefer the white chocolate. I like it more not only because of the taste, but because the milk and milk chocolate gives me ulcers as I have an allergy to it.

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About the Author

Gregg Hall is a business consultant and author for many online and offline businesses and lives in Navarre Florida. Get fine chocolate at http://www.chocolates-plus.com .com

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What Is It With French Chocolate?

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The 19th century French writer, Brillat-Savarin said, "Chocolate is health". Brillat-Savarin, had a passion for chocolate similar to Voltaire who drank 12 cups a day! He suggested it be used for anything from lethargy to hangovers long before the medicinal benefits were confirmed by the scientific community.

The cocoa bean is native to Central and South America and wasn't known to Europeans until the 1500's when Spanish explorer, Hernando Cortez brought it back with him from the Americas. In the early 1600's chocolate was brought to the city of Bayonne in Southwest France by Jewish immigrants who had been driven from Spain. Not long after that Spanish chocolate was introduced to the French Nobility by the 14 year old Spanish princess who was to wed Louis XIV. The French have been known for being experts in making chocolate ever since and their chocolate is the most sought after in the world.

Chocolate making techniques today are the best they have ever been and the master recipe of blending the regular Forastero bean with the fine quality Criollo bean is known to all chocolate connoisseurs. However, many European chocolate makers are concerned that the quality of chocolate in Europe will be harmed due to new Common Market regulations that are now authorizing chocolate makers to use vegetable fat in chocolate. This is currently banned in France, which is why they have the finest chocolates.

The French are very strict legislators of all matters pertaining to food and cooking and chocolate is no exception. Their laws strictly prohibit the use of any vegetable or animal fat in the making of French chocolate, only allowing pure cocoa butter. Additionally they require that French chocolate be at least 43% cocoa liquor and a minimum of 26% pure cocoa butter. Most proud French chocolate makers exceed the cocoa liquor requirement; indeed the better quality bonbons contain as much as 80% of the dark substance which gives chocolate its taste. Knowing this, it is no surprise that French chocolates have the best flavor.

The flavor nuances of French chocolate also depend on the quality and origin of the cocoa beans used to make it. The best chocolates are an artful blend of four or more different beans, each with its own flavor, force and persistence -- each from a different geographical origin: Venezuela, Brazil, the Ivory Coast, Madagascar.

French consumers rank among the world's most discriminating when it comes to chocolate. Parisians are particularly picky, and for good reason: What other metropolis offers such an impressive array of chocolate marvels from the world's most delicate and costly bonbons, to the most mouth-watering chocolate cakes and tarts imaginable?

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About the Author

Gregg Hall is a business consultant and author for many online and offline businesses and lives in Navarre Florida with his 16 year old son. For fine French chocolate go to http://www.gourmetfrenchchocolates.com

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Learn About Making Chocolate? The Advantages of Online Classes

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Making chocolate is often viewed as something that you can only do through cookbooks and offline demonstrations. Au contraire, you can actually find more and more chocolatiers embracing the online way of earning savoir faire about chocolate making. And why not? There are many advantages to having online chocolate learning. It truly harnesses the technology made in this age for making delicacies and sweet treats like chocolate.

A Diverse Support System

You will find that if you are learning how to make chocolate and getting your sources online, you don't just get information but you are also rewarded with a diverse support system who will encourage you in your pursuits of becoming a chocolatier. The support system is not limited to your local limitations, nor is it bound by certain ways of doing things.

With the diversity and variety of techniques from the Internet, you will find that you are exposed to different styles that can finally help you improvise and find your own chocolate making style. Whether you are a novice to chocolate making or someone waiting to upgrade their chocolate making skills, you will be richly rewarded by people who can help add to your wealth of information regarding chocolate making.

Visuals and audio combined

Videos uploaded online, as well as images of chocolates from all over the world, provides you with perspective and ample motivation. This multimedia form of learning will also ensure that your learning of making chocolate is meticulous and done in good taste. Both the art and science of chocolate making is something that you can find even when there are few words used to describe it. Through pictures and video and audio, you will find that chocolates are really a universal treat and can evolve over time with technological advancements.

Excellent Follow up

Mentors online find it easier to manage their contacts. You can also have numerous mentors, as opposed to the limited number of people you can learn with when you are in an actual classroom setting. With online methods, you own your time, and you can learn your chocolate making even in the wee hours of the morning without having to worry about disturbing your neighbor. At any given time of day, there is bound to be a perky chocolate lover, up and ready to assist you.

No inhibitions and continuous learning of making chocolate

When you are making chocolate through online learning, there is distance and more inhibitions are diminished with this distance. It may make you feel safer to admitting disasters in your kitchen or other booboos that novice learners of chocolate making may commit as they master their craft. The thing is, online people are less inclined to judge your work but they are just more supportive and welcoming about your shortcomings in making chocolate.

Opportunity to branch out into other forms of making food

Whoever said that learning is limited to making chocolate? You may also find it an added pleasure that the links may lead you to other learning pursuits that are not far from making chocolate. The good thing with online learning is that you can easily transfer from one pursuit to another or even do them simultaneously without much of a hassle.

You can also regulate your learning to accommodate other forms of food making for your personal satisfaction.

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Chocolate Brownies!!!

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Learn how to make chocolate fudge brownies with startcooking's new recipe video. Your friends and family will enjoy this delicious treat. Chocolate brownies are everyone's favorite.
http://www.startcooking.com

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Baking - how to make chocolate cake

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see how to make chocolate cake - baking

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Nigella Feasts - Chocolate Heaven: old-fashioned choc cake

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welcome to the chocolate heaven!!

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The Long Journey Of Chocolate From Cacao Beans To Fine Chocolate

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All chocolates use cacao beans, from the mass produced stuff inside M&M's to the highest quality product that comes from Belgium. Cacao beans are also the most important ingredient, because even if all the other ingredients that go into the mix are top notch, if the cacao is not high quality the chocolate made from it won't be either. In a process that requires precision from its start at the very beginning when seeds are sown right up to its completion when the chocolate is done, even a slight mishap can spell the difference between chocolates that's good, sure, and chocolate that will knock your socks off.

In a process much like the cultivation of coffee, cacao beans are harvested, fermented and roasted. While this is essential the manufacture of chocolates, it is more or less mechanical and rule bound, so less interesting. Once the roasting is done, however, things start to get more interesting.
When the beans have been roasted, they are ground. This means that the cacao beans are shelled, and for most recipes, ground. When the beans are ground they secrete a thick liquid known as cacao liquor, which is used by chocolate manufactures. The liquor can be transformed into three different things, cacao butter, cacao powder, and chocolate. The first two are less dependent on the quality of the beans, and so usually only less remarkable beans are used to make them. The liquor from higher quality beans is most often made into chocolate.

Just because you have high quality cacao liquor doesn't mean that you have high quality chocolate. To get from the liquor to the finished bars or boxes given on Valentine's Day, fine chocolate makers must first add some extra ingredients. At this stage, most makers will add sugar and then regrind the mixture to avoid sandy textures and flavors. After this grinding, the chocolate is heated and mixed together a little bit under boiling temperature, at 180 degrees Fahrenheit. This heated mixing is known in the industry as conching. During conching, chocolate starts to take on the smooth, refined taste for which its finest examples are known. Depending on the desired end product, a chocolate may be conched for an hour, or even a whole day or more.

Conching itself is where much of a chocolate's flavor will come from. One mast chocolate makers secret process of cooking the chocolate can be very different from another's, and will impart a very different end result. Understandably, some chocolate makers can be highly guarded about their exact technique.

After conching, the pure chocolate is then turned into whatever the chocolate maker has in mind, milk chocolate, dark chocolate, cooking chocolate, or whatever else. Every step along the way, though, has to be just as carefully undertaken as those that preceded it.

As you can see, there is a great deal that goes into a simple bar of chocolate. The entire process takes great care, and the slightest mistake can spell disaster, or at least mean that this or that bar will be slightly less heavenly.

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Author: teahupoo

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How to make your wedding chocolate cake special

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Your wedding is going to be one of the best days of your life and it should be memorable for everyone. Why not make it extra special with an amazing caterer that will go beyond everyone else. Go ahead and get an ultra special favor, place card, save the date cards or anything you desire, all personalized for your wedding. The best thing is they all can be done out of chocolate! Not only that but you place an image of your choice on a candy bar, on a cookie or lollipop and they will be 100 percent edible. I recently went to a wedding where the cake, the placecard, the date cards, all were made out of chocolates and looked so special. Everything was crafted with the utmost care and attention and not only that, everything seemed to be made with love. The provider for the wedding was Chocolate Dreams & Wishes, a PA based chocolate firm that personalizes in making delicious tasting chocolate especially for weddings. They even make chocolates with edible images. These would make amazing favors for the guests. No, these aren’t keepsakes; though I’m not sure how long one would keep them for long as they taste so amazing. What about having some personalized chocolate lollipops for your wedding? You can put the picture of your choice along with your wedding date or any message that you wish. Put them in a beautiful gift bag, so not only they look great but taste spectacular! Why not add something different to your wedding and have chocolate place cards for your guests. They are 100 percent edible and they are not only the sweetest thing to look at, they are also the sweetest thing to taste! Plus you are saving money since the place cards act as the favor too. You can even put the guest’s names and table numbers on each card. For the people who love Oreos and I know there are a lot of you, you can also make special photo chocolate covered Oreos. They can be put in a gorgeous gift box and they are a delight to eat. If you want to give someone that extra special gift at your wedding, then you can do individual chocolate covered Oreos with a photo and personalization. You don’t have to just use these special chocolates for your actual wedding day. Why not use them for a bridal shower or maybe even a bachelorette or bachelor party. Your limits are endless. If you and your guests want truly delicious and edible treats for any special occasion then chocolate is the way to go. You could even announce your engagement on r special chocolate gifts. It doesn’t matter if you have guests that prefer white chocolate to dark, or maybe they are a milk chocolate lover. You can cater for all needs and offer special low carb and low calorie chocolate in milk and dark. You may wonder how much all of this is going to cost you! Well there is no need to worry, there are lots of places that offer all the above at low prices so everyone is able to enjoy the great taste and flavor of chocolate.

Ken Bonine is the co-owner of Chocolate Dreams & Wishes, LLC - located in Pittsburgh, Pa. We think you will be pleasantly surprised at the amazing taste of our chocolate as well as the price. Give us a call and let us help you make your wedding gifts a little more exciting. For all your wedding cakes and chocolate cravings , do contact visit our site.

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Interesting Chocolate Statistics

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Just about everyone loves the sweet temptation of chocolates and candy. Here are some intriguing statistics and facts about candy and chocolate:

1. The average American eats 10-12 pounds (4.5 kg) of chocolate a year. The average Swiss eats 21 pounds a year.

2. Chocolate is the food most commonly craved by women, but can contribute significantly to bulimia, obesity, and binge eating.

3. Several medical studies show that eating chocolate in moderation can actually prolong your life by reducing risk of blood clots and fighting bad cholestorol.

4. Chocolate is not physically addictive and does not cause acne, as shown in several medical studies.

5. Chocolate is not high in caffeine. A 1oz bar of milk chocolate contains only 5-6mg of caffeine. This is significantly less than in coffee, tea, and soft drinks.

6. Chocolates can absorb other flavors and scents, and should be kept away from other household chemicals.

7. Chocolate can be frozen for up to six months. It is best to seal chocolate in a zip lock bag before freezing.

8. In genearl, the shelf life for chocolate is a year. Chocolate that is refrigerated may not melt as readily. Thus it is best to store chocolate in cool dry areas 55-60 degrees F.

9. U.S. chocolate manufacturers use 3.5 million pounds of whole milk every day to make chocolate.

10. The largest chocolate bar ever made weighed over 5,000 pounds and was made in Italy in 2000. The largest slab of fudge was over 2,000 pounds and was made in Canada.

11. Children are more likely to prefer chocolate when they reach 10-11 years old than when they are younger.

12. Chocolate is America's favorite flavor, according to recent surveys with a little over 50% of adults preferring chocolate to other flavors.

About the Author - Criss White is a professional web writer on baby and new mother topics for baby and pregnancy websites. For more personalized gift ideas, go to http://www.mybabyshowerfavors.com/chocolate.htm (Chocolate Baby Shower Favors) and for more candle gift ideas, see Candy Baby Shower Favors (http://www.mybabyshowerfavors.com/candy.htm).

Note: If you find this article useful, you may reprint it on your website, e-zine, or in your newsletter as long as the credits above remain in tact and the hyperlinks stay active.

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