Showing posts with label Types of chocolate. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Types of chocolate. Show all posts
Extreme Chocolate Mousse! – How to Make the Best Chocolate Mousse Ever!
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
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_uMOUa-pPwr-CUMGu-xjExE_E4dd3BA2T20xfyZKO37L7kh46sMQ-J78g0lXPc4uVrd5awhI2CgTI8zy44l6Jjw-ktBTEHCxe5m-_L0ehaM67ln02_sclnH6SgXV72iaaNv7ay6fTWaU9m1Lgi99wDO=s0-d)
Ways To Create Delicious 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.
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_skYPy7QAfWPwyCqrAf1Sncu8lHfABNe3_QY9ZLXk_n44-iL1QcJI1bKEuCpPIWF75A6JKwKJfNlSk4ABBb1VWHZUaAunyxd0aHQq9G9nKstHuEWMV4px4utUowc_x0mXOcMzmEBsybyBoPnBt5Xlk=s0-d)
Chocolate Are Good For Health
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
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_tQqJ7SBmNclVjaW-3U56ExLeXtBcEMIBSFsH71doJQd4uiOBENHASdDvoRyTP-Vh3ucOKUaKpUQiS1Mp5J7hb2ckmJT21QOuJFpITfIgNThpSwfCnfS5-HIMFd9PovhEVj-jBFvskdrS2UlnBQEJI=s0-d)
Do You Know What Chocolate Truffles Are?
| 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 |
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_tSqfre6FaWElJXWZME-YZq79KsnhCPvsvoaU5xEG58eSbRWn9D9pTuDWal6m_lrROt4DtmthDQ0ur-nTgL-RIPk2LGM81ad0ksa3xiRrysoUitk6hYNtRWl3SIHkepiyGPToac_przh5mmNqQYNb8=s0-d)
New Healthy Chocolate That Could Change Your Life
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.
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_vdnzgfw2zP17vDCcRkH5Lx-d12JsB6ERD5n4_ZVBSOEXpqQbdvhNPAoXZVpZ6JczGbk--V6ffpiFP7xH3KLmvF4z_HzXcstEMvyXJcx9x3bAlfVVFgUmwwfDcJMvJwqgVYpxYKuFS3htRtQbeNykV8=s0-d)
How to Make Chocolate Dipped Candy?
| 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 |
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_t6iJOQd5_MvH3Z6GpK3O9BDNJxGH5oJ_xpsPGbysUToXvj4vSQLY4YCpEUb_Z70R0gOLoTDJMjDcMr5cVp5wJwR4N3BS0XJZ1nQ3rtTL-Spgovj5RL_2byDLoPWm5n_969HvLvSg6pBFF_WFq7FQsf=s0-d)
Do You Crave White Chocolate?
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.
Source: Free Articles
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
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_sKp4oEk-pkyB35PyBV-_dEaSxe3b-uLonDKYZjrl0hApmEykqKO6KpAiqfWTR6ilKb7QTh4Mv1IzMCvFLGkWV89f8wnAZY8OJYUmopj9alQ41ceQC7nsv3GGerji7_SNEuxdmNTrCjR2oNQME-VQwY=s0-d)
Chocolate-- The Newest Health Food?
You may have already heard that chocolate contains beneficial flavonoids and antioxidents. Flavonoids are naturally-occurring compounds found in plant foods that are full of recognized health benefits. There are more than 4,000 flavonoid compounds, which are a subgroup of a large class called polyphenols. Phenols are believed to help reduce the risk of heart disease by helping prevent atherosclerosis. The flavanols in chocolate appear to help the body use nitric oxide, which is crucial for healthy blood flow and blood pressure, which means that chocolate might help reduce hypertension as well.
Red wine is know for its high phenol content, but an average bar of dark chocolate contains more phenols than 8 ounces of red wine. Scientists at Cornell University and Seoul National University examined the cancer-fighting antioxidant content of hot cocoa, red wine, and tea, and found that cocoa had nearly double the antioxidants of red wine and four to five times more than tea.
Holland's National Institute of Public Health and Environment found that dark chocolate contains 53.5 mg of catechins per 100 grams. (Catechins are the powerful antioxidants that fight against cancer and help prevent heart disease). By contrast, a cup of black tea contains only about 14 mg of catechins and green tea has about 30 mg of catechins.
A study at University of California Davis found that participants who ate chocolate showed a reduction in platelet activity. This means that chocolate has an anti-clotting, blood-thinning effect that can be compared to aspirin.
A Harvard University study of 8,000, with an average age of 65, revealed that those who consumed chocolate lived almost a year longer than those who did not. Those who ate one to three candy bars per month had a 36 percent lower risk of death (compared to the people who ate no candy), while those who ate three or more candy bars per week had a 16 percent lower risk.
A study of older men in The Netherlands, known for its chocolate, showed that those who ate the most chocolate, an equivalent of one-third of a chocolate bar every day, had lower blood pressure and a 50 percent lower risk of death. The researchers also noted the men eating the most cocoa products were not heavier or bigger eaters than the men who ate less cocoa.
And it's not just dark chocolate that is the only healthy type of chocolate. Most studies talk about the benefits of dark chocolate, but some of the most recent news about chocolate includes good news for milk chocolate lovers, who have been left out in the past.
The Wheeling Jesuit University in West Virginia did a study that shows that milk chocolate seems to boost brainpower. The groups in the test consumed, on different occasions, milk chocolate, dark chocolate, carob and nothing. Then they were tested for cognitive performance including memory, attention span, reaction time, and problem solving.
According to Dr. Bryan Raudenbush, "Composite scores for verbal and visual memory were significantly higher for milk chocolate than the other conditions." The study also found that consumption of milk and dark chocolate was associated with improved impulse control and reaction time. It seems that by consuming chocolate you get stimulating effects from substances found in chocolate, such as theobromine and phenylethylamine, which then lead to increased mental performance.
Chocolate really does make you feel good, too. It is known to stimulate the secretion of endorphins, producing a pleasurable sensation similar to the "runner's high" a jogger feels after running several miles. Chocolate also contains a neurotransmitter, serotonin that acts as an anti-depressant. Studies in England show that even the aroma of chocolate gives a bout of euphoria and will help lift the spirits.
And now people are looking at chocolate for skin care. According to Marlies Spinale, director of Tru Spa, "Like many other antioxidants, cocoa polyphenols are thought to offer the skin protection from free-radical damage caused by sun, pollution, stress, alcohol consumption and other factors. I believe that we will hear more about the benefits of chocolate in skin care."
Some people have been avoiding chocolate because one of the main ingredients of chocolate is cocoa butter. It was thought that it was an unhealthy fat, but actually cocoa butter is not unhealthy. It is made up of the beneficial fatty acids-- oleic acid (a heart-healthy monounsaturated fat also found in olive oil), stearic and palmitic acids. Stearic and palmitic acids are healthy forms of saturated fat. Plus chocolate contains vitamins A, B1, C, D, and E, as well as potassium, sodium, and iron.
So go ahead and indulge in a little chocolate, in moderation of course. I would recommend that you try to find organic chocolate, and stick with darker chocolate because it has more chocolate flavonoids and less sugar. (Sugar weakens the immune system; so don't consume sugar if you are ill.) And a little bit of milk chocolate is alright when you need an occasional milk chocolate brainpower boost, such as before a test. All you students take note!
Chocolate as a health food-- can life get any better?
By Dianne Ronnow, © 2006 Mohave Publishing.
If you need a little extra help losing weight, I have good news for you. I found an excellent safe diet aid that really helped me lose weight, burn fat, and get my metabolism going!
Go to http://NexagenUSA.com/diet_patch now for more information. And go to http://Coconut-Oil-Diet.com today for more healthy weight loss diet secrets.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/advice-articles/chocolate-the-newest-health-food-37096.html
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_uMnLJYUNCS7gJP2m74V4VGv0s7wIhXgHoMPo3EISHmnUW_-NPSTduejrkqoPY6r5OUaD4NHgx-lFsKH-1R7rsHaPTTBxTGN13oYdHwVDxV7WVvcP_3oCgFJwQvQ0AvhB405u7oNqfBVENf_iUJ5Oem=s0-d)
The Long Journey Of Chocolate From Cacao Beans To Fine Chocolate
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.
Source: Free Articles
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_tOoYVBbKy7056IWxegQ39c2njRAhdZq8AVjllu_EPJ903Vwo6V5CQWFfFohquRLSbCyuz_tblh7ScwkzyjNxQJ8KkR26S-dC8G0wgvUmv2EKfbRT_w0dY9GLf-wmB2hUJoI4Cu1PwE2PMTU7QqD53K=s0-d)
How to make your wedding chocolate cake special
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.
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_tRpoBNyYQN9bUfHEAxjfT8s6r7xlfuKeKXntNfw2xJIrbKaHdBiDa4nadgYehGAWAlSY8ump0wlTwWYyA9LFMuRTxr1W2-s_Z5aGWP1G87kLYYVYIgJOt8XZLBlSoe93uG_8WUBJMbch5Ofi6mfGm8=s0-d)
Interesting Chocolate Statistics
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.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Criss_White
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_swDxm1EBDpippymzo15BQ-FTDQ8mwJ2nDhksVisbaBbQ2dj7wB9V2a-ciqMAOYR5BhLXTa8rYCNenf2vt-ouN-A18mOZ56RgOBQC9VHv7FrJ-dbJud_m91osOG2JaQRkpDKVjmEDKHhwex-tUQt1M=s0-d)
The Magic Of Chocolate
Do you want to win your girl’s heart? Gift her a chocolate! Girls are very fond of chocolate.
Chocolate is a very good mood booster. It can bring a smile on your face even when you are angry or sad. Moreover, chocolate is known to boost up the sexual desire as well.
It is much better than a tranquilizer. It has been scientifically proven that chocolate is good for aged men and women. It has been suggested that chocolate can reduce the risk of heart disorders.
It is also good for those who suffer from sleeping disorders.
Since ages, chocolate is considered to be a symbol of love and friendship.
No doubt, chocolate is the best gift and it can be gifted on any occasion. It can be gifted on Valentine's Day, Christmas, Friendship Day or on a birthday.
There are several kinds of chocolate. The main ones are as follows:
• 'Truffle' has a smooth center full of cocoa and ganache butter. The outside is just chocolate.
• 'Pave Glace' is 75% dark chocolate. But, it is soft and squishy. In my view, this is the best chocolate you can ever get to taste.
• 'Cherry Liquor' contains a real cherry dipped in chocolate sauce.
• 'Praline' chocolate is any chocolate that has nuts.
• 'Milk chocolate' has only 50% dark chocolate. Rest is made out of cocoa beans and sugar.
• 'Caprice' contains hazelnut paste and milk chocolate. It has praline covered in dark chocolate.
No matter what kind of chocolate you end up buying, it will definitely show you the magic of its taste.
Gift Ideas, Unique Gift Ideas, Basket Gift Ideas - the magic of chocolate
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bhatnagar_Sumit
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_u3_nmg-5XDlopYexis24aHCLHALDLld0fRvQb1tc04coa2Ow60Hn3BViUDxtqbvLC7Cp7D4br1pAuuua66u1fay-zjsuoBuOKwCI-vsZ_jqo3_WDOCe1qbmG1HpLx5qqpGYR5-urVs2jjqVj2NSbwW=s0-d)
Making Chocolate Cake
Making chocolate cake is a pleasure not just for kids but also for adults. It is one of the universal favorites and making it can certainly give you an edge and flair when hosting certain occasions. Except for the rare few who are allergic to chocolates, chocolate cakes can cause one to have a better mood, as attested to by scientific research on endorphin hormones which come in larger proportions from chocolate. The endorphin rush can also be attained by having fun in creating your own chocolate cake.
Here are the basic steps for making chocolate cake.
Les Ingredients (The Ingredients)
The basic ingredient for chocolates include coffee powder, chopped butter, dark chocolate, water, brown sugar, cocoa powder, flour, lightly whisked egg, cocoa powder, and cachous for decoration. Proportions vary according to the level and degree of sweetness you prefer for you chocolate cake. The amount also varies based on the required number of servings you need.
The Steps
As with any cake, preheating to about 160 degrees Celsius. The base must also be created and greased to about 20 centimeters for standard size. After settling this, you can now add the coffee, butter, chocolate, sugar and water in a pan. Place it only on low heat. Stir this for the next few minutes until it melts and balances. Once this is established, set it aside for a few minutes and let it cool down.
Grab a bowl and transfer the entire mixture. Do some sifting and get the cocoa powder and combined flours. Add the almonds in this particular stage. After mixing all these, add the eggs and fold the flour. Keep stirring and pour it into the pan.
After all this is finished, bake the cake for at least one hour. If at all possible, monitor the progress of your cake by using a skewer. Once this is finished, take the cake out of the oven and prepare it for icing. The icing must be made of fresh cream and chocolate placed in a bowl, stirred to smooth perfection. Place the icing in the middle of the cake and in the outer surfaces, ensuring uniformity and balance in the elements. Add the decorations afterwards.
Some Additional Pieces of Advice
Cooling is essential in every stage of making chocolate. You need to make sure that the chocolate is cooled before you decide to add any more ingredients. You must also exercise caution in establishing proportions of the ingredients so that there will not be overpowering elements in your chocolate cake. Have somebody test your cake from time to time and practice doing it to refine your style and speed in making chocolate cake.
At the outset, you must have high quality chocolate to begin with. Your techniques come in secondary to the quality of your ingredients, so make sure that you are making your chocolate with the best ingredients there is in the market. It can also be made more fun if you share the chocolate cake making activity with friends and family to make the affair and learning even sweeter.
Other techniques may come in but essentially, it is advisable to look for the perfect manner with which you can do your best cooking or baking skills and at the same time, maintain the richness of excellently made chocolate cakes.
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_t7zLDTFf52QqYuLidte3e0tFokwPuADTzfJH4LLUkV_t6WA-cxpvnv2n33sUO4UZSHB4tmjAGZ1g01qZf4vXruTqxJx-lP7ww-bV5nYb40yZyV-E-X88y2g-J0wkYek1ZVNAlGR-m8DLNDGj4Wsr0=s0-d)
Tips for Making Chocolate
First, water is the enemy of chocolate so make sure that the two do not come into contact with one another otherwise, your chocolate will become grainy.
If you are using white colored chocolate and want to add coloring to it, never use regular food color or food color paste since this too contains water. You should only use powdered or gel varieties.
When you are adding color to chocolate, add this in small quantities and stir before adding more. This is because putting in might change the color of your chocolate making it too bright. If this happens, this can be remedied by diluting the shade using some more white chocolate.
Apart from powdered or gel varieties of color, you can also use artist brushes to paint designs into your mold. Another option is to use lollipop sticks or even toothpicks so you will have better control in making the finished product.
When you are done using the chocolate mold, never wash this with soap as this removes its stickiness. Just use water and after rinsing, dry this properly to prevent spots from appearing that will also make it difficult to release the chocolate from the mold.
But if it is already difficult to remove, the next time you use the mold, apply a light coating of vegetable oil as this always does the trick.
Should there be some chocolate on the edges of the mold, remove it using a butter knife. Remember this can be reused by simply melting it again and then pouring this to the next batch of whatever you are making.
If your melted chocolate is too thick to paint, add some parafinflakes until you get the right mixture. If you don’t have this, you can also use vegetable shortening or cocoa butter.
Chocolate when melted and poured into the mold was immediately be placed inside the freezer for several minutes. To remove it, you simply have to turn this over onto a tray. If it does not come out on its own, you can tap it gently or pour some hot water in the back.
Some people paint the chocolate after it has been taken out of the freezer. To do this, you must hold the mold over you head so you can see it from the right side. If there are any air bubbles, tap the area where they are using your fingers until it pops.
If you happen to make a mistake while painting, don’t worry. You should just put the mold back into the freezer so it will be easy to remove when it hardens and you can easily correct it. The rule of thumb when it comes to painting is to finish one color first before moving on to the others.
If you are not good painting all the details, do what many people do and that is to simply use just one solid color.
By following these chocolate making tips, you will be able to make chocolate for any occasion all year round. You can give this away as gifts or serve this as part of your dessert which will make you feel proud knowing that you made this yourself instead of buying this from the store.
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_vv_GBs3IVj7-fhet7K0RnXifqWKSWpXNgxresxhuS-CovXRhKyz-jz4SE63lyKSPglSSY5FrtL2nyqkdWRv54PtjxxaCRTjCjcSf_RhdinWM98dFNftJVsYqwLfSbDfAX_3tKAdoxRWn6Cw18bcfqc=s0-d)
The Different Processes in Making Chocolate
From the trees to the chocolate makers, how such processes really evolve? Through time, there have been many developments regarding chocolate making. Technology has benefited a lot of life's endeavors. This also applies to the process of chocolate making.
But such advancement only applies on the harvesting part. The processing basically remains the same, the old conventional way. As what's been said, do not fix a thing if it's not broken. Maybe the same rule is being applied to this venture.
It feels good to eat chocolates. But do you want to know about the different methods that go behind such concept? Here are some.
Roasting
It takes a good amount of roasting as well as cocoa seed fermentation to come up with the quality of chocolate that you are looking for. In the pre-roasting stage, the beans are directed to infrared beaming heaters. This process will take away the nibs of the beans from the shells. The temperature for this part is 100 to 140 degree Celsius. This takes about 20 up to 40 minutes.
Roasting can also be done directly. After the beans are roasted, the shells can be easily removed. This is favored by most chocolate makers because it retains the flavor of the beans. For this part, the temperature is at 150 to 160 degree Celsius.
Fermentation
This is done to decrease the level of sugar, glucose as well as fructose and also amino acids in the beans. This brings in the flavor of the beans that the process of roasting will be able to enhance. But not everybody can do this. It takes a master to hone this craft. Beans can rot if something goes wrong with this process.
Shelling
To be able to remove the shells from the beans, it takes more processes than you could ever imagine. This includes milling, then sifting and lastly, winnowing. Every step is important so as to come up with the grains that have the right size.
Tasting
If you think that this will be an easy task, well, that seems to be not the case. This involves skill and expertise. One must have studied every taste of the different kinds and variations of chocolates to be able to proclaim that they can perform well on this and be a judge as to what varieties should be presented to the market.
These people can be compared to wine experts. Just a bite from a chocolate treat will tell them what processes it went through, what kind of beans was used or where it was actually made.
And there are yet different kinds of chocolates available in the market. Imagine what all those have to go through just to be able to reach your favorite grocery store so that you can purchase them for your own consumption.
You don't have to be an expert in making chocolate. But you can start following some techniques in the tasting part. If you are treated with a filled chocolate, let it linger on your mouth until it melts and you can taste all its flavors. You can then chew it for about five times, enough for the flavor and the coating to blend in.
Enjoy and savor your chocolate tasting experience.
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_uV5D-gNg6TYD2QRMR9XPazOOGVOae99meV2MRSCxjy0y5t-oY9jPUSsaXD2WpPQxRC278WmjwC-5SQXmcTlGPF5alu97XExs_PLyOx1A5_BdodoeM1z3cqJBSNHaYhIkYG9eOA2fTVhimXRYWuBCvi=s0-d)
Making Chocolate Starts by Melting It
Melting is not the same thing as tempering so never confuse the two. However, melting is part of the tempering process which can be done using a microwave or a hot water bath.
The nice thing about using a microwave to melt chocolate is that you get the results you want fast with little or no effort at all and mess. Naturally, before you put the chocolate in the microwave, you should put this in a microwave safe container that remains cool or only slightly warm after several minutes.
The ideal setting on the microwave should be at least 50% low power. This prevents scorching or burning. How long should you put these in on the microwave depends on how much you will be using. A good basis will be 1 minute for every ounce of chocolate so put this first on a weighing scale.
If by accident you overheated the chocolate, don’t panic. Pour this into a cool bowl and add chunks of unmelted chocolate and stir continuously.
If you prefer to use a double boiler, start by filling the sauce pan with hot water from the tap and then put the chocolate over into another bowl. Since the water is just warming up in the bottom, you should only put 1/3 of the chocolate and let it melt first before putting the rest in.
You must stir the bowl frequently so all the chocolate has melted. When this is done, this is the time you pour this into the mold.
Whichever you decide to choose, remember these tips.
• First, chop the chocolates into small pieces because it melts quicker.
• Never let chocolate get into contact with water because it will make the block of chocolate unworkable.
• When melting the chocolate, do this in low heat or temperature so you prevent it from overheating.
• To prevent bubbles, stir the chocolate frequently using a rubber spatula but only when the outer edges begin to melt.
• You have to remember that chocolate retains it shape when melted so again, you have to stir it constantly so there won’t be any problems getting some using a spoon and then pouring this into the mold.
You can also melt chocolate with other liquids aside from water. You can use cream, milk, cream and wine. But most people use water because it is faster and more convenient. But if you were to try other liquids, make sure that you use at least 1 tablespoon of liquid for very 2 ounces of water. This will prevent the chocolate from binding together and becoming lumpy. But if you are using dark chocolate, you may have to add more than 1 tablespoon per ounce.
Melting the chocolate is key in making your final product when you pour this into a mold. It does not matter whether you choose to use a microwave or a double boiler because you will be doing the same thing in the end which is to freeze it and then pack it up to give it as a gift or serve it as part of your dessert.
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_t36cqwJmKerxqAnjndqCMDI9C5GOVrbNrIzjswMeXjqgld0NQgTNNQ1K252oCVj7mAir_o2C2KsB1bQDjht6wKjrnY_XGZr_zDv5k3iJ4uuDGA9AtaTp0WvQ28d76uHaFO2P4XQGPK0UKcOaMT-pwo=s0-d)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
