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October 5th, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

Chocolate is relaxing. Its calming. It soothes our nerves and makes us feel good. And we often think of it as a sinful indulgence. But it doesnt have to be. If you choose your chocolate wisely, you can enjoy it without the guilty feelings we normally associate with it.

What Are the Healthy Aspects of Chocolate?

By eating small amounts of the right chocolate, you will enjoy the many health aspects of chocolate. Chocolate contains high levels of potassium and magnesium, as well as vitamins B1, B2, D and E. If thats not reason enough to reach for a daily dose of chocolate, consider that it can also lower blood pressure and prevent arteries from hardening, therefore protecting the heart.

Has Chocolate Been Wrongly Accused?

For the most part, chocolate has been wrongly accused. New studies are finding that common beliefs about the effects of chocolate are not true after all. While we used to associate chocolate with acne, researchers have now dismissed a possible link between the two. While some people avoided chocolate because of the caffeine level associated with it, we now know that a small serving only contains as much caffeine as a cup of decaffeinated coffee. Does chocolate really cause migraines? Well, only if consumed in large amounts. Again, moderation plays a big role here.

So before you reach for a Hershey bar of a Snickers, consider that the chocolate you eat should contain 70% cocoa. This can be found specifically in dark chocolates. You should invest in a quality dark chocolate and eat it in small amounts every day to see the health benefits. Make sure you enjoy each bite and let it melt in your mouth. It will have the same effect as the recommended single glass of wine per day.

What Kind of Chocolate Offers The Most Health Aspects?

True cocoa is the best chocolate to eat for health reasons. Not only will it satisfy your sweet tooth, but it will also provide health aspects beyond what many of us dreamed possible. The recommendation is to eat two small squares of chocolate per day. Were not talking about a typical candy bar here. Dark chocolate contains higher levels of cocoa and lower level of milk and sugar.

Choosing Wisely

The best varieties of chocolate are more expensive and are dark or bittersweet. Good chocolate should only have a few ingredients on the contents label. In addition, you can buy organic chocolate or make your own homemade chocolate with a cocoa base.

Healthy Chocolate Snacks

There are some easy ways to get in your daily dose of heart-healthy chocolate. Try a steamy cup of hot cocoa, fruit dipped dark in chocolate, chocolate covered almonds or eat the squares of chocolate by themselves.

Chocolate in Moderation

Hearing that chocolate has health aspects does not mean we can load up our grocery carts with chocolate bars though. It is important to adhere to the daily-recommended dose since it is high in calories. Moderation is a key factor here. Balance your caloric intake with a variety of other heart-healthy foods and reach for the dark chocolate as a cure for your sweet tooth sparingly.

Find more information at: Chocolate Information and Resources

chocolate

July 17th, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

So, you decided to take the most anticipated walk down the aisle and you have chosen the Fall as the perfect accent. Fall weddings are very romantic because the season represents a beautiful transition much like the transition you are about to encounter. The best way to accent the wedding with the season is to choose from an array of fall wedding favors that are ideal for both sexes.

Most seem to think that the wedding is all about the bride. Actually, it isnt especially when it comes to choosing the right wedding favor for your guests. This is a time for the bride and grooms to come together as one to make practical decisions. The pair of you has already decided on the season of the wedding, now its time to work together in honor of your guests. Lets try this out for size…when you think of fall, what comes to mind - the beautiful changing leaves, the cool atmosphere, maybe even cider and doughnuts. Rest assured, your thoughts were possibly calming to say the least. This could be reflective in your theme and d�cor. This is a good way to narrow down on what to choose for a good fall wedding favor.

The best gift for both sexes is a gift that both can use. For a fall theme, golden wine bottle stoppers with carved leaf tips are an awesome idea. Coasters detailed with fall leaves and even photo albums with pressed leaves are great ideas and are great additions to the table d�cor. Make an array of this festive event by adding to the table setting place card holders that hold the card in a leaf, a ceramic turkey place card holder or even pumpkin place card holders for that harvest touch. If youre looking for something more edible, maple cookies or honey dried in the shape of a maple leaf makes a great ensemble for guests.

For do it yourself projects, try candy corn placed in a silver mint tin with a clear top. Get a bit fancier and tie a personalized ribbon around the mint tin in a festive autumn color to add more spice to the table. Speaking of spices, this is a great idea for fall wedding favors. Another idea is to place fall theme kisses in chocolate colored favor boxes or add chocolate shaped leaves to pumpkin centerpieces and place in the center of the table for the guests to enjoy. A cellophane bag of harvest shaped cookies tied with multicolor ribbon works well with kids. These ideas are all fun and great for both sexes to enjoy.

Sinai Lee is writer for many wedding publicattions. Find the fall wedding favors mentioned in this article and much more wedding favors at HQWeddingFavors.com

Chocolate Mold

March 30th, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

It is hard to eat healthy in present days, when we are surrounded by junk food, we typically do not have regular meals due to our infernal schedules, and we do not realize that our health is generally affected. Yes, our health can be affected by bad cholesterol or bad diets. But how can those affect our heart? What is the relation between them?

When our diets consist of high saturated fats our cholesterol level will rise, leading to heart diseases. The high sodium level in our diet can produce the elevation of the blood pressure, which will eventually inflame the heart and incure disease. Medical reports show that people that are obese are more prone to heart diseases.

Changing our diet and eating healthy is not a thing that can be accomplished in a day or two. This change must be progressive in order to maintain it, it is about changing your whole life, starting with what you eat, having regular meals, the way to cook also. Do the right thing to improve your health!

You should start with what you eat. There are healthy fats and oils, such as Omega 3 ( found in FISH: herring, sardines, salmon - and decreases the level of cholesterol ) and mono saturated fats ( OLIVE OIL, which can be used for cooking, sauces, dressings - does not affect the heart ). Saturated fats found in meat, butter must be avoided or consumed in small quantities.

FIBERS can be found in whole grain products and are very effective in controlling the level of cholesterol, absorbing the sugar and keeping the digestive system healthy. You can find fibers in foods like whole grain bread, whole grain pasta, brown rice, fruits and vegetables. If you choose fibers instead of sugary foods ( candy, cookies, pastries ), you will make your HEART HEATHY.

But most of the food must be cooked before we eat it. Sometimes, we think we are eating healthy, but we do not take in consideration the methods of cooking. It is not enough that we eat fish if the fish is fried in butter or saturated oils. Try stir frying, foil cooking or steaming to prepare your food and you will be amazed by how tasty and healthy it is. You can replace cream sauces with yogurt, olive oil / canola oil; lemon juice for the vegetables - you will see that the taste is delicious and healthy for your heart.

Though, have in mind that this big changes must be applied in time, because our metabolism is hard to change, but not impossible. So, change your way of life and keep your heart healthy by eating healthy.

Colin writes about various topics ranging from Pet Companions to health related subjects. For more writings by him, visit: Free Health Related Articles

Chocolate Dessert - Something for Everyone

March 6th, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

Who doesn’t like a rich, delicious chocolate dessert to end a great meal? In fact, a great chocolate dessert recipe can make an otherwise bland meal seem great. They say people remember the end of the meal more than the beginning. So, it’s no surprise that most chefs recommend you put a little thought into choosing a great finishing recipe and luckily, a chocolate dessert will more often than not, fill the bill superbly and easily!

How to Find a Great Chocolate Dessert Recipe

I know I am a chocolate freak and I think there is truly nothing better than enjoying a home-made dessert. But the best part is there are so many recipes to choose from that it’s just so easy to be a chocolate dessert freak! So, I’m going to share one of my real favorite recipes. It is called the double chocolate chunk cookie recipe, and for this you will need: 2 cups all-purpose flour; ¾ cup Nestle Toll House baking cocoa; 1 tsp baking soda; ½ tsp salt; 1 cup butter or margarine, softened; 2/3 cup granulated sugar; 2/3 cup packed brown sugar; 1 tsp vanilla extract; 2 large eggs; and 1 ¾ cups Nestle Toll House semi-sweet chocolate chunks.

First you need to preheat the oven to 350°F, it is important that the oven has reached baking temperature, and then combine the flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl, and beat the butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla extract in a large mixer bowl until it is perfectly creamy. Then add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition; gradually beat in the flour mixture, stir in chunks, then drop by rounded teaspoon onto ungreased baking sheets.

Now let them bake away for about 9-11 minutes. You will see the cookies puffing up and the centers will still be soft. Check by inserting a skewer or strand of raw spaghetti. Then allow them to cool on baking sheets for a couple of minutes after you take them out of the oven, and remove to wire racks so that they can cool completely.

I know you will just love this simple recipe. It is so easy but really satisfying even as a dessert. To dress the cookies up a bit and to make them more of a formal chocolate dessert, you may like to try the following finishing touches.

Option One
Arrange two cookies in a small desert bowl. Pile whipped cream between the cookies then crumble two small meringues over the top. Dress up with fresh raspberries and top with a small amount of extra whipped cream.

Option Two
Place a layer of fresh strawberries on bottom of serving bowl. Carefully slice one cookie lengthways and place one half on top of strawberries. Add layer of whipped or thickened cream that has been flavored with orange liqueur. Place other half of cookie on top. Add more fresh cream and garnish with a few strawberries.

Bon appetit!

A History of Chocolate

January 10th, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

I find the best way to consider the history of chocolate is to actually eat some while I’m reading! We can thank the Mayan Indians for discovering and planting the first cocoa plants in 1500 BC, when the Olmec Indians began to grow them.  They used to dry out the beans and then grind it up and use as the base of a watery drink just like we do with tea or coffee today.  This was such a delicacy that only the social elite were able to afford such luxury by the time of the Mayans.  When Columbus first began to explore the new world he was introduced to the coco bean as cargo a Mayan trader was carrying. 

Europeans Invent the First Chocolate Drink

Cacao beans were not very popular after Columbus brought back the first supplies. In fact it took some laterally minded monks to try the drink as a hot beverage. This immediately became popular throughout Spain. Soon Chocolate Houses opened throughout Europe.  In the 1700’s the first steam mechanized coco grinders which lead to a price drop in coco production that made chocolate available for all.

At Last – Solid Eating Chocolate

As the hot drink spread as a favorite drink, people became more adventurous and experimented with using the cacao beans differently. Soon the powder was being used in cakes and desserts. It became obvious that the combination with sugar was a vital developmental step. Around the time of the American Revolutionary War, Bakers Chocolate Company began large scale manufacturing.

The Chocolate Revolution Begins

Whilst the Bakers Chocolate Company was influential in North America, the Dutch were quickly moving to widespread use of Cocoa powder produced by a process named after the country, the “Dutching” method. This process produced a fine grained powder which is still a favorite with chocolate connoisseurs.

Chocolate Spreads its Wings

Soon chocolate began to be used to make candies of varyoing types. The “Dutched” method lent itself to multiple uses and when combined with cocoa butter the modern chocolate styles began to emerge. This was especially evident with the production of moldable treats which we call chocolate truffles.

The history of chocolate in America features a rich diversity of baked goods and candies.  One of the baked goods beloved by Americans are brownies, the first published recipe for this now classic treat was published in the Sears Roebuck Catalogue back at the end of the 19th century.  The Hershey Company and the Nestle Company were making so much money in the United States, that a Belgian confection maker opened Godiva Chocolate Company in 1926; all three companies are still popular chocolate manufacturers today.  
 

This is The Best Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe Ever

January 10th, 2007    Subscribe To Our Feed

I know it’s a big call but I think I’ve got this right. You want to know it don’t you? If your answer is yes then you can classify yourself as a self confessed chocolate chip cookie addict. A real life cookie monster. OK here it is:

The Recipe

1/4 cup brown sugar
1/8 cup honey
1/8 cup butter
1/8 cup natural peanut butter
1/2 banana, mashed
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
5/8 cup whole wheat flour
1/8 cup oat bran
1/2 cup rolled oats
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 pinch pumpkin pie spice
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
2 tablespoons sunflower seeds

DIRECTIONS:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
In a medium bowl, mix together the brown sugar, honey, butter and peanut butter until smooth. Stir in the banana and vanilla. Combine the whole wheat flour, oat bran, oats, baking soda, salt and pumpkin pie spice in a separate bowl. Stir the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until it forms a smooth dough. Mix in the cranberries, chocolate chips and sunflower seeds. Drop by spoonfuls onto an ungreased baking sheet.
Bake for 10 to 12 minutes in the preheated oven, until cookies are lightly browned at the edges.
Servings Per Recipe: 12
Although this chocolate chip cookie recipe is not the most basic, I have tried an awful lot before I settled on this one as my favorite. Try it I know you’ll agree. Drop me a line if you want to let me know how you found it. I’m always ready to consider improvements! You will note that I have used dark chocolate chips because I really have a preference for dark chocolate. My kids prefer a sweeter version but I reserve the above recipe as a secret adult one! Once I even made my own dark chocolate by using the very best ingredients I could find. I took a special chocolate making class where I learned the basics. (Yes I’m a real freak!), and then concocted the most exquisite chocolate imaginable then promptly ate most of them just keeping a few pieces which I used in the cookie mix above. It really complemented the cranberries. I have left out the chocolate making part as I think you will find equally good chips in the right stores.

Good luck and I hope you will join the ever increasing crowds of fans of this soon to be famous recipe.

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