My Chocolate Fantasy

Mabel van Niekerk asked:


The very word “chocolates” conjures up visions of delectable varieties of dark, milk and varieties of light candy.  Very few of us are not partial to chocolate.  There are so many varieties that there is one to suit every taste.

Maybe you prefer the less sweet chocolate then the one for you is the dark variety.  They are totally delicious and decadent.  Milk chocolates are sweet and contain milk powder.  White chocolate contains cocoa butter, sugar and milk but no cocoa solids so it is not considered to be true chocolate.  Never the less they are still delicious!

Because chocolate contains a variety of substances, including sugar and a small percentage of caffeine and among others, Theobromine, it is regarded as a mild stimulant.  On the other hand theobromine is considered toxic for animals such as dogs, cats, parrots and small rodents.  The reason is that they cannot metabolize the chemical effectively.  So remember that by giving your pets a piece of chocolate you are not doing them a favor.

There is most certainly not another treat that is as popular as chocolates.  At most celebrations chocolates will be evident.  Chocolates are given as gifts on most occasions.  Attractively packaged varieties of chocolates in their colorful wrappers make excellent gifts for birthdays, Christmas, mother and fathers day, graduations and that special gift for someone you love.

Most couples say “sorry” to each other with a gift of chocolates.  It is so much easier to forgive someone when they were thoughtful enough to bring along your favorite variety of chocolate!

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Chris Alleny asked:


When people think of chocolate no two people are the same

Most chocolates that people are familiar with are dark, milk, white, semi-sweet, and maybe sugar-free.

But there are so many more out there.

Take AERATED chocolate for instance. It usually dark or white chocolate where air bubbles are introduced to the chocolate as it is being made.

And then there is FILLED Chocolate. It is a chocolate that additives were added. Things like nuts, jelly pieces, dried fruits and even cereals.

As for Organic, it is made from the raw material that the farmers produce.

In the 1990′s chocolates with a high content of cocoa became very popular in Europe. The content of cocoa was 40-60%. Now some producers make chocolate ranging from 70 to 85%. There are even some that contain 99%!

Here is a list of unknown or unimagined chocolates.

Raw or Roasted Cacao— this the whole cacao bean minus the shell.

Cacao Nibs—this the broken up pieces of the bean.

Ground Cacao—as the name suggests it’s the bean ground up.

It is the healthiest form of chocolate there is however it can be quite bitter to the taste.

Chocolate Liquor— Unlike what it’s name may suggest there is no alcohol added. This how chocolate starts. Producers start by grinding cacao nibs into a liquid paste in which nothing is added. It has about 53% cocoa butter at this stage.

Unsweetened Chocolate—this what people use to bake with. It is sometimes referred as pure or bitter chocolate. It contains at least 35% chocolate liquor. There is cocoa and sugar in various amounts. There really no difference between bittersweet and semi-sweet chocolate. Often times they are referred as dark chocolate. The chocolate bittersweet or semi-sweet (the type baked with) is sweetened by adding cocoa liquor without adding the cocoa butter.

Sweet Chocolate—this chocolate is sometimes mistaken for bittersweet. The reason being that it contains at least 15% chocolate liquor in which cocoa butter and sugar is added in various amounts.

Milk Chocolate: This chocolate contains at least 10% chocolate liquor then cocoa butter and sugar is added in various amounts then at least 12% milk, cream, or milk powder is added.

White Chocolate: technically isn’t considered a type of chocolate since it doesn’t contain chocolate liquor. But it must have at least 20% cocoa butter and 14% milk with sugar added in various amounts. No wonder my white fudge never turns out!

Cocoa powder— is really cocoa powder or unsweetened cocoa.

Then the last on my list is Dutched Chocolate.

It is formed by washing cocoa powder in an alkali solution of Potassium Carbonate. This wash darkens the color and neutralizes acidity of the cocoa powder. Cocoa that is very alkalized is called Black cocoa. This is the chocolate used in Oreo cookies.

In short the use and types of chocolate just depends on the imagination of the producers. Then in turn the consumer who is using the chocolate. Well I can say for this, my imagination turned to making white chocolate fudge and as I stated earlier it didn’t turn out. OH,well back to the drawing board. I haven’t given up.

Amit Desai asked:


‘’All I really need is love, but a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt” Lucy Van Pelt (in Peanuts, by Charles M. Schulz)

When our mind is hovering over the idea of a perfect gift to send to our loved ones on any special occasion, the one thing that’s always on the mind is chocolate. Chocolates can make for an indispensable gift for everyone.

The word \”chocolate\” is derived from the word Xocolate used in the acient times by the Aztecs of Mexico. It is believed that Chocolate was first noted in 1519 when Spanish explorer Hernando Cortez visited the court of Emperor Montezuma of Mexico. Native to lowland, tropical South America, cacao has been cultivated for at least three millenniums in Central America and Mexico, with its earliest documented use around 1100 BC. The majority of the Meso-american people made chocolate beverages and made drinks out of chocolate. The first use of cacao is said to have been at a site in Puerto Escondido, Honduras, dating from about 1100 to 1400 BC.

Chocolate is made from the beans of Cocoa. From the cocoa bean pods the beans are separated after fermentation. These beans are cleansed and then blown in a process to remove foreign particles and husk. Then the kernel of the seeds is broken in small bits which are called nibs. These nibs are ground finely to obtain what is called cocoa liquor. The liquor when crystallized produces the dark chocolate which is the mother of virtually all other chocolates that are prepared.

 

Depending upon what goes into it there are many types of chocolates available now. These types of chocolates include cocoa powder, dark chocolate, bittersweet chocolate, semi sweet chocolate, sweet dark chocolate, milk chocolate, white chocolate, Couverture chocolates, and Gianduja chocolates.

Chocolate is a popular gift item that you can give to anyone for any special occasion. You can give chocolate to your loved one with a bunch of red roses. You can wish your friend good luck with this delightful treat. Parents can be greeted  happy anniversary with a chocolate basket. The best way to cheer up kids is by gifting them a box of chocolates. No matter what the celebration is, chocolate gifts are sure to bring a smile to the faces of the people who are close to your heart.

A box full of delicious chocolates can be an ideal gift. A variety of  branded chocolates from Cadbury, Nestle, Vochelle, Ferrero Rocher can be included in the box, which is decorated for an artistic appeal. If the recipient is a chocolate lover, he is sure to be delighted with the miscellany of white chocolate, dark chocolate, chocolate with nuts, fruits, and almonds. Chocolates can also be moulded in different shapes like roses, stars, etc.  The chocolate roses can be sent decorated with red ribbons and nets.

Chocolates are a great gift for occasions. What better way to say, “I love you” to that special someone than by gifting chocolates on Valentine’s Day! Love and chocolates go hand in hand.  Birthdays are occasions which demand something sweet. Chocolates to your loved ones on their Birthday will surely be the most preferred gift. On a wedding ceremony , the best way to wish a newly wed couple is to gift them a pack of gourmet chocolates.  Chocolates can be treated to a  couple on their Anniversary also. Chcolates have such a magic that it can sweeten up any moment of life.

Moderate consumption of chocolates can have many benefits on the various aspects of our health.Chocolates are made from cocoa and acts as a great antidepressant. Chocolates act as a source of antioxidants and thus lower the threats of cancer and cardiac problems. Naturally processed dark chocolates are an excellent source of flavonoids, which are a type of polyphenols, present in plants having antioxidant properties. So the next time you want to bring back a smile on someone’s face, cheer up a friend – send them a pack of assorted chocolates.

Be it Diwali, Easter, Holi, Christmas, Rakhi, Eid or any other festival, chocolates are the most precious gift item to send to your family, friends and loved ones. When away from the family, chocolates can be a good long distance gift to send back home.

If you are in a hurry, simply give a single piece of chocolate bar as a gift. Choose the favorite chocolate bar for that special person and tie a small ribbon around it and the gift is ready. Chocolate gifts are indeed ideal for any occasion. Whether it is a basket bursting with chocolate variants, a neatly wrapped chocolate gift box, or a simple chocolate bar, it is sure to make that special day more memorable.

Michael Bridges asked:


There are some great chocolate fondue recipes out there. The world loves chocolate. You would be hard pressed to find somebody that doesn’t like chocolate in some form or another. Chocolate has even been called the food of the Gods.

Fondue makes a great dip for dipping fruit, shortbread cookies, pound cake and even salty snacks like pretzels. You put chocolate and fondue together and you can’t go wrong. Have some kind of chocolate fondue at a party or get together with some dippers and watch how fast it disappears.

However if you’re like most people you don’t really want to spend a lot time on your chocolate fondue recipes. Well here are a couple of chocolate fondue recipes that are fast, easy and delicious. Serve any of these at your next get together and your guests will think you’re and angel.

Two Minute Chocolate Fondue Recipe

Only two minutes and you’ve got a tasty chocolate fondue dessert.

Ingredients You Need:

12 ounces good quality semi-sweet chocolate

2/3 cup heavy cream

2 tablespoons pure vanilla extract

3 tablespoons Grand Marnier or Amaretto liqueur (optional)

Bite sized pieces of fruit or cake

How To Prepare:

Combine the chocolate and heavy cream in a medium heavy saucepan over medium-low heat. Stirring constantly, cook for about two minutes, or until melted and smooth. Add the vanilla and liqueur. Serve with the fruit and cake.

Serves 6

Smores Chocolate Fondue Recipe

This is a new take on an old favorite camping recipe.

Ingredients You Need:

1 cup cream

8 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, chopped

1 cup marshmallow cream

How To Prepare:

Slowly warm the cream in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat. When hot, add the chocolate pieces, stirring until melted. Stir in the marshmallow cream and warm the mixture. Transfer to a warm fondue pot.

Serve with graham crackers and marshmallows.

Serves 6 or more

So do you think these chocolate fondue recipes will make your guest glad they came to your get together? Sure they will and it took you no time at all to do. You don’t only have to have chocolate fondues as a party treat, you can have it any time you want. Let these two chocolate fondue recipes be just the first of many more.