CHOCOLATE Tips, Recipe and Guide

Finding A Genuine Chocolate Candy Recipe

We have all enjoyed eating chocolate candy, right? I believe we have even watched documentaries on how it is done, and maybe visited a factory, like Hershey's, and seen it done. But, have we ever used a chocolate candy recipe ourselves and actually made our own? It is often said that those old time granny recipes are the best place to find good make it yourself chocolate candy recipe.

To find a chocolate candy recipe, you can pick up any cookbook, or one specific for just dessert and confections. Hershey's has one just for that. I bought one for my wife for Christmas. You may even have an old passed down from generation to generation cookbook with chocolate candy recipes no one has ever heard of.

The internet is another form of obtaining really good chocolate candy recipes. I know, I have looked. Whether it is on someone's personal blog, or listed from a major manufacturer, there are plenty of resources right on the web. Also, another web trick. If you want to find other listings that are not showing up immediately in the search engine, go to google images. Seriously, type in what you are looking for and listed below the image is the site or site listings for, in this case, chocolate candy recipes.

Your family and friends, or co-workers on the job, a teacher at school are all great sources for obtaining a top quality chocolate candy recipe. Some of them have been doing this sort of thing for years, and are quite the confectionist. Ok, here is a recipe from a 50 year old cook book my wife owns.

Chocolate Coconut Drops

They have:
Melt over hot water, 2oz. of chopped up unsweetened chocolate (you can do this in a sauce pan as well on low heat)

Stir in:
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1/2 lb. coconut, chopped
1/2 cup walnuts, chopped

Drop by teaspoons onto baking sheet. Place in pre-heated oven at 350°. Once in turn off oven. Leave in for approximately 15-20 minutes, until chocolate candy has glazed appearance. Remove and cool.


By Joseph Young



Check Out the Related Article : White Chocolate - The Not-So-Chocolate Chocolate

How to Make Chocolate Cream Pies :

Beat to a cream half a cupful of butter and a cupful and a quarter of powdered sugar. Add two well-beaten eggs, two tablespoonfuls of wine, half a cupful of milk, and a cupful and a half of sifted flour, with which has been mixed a teaspoonful and a half of baking powder. Bake this in four well-buttered, deep, tin plates for about fifteen minutes in a moderate oven. Put half a pint of milk in the double-boiler, and on the fire.

Beat together the yolks of two eggs, three tablespoonfuls of powdered sugar, and a level tablespoonful of flour. Stir this mixture into the boiling milk, beating well. Add one-sixth of a teaspoonful of salt, and cook for fifteen minutes, stirring often. When cooked, flavor with half a teaspoonful of vanilla extract. Put two of the cakes on two large plates, spread the cream over them, and lay the other two cakes on top. Beat the whites of the two eggs to a stiff froth, and then beat into them one cupful of powdered sugar and one teaspoonful of vanilla.

Shave one ounce of Walter Baker & Co.'s Premium No. 1 Chocolate, and put it in a small pan with two tablespoonfuls of sugar and one tablespoonful of boiling water. Stir over a hot fire until smooth and glossy. Now add three tablespoonfuls of cream or milk, and stir into the beaten egg and sugar. Spread on the pies and set away for a few hours.


By Anmol Raut



Check Out the Related Article : White Chocolate - The Not-So-Chocolate Chocolate

Chocolate is a popular gift item that you can give to anyone for any special occasion. You can give chocolate to your amour with a bunch of red roses. You can wish your friend good luck with this delightful treat. Or you can greet your parents a happy anniversary with a chocolate basket. Whatever the celebration is, chocolate gifts are sure to bring a smile to the faces of the people who are close to your heart.

One of the most popular forms of chocolate gifts is the chocolate gift basket. A variety of chocolates can be included in the basket, which is artfully decorated for artistic appeal. Chocolate gift baskets are noted for the variety of chocolate they carry. If the recipient is a chocolate lover, he is sure to be delighted with a miscellany of white chocolates, dark chocolates, chocolates with nuts, fruits, and almonds, and those with different flavors such as raspberry or caramel. The more chocolate variations, the better.

If there is a chocolate gift basket, there is also a chocolate gift box. A chocolate gift box can include either a single flavor of chocolate or a variety of chocolate flavors. Some people prefer giving chocolates in a box instead of a basket because it is more presentable. Also, in giving chocolates packed in a box, there is less risk of melting. This would be a good choice if the recipient lives miles away and won’t be able to open your gift till a later time.

Lastly, you can simply give a piece of chocolate as a gift. Choose the favorite chocolate bar of that special person and tie a small ribbon around it for a more presentable look.

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.



By Eddie Tobey


Check Out the Related Article : White Chocolate - The Not-So-Chocolate Chocolate

Did you know chocolate was originated in Central America? That it used to be a treat only to the rich? Chocolate has a fascinating history!

The Olmecs occupied a small area south of Veracruz and were the first cultivators of the cacao pod. The Mayans were next, just south of present day Mexico, to elevate chocolate to status of the Gods. They named the cacao tree Cacahuaquchtl (tree) as they were concerned no other tree was worth naming. They believed the tree belonged to the gods and that the pods growing from the tree were an offering from the gods to man. They Mayans were the originators of a bitter brew made from cacao beans. It was a luxury drink enjoyed by kings and noblemen. Thankfully we can all enjoy chocolate now!

Christopher Columbus, in 1502, reached the island of Guanaja off the coast of Honduras. As legend goes he was greeted by natives that gave him a sackful of cacao beans in exchange for some of his own merchandise. When Cortes arrived seventeen years later the cacao beans were being used as food and a form of currency. It was reported that a slave could be bought for one hundred cacao beans. At the time, two hundred small cacao beans were worth one Spanish real.

The Spanish helped develop cacao plantations in Mexico, Ecuador, Venezuela, Peru, Jamaica and Hispaniola (Haiti and the Dominican Republic). Cacao production has since spread all over the world but the cacao from these original regions still produce the most highly prized variety of cacao bean. The first ever chocolate processing plant was set up in Spain in 1580. From then on the popularity of chocolate gradually spread to the other European countries.

The Dutch transplanted the tree to their East Indian states in the early seventeenth century and from there it spread to the Philippines, New Guinea, Samoa and Indonesia with a large degree of success made possible by the exploitation of hundreds of thousands of African slaves. In the early nineteenth century the Portuguese transplanted Brazilian cacao saplings to the island of Sao Tome off the African coast and later to West Africa. By the end of the nineteenth century the Germans had settled it in Cameroon and British in Sri Lanka. Plantations have since spread to Southeast Asia and Malaysia is now one of the world's leading producers.


By Chrisitne Breen


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Chocolate was created to be enjoyed every day of the week, it can be savoured by yourself or shared with friends and loved ones. A great way to share your favourite chocolate, is to arrange a relaxing evenings entertainment with a few close friends, some fresh fruits and a chocolate fondue set.

What Kind of Chocolate?

You can use any kind of chocolate, from the most expensive to everyday cooking chocolate. A smooth textured chocolate is great and dark, milk, white chocolate or your favourite choclate bar can really work well. The plainer chocolate the more creative you can be with adding your favourite ingredients.

What to dip

A variety of foods lend themselves to being dunked in warm melted chocolate and as long as they are cut into bite size bits you can go a bit crazy, a few of my favourite choices are: fresh fruits: strawberries, grapes, apples, bannanas, pineapple, if your lucky enough to have fresh apricots they are fantastic, if not dried fruits are a great alternative.

You can also use almond bread, marshmallows, jube lollies, or small cakes and sweet breads that are firm enough not to dissolve in the chocolate.

Adults Only

For an Adults Only fondue you can add a little luxury with your favourite liquer, think: Kahlua, Tia Maria or Rum you are only limited by your imagination or your liquer cabinet.

Easy Chocolate Fondue Recipe

1/3 Cup of Thickened Cream

350g Chocolate

3 Tablespoons of Liquer (optional)

Selection of Dippers

In a medium sauce pan, slowly bring the cream to simmer, remove pan from heat and add the chocolate a bit at a time. Gently stir until the chocolate has completely melted.

Add the liquer and stir away from heat until combined. Place in your Fondue set with candle light beneath.

Serve immediately with your dippers and enjoy.


By Sandy Prosdocimo


Check Out the Related Article : Benefits of Chocolate Diet

Famous Belgian chocolate has pure cocoa flavour because no vegetable shortening is used. Most tourists know that Belgium is a chocolate paradise. Belgium produces 172,000 tons of chocolate per year in over 2,130 chocolate shops.

Internationally known Belgian chocolate brands are: Galler, Guylian, Godiva, Leonidas, Marcolini, Neuhaus.

You will probably find those in your home country as well. It's good chocolate but if you want something exceptional and typically from Antwerp - read on.

Burie

Lieven Burie of the Burie chocolate shop took over when his father died suddenly. Already at school, this young talented man showed creativity only artists have (I was sitting just a few desks further). He now designs everything in chocolate and his store displays are often as attractive to watch as to bite in to it.

Yes this is not cheap, but you get only the very best quality and the finest taste experience in this place.

Del Rey

The finest of the finest, the best of the very best! No superlative can describe the chocolate combinations they have. Recently they expanded to the country of the rising sun (Japan) where they are also extremely successful.

They have a nice tasting room where you can eat small dishes and delicious cakes and pastries. Del-Rey is more then a chocolate maker. He is an artist that would be top chef in every food category. We are lucky he choose chocolate and pastries.

Goossens

Mr. Gossens makes one of the best and Famous Chocolate in Belgium, he can make whatever you request. Last year, the American ambassador ordered 1500 chocolate American stamps of 1 kilo and a lot of them when strait to the White house.

As we have a tradition in Belgium of giving sugar beans for the birth of a child. Goossens made a giant white sugar bean for the birth of the crown princes of Belgium. It was worth a mention in the Guinness book of records!

He also invented the chocolate hands filled with Elixir of Antwerp you find everywhere in the city. They are delicious!

We love his chocolates and buy it every time we go to Canada. My brother in law, the little man is only eighth could not believe his eyes when I brought the Christmas chocolates from Belgium. It was not just the taste - the chocolates are so beautifully crafted it's a pity to eat them.

So which is the best chocolate in Belgium? Try them all and decide :)


By Amanda Luczynska


Check Out the Related Article : Benefits of Chocolate Diet

Chocolate has been a favorite of man for thousands of years. Ancient people brewing the seeds of the cacao tree into a yummy beverage was the beginning of the wide assortment of chocolates that we enjoy today.

Once chocolate was discovered by European conquests, it became a treat only the wealthiest could afford. Not only was chocolate expensive, but it was bitter. Sugar and spices used to sweeten it were expensive too and out of the common man's reach. It was in the 1800's that the industrial age and mass production made chocolate candy affordable for everyone.

Chocolate candy became a big hit in stores in the form of the candy bar. It took its place proudly on the general store shelf next to the gum drop, hard candy and candy cane bins of the day. From that meager beginning, the varieties available today are mind boggling. Chocolate candy is available in many different flavors, shapes and with limitless ingredients. Some ingredients such as nuts and fruits are complimentary to the flavor and texture of the chocolate and left whole or diced inside the candy bar. Spices and other flavorings are also added to enhance the chocolate or add interesting flavor notes. Some people can taste a story in their chocolate candy. The flavor medley tells them through their tongue what region of the world each ingredient came from. Travel by chocolate!

Chocolate can also be enjoyed either inside a candy coating or as a coating itself over other yummy treats such as ice cream.

Today many people buy candy online. With the invention of the World Wide Web, you can snack on exotic chocolate candy delicacies made anywhere in the world. Innovations in chocolate recipes and shipping ensure you receive your chocolate candy in perfect condition.

There is also a wide variety of chocolate molds and candy making accessories for you to try your hand at making your own chocolate candy. It's a fun way to get children involved in the kitchen and also a great way to make personalized gifts. The possibilities are endless in the flavors and ingredients to test. A lot of very successful candy companies started this way, as a hobby in a home kitchen.

Who knows, perhaps one day when that chocolate connoisseur boots up his pc and logs on to buy candy online, the website with the interesting flavors to sample that he chooses to order from may be your own!


By Natalie Aranda


Check Out the Related Article : Benefits of Chocolate

You must have many times read that chocolates are beneficial to health. Chocolates help in anti-ageing, are aphrodisiac and relieve stress. Chocolates have a certain type of effect on people's mode.

Most people also experience strong craving for chocolates at times. Though this is sinful, it is an integral part of life.

However, there are many people who don't know that stress and anxiety can be relieved by eating or drinking chocolate. Chocolate has beneficial levels of magnesium. It is easy to find about 50 mg of magnesium in a 50 gram bar of a chocolate.

This explains the much debatable sedative effect of chocolate on people who are stressed out. The magnesium in chocolate facilitates restoration of the overall balance of the body's magnesium balance.

When experiencing stress, the body tends to deplete the magnesium supply. This results in imbalance of the body's biochemistry. Chocolate also has direct stress reducing effect on the body. It consists of a compound known as anandamide. This compound is also referred to as the 'bliss chemical'.

It works towards binding some specific receptors inside the brain to promote relaxation. Chocolate also contain certain enzyme inhibitors that reduce that ability of body to metabolize anandamide. This prolongs the 'high' experienced by the individual.

Chocolates are enjoyable foods. Phenylethlamine is another mood altering compound found in chocolate. This chemical is released by the brain when one is in love. Most researchers believe that this as a mood-altering factor. The level of phenylethylamine was found only in sausage and cheese.

Chocolates are high in fat content. This triggers the natural opiates production by the brain. A regular chocolate eater tends to sense a calming effect on the sensory pleasures such as smell, taste and mouth.

Here some other benefits of eating chocolate:

a) Chocolate brings happy memories to individuals.

b) Most people tend to relate happy memories to chocolate, Valentine's Day or childhood.

c) Some people believe that chocolate provides you an emotional buzz.

d) It relaxes the body.

e) Chocolate high in carbohydrates tend to increase endorphins and serotonin. These affect sleep patterns.

Dark chocolate are heart healthy. These are rich in antioxidants. The stearic acid helps prevent cholesterol build-up in the circulatory system. It reduces the symptoms of high blood pressure.

Eating chocolate gives out a lot of health benefits to the individual. Chocolate has direct stress reducing effect on the body. It consists of a compound known as anandamide or the 'bliss chemical'. These bind to some specific receptors inside the brain and promote relaxation.

This is quite similar to the effect produced by the marijuana components. The effect may not be as high as taking marijuana. Chocolate also consists of enzyme inhibitors that tend to decrease ability of body for anandamide metabolization. This tends to prolong the 'feeling of high'.

With so many benefits of having chocolates, especially when it comes to decreasing your body's stress levels, you must take special care to add chocolate to your diet.


By Bertil Hjert

Check Out the Related Article : Benefits of Chocolate

In this first of a multi part series we're going to explore the wonderful history of one of mankind's greatest obsessions, chocolate.

Chocolate first appeared on the scene about 4,000 years ago when the ancient Aztec and Mayan cultures discovered the cacao plant. The plant itself is said to have originated in the Amazon or Orinoco basin.

Around 600 AD, which is the earliest "modern" recorded account of chocolate growing, the Mayans made their way to the northern regions of South America. It is there that they set up the first known cocoa plantations in the Yucatan. However, it is suggested that the Mayans knew about cocoa many centuries earlier and used it as a form of payment for goods and services.

The Mayans and Aztecs took beans from what is known as the cacao tree and from them made a drink they called xocoatl. Aztec Indian legend says that cacao seeds were brought to them from paradise and that the wisdom, power and knowledge that they gained was from eating the fruit of the cacao tree. Obviously, this has never been proven.

The actual legend says that the god Quetzalcoatl made his way to Earth on a beam from the Morning Star carrying a cacao tree from paradise and gave it to the people there as an offering. Supposedly he taught them how to roast and grind the seeds into a paste that could be dissolved in water. The Aztecs then added some spices to this mixture and called the drink chocolatl, which translated means bitter water. It was believed that this drink, when consumed, would give a person universal wisdom and knowledge.

The word we know as chocolate is said to have been derived from the Mayan xocoatl. Cocoa is said to come from the Aztec word cacahuatl. The Mexican-Indian word chocolate comes from combining choco, which means foam and atl, which means water. Early forms of chocolate were only in beverage form. In early Mesoamerican marriages, part of the marriage ceremony was to share a mug of frothy chocolate.

In 1923 Arthur W. Knapp wrote a book called "The Cocoa and Chocolate Industry" where he points out that if we are to believe in Mexican mythology, chocolate was consumed by the gods in paradise and the cocoa seed was given to man as a special blessing by the god of the air.

Ancient Mexicans believed that the goddess of food and the goddess of water were the guardian goddesses of cocoa. Each year the ancient Mexicans would perform human sacrifices to these gods, giving their sacrifice cocoa at his or her last meal.

It is interesting to note that in many accounts of the early days of chocolate, that the cocoa bean or cacoa tree were treated as divine rights from the gods and for the most part the chocolate made from these was consumed mostly as part of religious rituals and not used as a part of everyday life.

In our next article in this series we'll look at more modern account of chocolate history.


By Michael Russell


Check Out the Related Article : Benefits of Chocolate

Life is all about enjoying today as if there is no tomorrow. This may be the mindset of many of us here. For some others enjoying is a part and parcel of life. If you ask people that what is their measure of enjoyment, at least one of the answers will be concerning food. Food habits are one of the most integral parts of people's fun and excitement. Out of all the food items, chocolates rank first in terms of celebrations. Be it birthday or any party, chocolates form the important part of the culinary sector. Now as every one is concerned about the health, let us see how far chocolates affect the health. Is it positive or negative?

Surprisingly, chocolates give away lot of potential benefits to the ones who enjoy them. For instance, chocolates serve as an energy supplier. Chocolates are outstanding sources of catechins, which are polyphenols of the flavanol group. These catechins are potential sources to protect the human body against heart disease, cancer, and various other medical dis-eases. Pain is undesirable and our physique is designed in such a way that the brain releases endorphins that act as pain-relievers. It is pleasing to hear that chocolates facilitate the release of endorphins.

Some researches give some of the following benefits of chocolates on health. Chocolate has sugar in it and the sugar has a calming effect on the persons eating it. It reduces the stress and the pain as told already. The intake of chocolate minimizes the problems of skin like acne or skin eruptions. Also chocolates serve as good sources of reduction of the risk of heart disease and cancer. Chocolates make one feel hungry, but do not make them fat.

But all these researches were based on the cocoa that is present in the chocolates. But what we take in is not just the cocoa, but also the other less desirable products that helps the transformation of cocoa into chocolate. The less desirable include added sugar, corn syrup, milk fats, dairy cream, hydrogenated oils, etc. The critics' point applies very valid. If the cocoa in chocolate does any good, the sugar and the undesirable products spoil it and make them worse. For example, if cocoa is claimed to reduce the risk of acne, the sugar in chocolate increases it. Now people get smarter by telling there is compensation in chocolate. But diseases are smarter to enter; they enter through many other ways via chocolate.

The choice is ours. Healthy life style also means a problem free life with no confusions. Anything that crosses the limits turns out to be undesirable for the body. The balance depends on the consumer. Have health and enjoy everyday.


By Anbhu Selvan

Check Out the Related Article : A History of Chocolate

Whatever the occasion you are celebrating, traditional gift ideas, such as champagne, flowers and chocolate are always warmly received. Chocolate gifts are particularly special and versatile. There is something for everyone, whatever the age or the milestone, from birthdays, anniversaries, valentines, Christmas and Easter to dinner parties, house warmings and thank you gifts of all kinds. A wide range of chocolate gift ideas can be found, from exquisite milk and dark chocolates from the continent to exotic flavours from around the world, luxury, organic, fair trade, wheat and gluten free, dairy free, chocolate truffles and novelty chocolates including chocolate cats, dogs, footballs, cars, coins and hearts.

The origins of chocolate can be traced back to Mayan and Aztec civilisations in Central America. Chocolate was exclusively for drinking until the early Victorian era, when a technique for making solid eating chocolate was devised. The history of chocolate begins with cocoa trees. They grow in the tropical rain forests of Central and South America and cocoa beans were used for hundreds of years by the Aztecs as an ingredient for their chocolate drink and as currency.

If you are looking for an inspirational gift idea, many chocolate companies offer customers an inspired range of festive gifts and classic children's gifts with a selection of box designs or gift wrapping, personalised greeting cards, and opportunities to create your own chocolate message. There are more chocolates to choose from and they are attractively decorated and presented in a variety of gift boxes in all shapes and sizes, big enough for box sharing, satin or luxury ribboned boxes, heart shaped boxes and specialities that have that little extra, including fruit jellies, brazils, toffee and soaked nuts or a selection of orange, lime, vanilla and raspberry truffles.


By Anurag Ahluwalia


Check Out the Related Article : A History of Chocolate

Although it’s called chocolate, white chocolate isn’t really chocolate at all. A hybrid that does derive its roots from the same cacao plant, the white version involves a different process for creation. Be this as it may, those who crave the creamy vanilla taste of the white version of chocolate will probably not care about the semantics involved.

Chocolate making involves first the extraction of useable items from the ancient cacao bean. While dark chocolates use the cocoa powder ground from the seeds, the versions of white use only the butter. When chocolate making experts create a white blend, the butter is the only items used from the bean itself to create the end product.

Making chocolate of the white persuasion involves a process not dissimilar to making darks. Despite the similarity, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration will even deem white chocolates as chocolates at all since chocolate liquor isn’t used in their creation.

Instead, makers of white varieties of chocolates use the cocoa butter, milk solids, vanilla, sugar and lecithin to make this creation. Those that use true cocoa butter create a higher-quality chocolate than those who don’t. Other makers will save money by substituting vegetable fat for the cocoa butter, but don’t be fooled, it’s not the same.

True white chocolates are ivory in color when they’re made. The taste screams of cream and vanilla and it simply cannot be matched with the white, white creations that come from vegetable fat. The consistency, taste and ability to store is vastly different between the two versions of whites made by chocolate manufacturers.

Delicate by nature, white chocolates melt quite easily and scorch even easier. Take care when melting for things like ganache or chocolate fondue. Also, due to the use of real cocoa butter in the creation of top quality whites, this chocolate can store for months without spoilage.


By George Murray


Check Out the Related Article : A History of Chocolate

Chocolate is considered the tastiest food. Chocolate diet is generally called the mono diet. Chocolate can be the replacement of vitamin rather it doesn't contain fair amount of health benefits. It is beneficial for fighting with high blood pressure and also helpful in preventing heart disease. The chocolate diet mainly consists of liquids and people are given a power or supplement that they generally used with milk or water.

Chocolate diet is a fad diet because it includes everyone's favorite foods. It also includes pasta and popcorns. This type of diet considered most lovable diet for maximum number of people.

Diet

During a day you can eat two bars of chocolate in 40 grams and drink sugar-free coffee with non-fat milk. You have to drink only in 3 hours after meal.

You can take chocolate chips and mix them with a bowl of fresh strawberries or raspberries. You can slice up a couple of bananas and drizzle a few tablespoons of luscious melted dark chocolate over them.

Time period

You have to take chocolate diet for 5-7 days only. After one course you should take a gap of 3-4 days. In beginning you should take advice of your doctor or physician also if you have any liver problem.

Benefits of chocolate diet

There are many health benefits associated with intake of chocolates. Many studies conclude that anti-oxidants present in chocolates may reduce the risk of heart problem such as heart failure and heart attack.

The Chocolate Diet is a decreased calorie diet that focuses on the consumption of liquid chocolate diet shakes as a snack. Most people used it as the replacement of food and if you take less food this will be a clear indication of fewer calories.

Avoidable food items in diet

Alcohol beverages, salt, nuts, sodium, seeds, fried diet, sugars, oils, dairy products, oily fruits, red meats, coffee, carbonated soft drinks and caffeine are considered to be avoidable food items if you want to take chocolate diet.


By Dr John Anne

Check Out the Related Article : A Guide To Chocolate