Monthly Archives: March 2012

Indulging In Chocolate This Easter

Easter is just around the corner. It wouldn't hurt to treat ourselves in this time of the year to some chocolaty goodness. It can be our way to celebrate the rising of the Son of God. Besides, Easter and chocolate have a sweet link.

In accordance with my blog post yesterday, chocolate eggs are among the symbols of Easter. Quintessentially Foundation is encouraging you to treat yourself with a chocolate egg, of course, for a cause.

This coming Easter, Britain’s Best Chocolatier William Curley will donate 10% of what they will be able to generate from chocolate sales to Quintessentially Foundation. Just quote QFE2012 on the Internet or Quintessentially Foundation when purchasing in store. The proceeds will benefit the charities that Quintessentially Foundation supports this year, namely Maggie's Cancer Care Centres, The Prince's Trust, and War Child.
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The Chocolate Egg-Laying Easter Bunny

Easter is our chance for renewal and rebirth. It is the holiday where we celebrate the resurrection of the Lord, Jesus Christ. And, adding to the happiness we feel, is the fact that we also get our annual chance to have a visit from the infamous bunny and his heaps of Easter candy.

Contrary to popular belief, bunnies do not lay eggs. 🙂 Also, they don't have anything to do with how chocolate eggs are produced. However, we just seem to be huge fans of associating rabbits and eggs. Why did we even think that the Easter Bunny lays chocolate eggs?

How these two Easter symbols originated can be traced to some centuries back, and they have just drastically evolved as time passed by. The Easter Bunny and Easter eggs both started out symbolizing fertility. They surface when celebrating the arrival of spring. Like the majority of creatures, rabbits breed the most in the spring. Also, they are remarkable procreators. That's practically the reason why these lovely animals were used as a symbol of fertility.
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Peach Chocolate Cake

We always want the best for our children, especially when their health is on the line. However, it can be such a chore to feed your children with vegetables and even fruits. Thus, you have to come up with ways to successfully do so.

Peaches pack a lot of nutritional value that we need, such as niacin, thiamine, potassium and calcium. They also have high levels of beta carotene, an antioxidant that converts into Vitamin A, which the human body requires to have a healthy heart and eyes. Peaches also have high fiber contents, and this is helpful in maintaining healthy bowel.

You can let your kids eat peaches by incorporating them into other food you give them. To get them to eat more fruit like peaches, try whipping them up with fruit smoothies, and yes, cakes!

Here is a recipe that combines chocolate and peaches. A pairing that even the pickiest eater will love!
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Chocolate Makes You Slimmer?

It may sound too good to be true, but according to a new research, chocolate can help people slim down. The study has shown that those who have frequent consumption of chocolate possess a lower body mass index (BMI) as compared to people who don't. Body mass index is the ratio of weight to height, and this indicates the body's fatness.

The results were discovered in spite of the fact that people who eat chocolate more frequently tend to have more calorie consumption, and these people didn't make up for it by exercising.

Research has it that chocolate may contain something that makes the calories from other food you eat less likely to be stored as fat. This was according to Dr. Beatrice Golomb, associate professor in the department of medicine at the University of California, San Diego.
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Is Expired Chocolate Still Good?

Recently I received a question from a reader wondering if a rather large supply of chocolate, 2 years past expiry, would still be good to use. 

It's a good question.  And it doesn't really matter the quantity of chocolate.  Here's my answer...

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Chocolate Covered Raisin Day

The craze about chocolate-covered raisins started in 1927 when Blumenthal Brothers Chocolate Company of Philadelphia first released these delectable treats. Nestle acquired then owner Ward-Johnston, the manufacturers of Raisinets, Bit-O-Honey, and Sno-Caps, just to name a few. Raisinets are made out of sun-ripened California raisins covered in Nestle milk and dark chocolate.

Raisinets have always been a hit to moviegoers. They pair it with popcorn, and they rave about the combination of sweet and salty taste. Some decades back, you could buy a box of Raisinets for a nickel. They used to sell Raisinets by weight from jars in candy stores. These days, you can get single serve pouches for on-the-go snacking, stand-up bags that are perfect for sharing, as well as theater concession boxes.
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Cocoa Shell Mulch

Did you know that the outer covering of the cacao bean, called the cocoa shell, can be used for mulch? Gardeners everywhere are raving about it.

Cocoa shell mulch is also known as the Sunshine of Africa. It's actually just a byproduct of chocolate industries coming from the cocoa beans. The shell contains 2.5% Nitrogen, 1% Phosphate, and 3% Potash with a pH of 5.8.

Cocoa shell mulch serves as all-purpose mulch for professional gardeners and amateur gardeners alike. It can be utilized by landscapers and horticulturists, as well. It is great as decorative mulch due to its nice-looking deep copper color. Its rich color pleasantly contrasts with the vibrant green color of plants.  And, it smells great too!
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Chocolate Mint Brownies

Chocolate and mint never fails to make a good combination, whether it be used in drinks, candies, and so on. This time, we'll be using the choco-mint flavor in the treat we all love. Brownies!

Brownies can either be "cake-style" or "fudge-style." Cake-style is that with the consistency of a cake, only richer and denser. On the other hand, fudge-style, true to its name, is more like fudge than cake.

While sometimes used even in beauty products, mint is mostly utilized in the culinary department. It is often used in beverages, syrups, ice cream, and chocolate candies.
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Chocolate for Stress Reduction

According to dietician Silke Restemeyer, who works for a nutrition association in Germany, chocolate does lift the spirits. "Chocolate contains a lot of tryptophan and fat. These constituents ensure that increased amounts of the neurotransmitter serotonin are produced in the brain, and this is what causes the happy feelings," she said.

A lot of individuals associate chocolate consumption with positive memories during childhood. The sensation of chocolate melting in your mouth elicits a warm feeling. That can actually provide you with temporary distraction from the worries and stress of daily life.

However, this pleasure lasts only for a while. "After all, you can't eat that much chocolate for it to have a sustained beneficial effect - and nor should you," Restemeyer said, citing the high fat and calorie content of chocolate.
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Chocolate Wine

Andrew Browne, founder of chocolate wine, said: "We thought the market would be female and young, but we’ve found that it has much broader appeal," Be it men or women, and even older and experienced wine lovers, people are raving about the product.

The Chocolate Shop is a brand owned by Washington-based Precept Wine. It was introduced January last year in the U.S. with the use of a Bordeaux blend coming from California, with some sugar and natural chocolate added.

"We called it the chocolate lover's wine," says Browne. In the UK, it was released last November. Here the product would be classified as an "aromatised wine-based drink".
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