Butterfinger® is a candy bar made by Nestlé which has a crumbling and orange-colored center that can be compared to crisp caramel and peanut butter and it is covered in chocolatey coating. It has been around for decades and is a darling to many.

This cake recipe is such a guilty pleasure most especially to those who love Butterfinger candy bar per se.

Enjoy!

New Year means new anything. Case in point: new world record.

In Ooty,  a hilly tourist town in Tamil Nadu India, a chocolatier, named Fazloor Rahman, of NPS Supermarket, has set a new world record for the longest home-made milk chocolate bar.  The record-setting bar measures 18 meters in length and 0.75 meter in width.  That beats the previous record made last March by an Italian confectionary which measured 14.87 meters long and 0.75 meter wide.

“We wanted to do something novel for this New Year thus we came up with this idea,” said Rahman. “We have already staked our claim for an entry in the Limca Book of Records and in the process for getting listed in Guinness Book of World records, is underway,” he added.

The chocolate confectionary has made this awe-inducing creation using 400 kgs of ingredients, including cocoa and milk. And according to Rahman, it took three days to complete this go-getting task, and about ten people worked to finish it.

It was on display for all the tourists, as well as locals, to see and get awestruck in Hotel Charing Cross last December 31 and January 1. Furthermore, posters and pictures that portrayed the distinctiveness and unique characteristics of chocolates were also on display along with the chocolate bar.

It’s almost always compelling to set yourself for something new every start of the year, whether it’s a world record, or a personal record you want to pride yourself in. Make it a point to have something meaningful to look forward to this year.

Happy New Year, chocoholic!

The Neighborhood Cats are aiming to encourage humane measures to lower the feral cat population in the country. The particular measure they are taking is called TNR (trap-neuter-return). TNR engages trained volunteers to gather the feral cats that they can find, getting the cats spayed or neutered, and then returning them to their colonies to peacefully live out their lives. Also NY-based, Neighborhood Cats is well-known in the feral field as developers of educational materials including books, videos, and online courses that tackle TNR.

“I’ve lived with dogs all my life and never with cats,” said Rescue Chocolate Founder Sarah Gross. “But I’m certainly aware of the problems that cats face on the streets. I’m really honored to be able to be a small part of the solution.”

The chocolate company offers an array of kosher and vegan chocolate bars and truffles. Each of the flavors is named after a subject significant in the animal rescue world. The products include Peanut Butter Pit Bull (inspired by Gross’ own rescued pit bull, Mocha), Foster-iffic Peppermint, Mission Feral Fig, Pick Me! Pepper, The Fix, Fakin’ Bacon, Wild at Heart, and Bow Wow Bon Bons.

However, Gross warns that even though profits eventually help the animals, her chocolate treats are for human consumption alone.

The more treats you purchase, the more you’ll be increasing the company’s donation. It is absolutely a win-win, indeed, “the sweetest way to save a life!”

These goods are sold in retail outlets across the country and also online. Go visit www.RescueChocolate.com to learn more about Rescue Chocolate or to order treats that will help Neighborhood Cats. For more information on Neighborhood Cats, visit www.NeighborhoodCats.org.

Contact information:
info@RescueChocolate.com
(917) 767-7283

After a person allergic to milk eats a certain food that contains, well, milk, the release of chemicals to supposedly protect the body can affect the respiratory system, gastrointestinal tract, skin, and the cardiovascular system which in turn causes allergy symptoms such as wheezing, abdominal pain, and headache, among many others.

Nowadays, a lot of foods are made with milk and milk products so consumers who are allergic to it have to pay extra attention to what’s in almost everything they consume. Milk allergies are unfortunately more serious than just lactose intolerance as it can cause those who have it to be suddenly and severely ill right after consuming milk or even products that contain such.

Chocolate Decadence of Eugene, OR is recalling certain chocolate products due to undisclosed milk contents. Customers who have milk allergy or severe sensitivity to milk run the risk of having serious, even critical, allergic reactions.

The recall was instigated after a customer felt sick after eating the chocolate. Further exploration showed that the chocolate was manufactured where milk chocolate was previously processed.

The recalled products consist of Chocolate Decadence chocolate bars, almond clusters, assorted fruit clusters, chocolate buttons (raspberry, espresso, pure dark, mint, peanut butter), truffles, fudge, and molded chocolates. The said products were dispersed across the country through Internet and retail stores.

Customers who are allergic or sensitive to milk who have already bought Chocolate Decadence  are advised to return it to for a full refund. Those who have further inquiries may contact the company at 1-800-324-5018 or visit their website at www.chocolatedecadence.com.

It always pays to look into what we eat, even when we have the urge to just pig out the moment we see it because that piece of heaven might instantly send you to hell.

Since posts on the internet tend to stay around forever, and product recalls expire, note that Chocolate Decadence posted their alert on September 12, 2011.

I spent a little time reviewing chocolate-related press releases and found something that had previously missed my attention…   Hershey’s introduced an aerated chocolate bar called the Air Delight.

Other chocolate manufacturers have had aerated chocolate for some time.  For example, I wrote about the 75th anniversary of the Nestle Aero bar last October.  Overall, aerated chocolate accounts for about $500 million of annual global confection sales.

But this is new for Hershey’s.  And it’s probably a good move too.  With the popularity worldwide of aerated chocolate, and the Nestle Aero unavailable in the U.S., the market may be ready for this from Hershey’s.  Of course time will tell.

To celebrate the introduction of the Air Delight chocolate bar, the company participated at the New Jersey Festival of Ballooning, taking attendees up in the Air Delight hot air balloon for a unique tasting experience!

Hershey’s spokesperson, Anna Lingeris is quoted as saying, “We couldn’t think of a better way to capture the essence of the new product than with a ‘light and airy’ hot air balloon ride while experiencing new aerated chocolate.”  I think she’s right.  The air balloon is a creative idea to bring attention to this new candy bar.

Hershey’s Air Delight chocolate is sold in grocery stores and other locations nationwide.  They offer a 1.44 ounce single bar as well as 9.4 ounce bags of Kisses.  The Kisses simultaneously offer you a way to enjoy the Air Delight in a smaller portion or to pig out on more than you intended.

So that’s it.  The discovery of Hershey’s Air Delight was the highlight of National Milk Chocolate Day.  Now I’ve got to go out and buy one!

Better think again! Chocolates have a lot of benefits in store for you. Dietitians, researchers and nutritionist can prove it. Here are 3 essential reasons for you to start munching on those scrumptious sweets…

Mental Attentiveness and Antidepressant

Research has shown that chocolate contains theobromine, a component that is rich in caffeine and anandamide. These properties tend to induce mental alertness and aids in increasing our moods.

Depleted serotonin levels can lead to depression and suicide. In addition, a person who has low dopamine quantities tends to feel apathetic and sad. On the contrary, when a person has increased levels of these chemical properties in his brain, one would feel a blast of euphoria and good mood.

Antidepressant properties were confirmed by researchers when they revealed that both serotonin and dopamine levels increased after munching on chocolate bars.

Carbohydrates and theobromine are substances that stimulate the nervous system of our brain. Furthermore, these chemical mediators provide us with extra energy to utilize in our activities. Research has also demonstrated that chomping on chocolates could help in stimulating women with low libidos.

Antioxidants

Free radicals are one of the culprits in developing certain diseases like infections, cancer, heart disease and more. Antioxidants protect our body by binding to harmful free radicals, alleviating them, repairing the injury and preventing further harm from occurring.

Consuming delightful dishes that are rich in antioxidants not only prevent you from getting sick but they also provide you with a healthy body and a youthful vivacity.

The recommended daily intake is a minimum of 3,000 to 5,000 ORAC units of antioxidants per day. Raw, unprocessed cocoa is known to be the richest antioxidant containing food in the entire universe. That is the reason why chocolates are considered to be one of the most delicious and nutritious sources of antioxidants.

Cardiovascular Advantages

Chocolates can aid in reducing cardiovascular damage by increasing the production of good cholesterol (HDL). This vital enzyme frees the blood vessels from fats.

Moreover, flavonoids found in cocoa can assist in reducing clots from forming. Clots are the major reasons in acquiring a number of heart diseases. Flavonoids permit stronger blood flow to the heart, thus, increasing the pumping mechanism of the heart. This mechanism aids in maintaining a healthy heart.

Now you don’t have to worry about feeling all guilty about eating your favorite indulgence. Chocolate bars tend to bring more benefits than harm. What are you waiting for? Start munching on those luscious treats!

Coco Preggers can.  A chocolate company out of California, Xan Confections, launched a new chocolate containing folic acid and DHA omega-3.  This chocolate was designed to deliver important nutrients during pregnancy.

Folic Acid helps prevent birth defects and DHA is a specific omega-3 fatty acid important to the correct development of the brain.

Coco Preggers chocolate bar is made of dark chocolate, about 51 calories and costs around $1.50.

The owner of Xan and the creator of Coco Preggers, Karen Anthony, says there should be no guilty feeling eating 2 of these bars a day because health benefits are high and calories are low.

Just to be fair, a person can get folic acid by eating spinach, lentils, and beef liver.  Don’t know ‘bout you, but I would rather have chocolate!

Coco Preggers isn’t the only product made by Xan.  You can get Coco PMS, too!

Trader Joe’s started out as a small chain of convenience stores in the 1950s under the name of Pronto Markets. In 1967 they changed the name to Trader Joe’s.

I like the line up of chocolates under the Trader Joe’s label.  They are made in the European style but have a price tag of American value.

The Swiss Milk chocolate bar I bought was only $1.99 for 100g.  The bar was smooth and creamy, with a balanced chocolatey baseline highlighted by caramel flavor notes.  The lingering finish was a very pleasant soft buttery taste.

This particular chocolate bar is certified Fair Trade to “help contribute to a better way of life for farmers and their families.  This method of buying cocoa beans and sugar offers small-scale growers a fair price for their harvest.”

I give this store label chocolate both thumbs up; you get great taste at a great price.  I keep a Trader Joe’s Swiss Milk Chocolate in my chocolate drawer as one of my “staples.”

The now famous Ritter Square was born in 1932.  It was launched after the idea came to Clara to produce a square chocolate bar so that it “…fits into the pocket of every sports jacket, doesn’t break, and still weighs the same as a normal long bar of chocolate.”

In the U.S., you can buy the Ritter Sport in 100g bars or mini chocolates, which in my opinion, is the perfect size for tasting the different varieties.

I recently tasted an assortment of mini bars.  My choices were difficult. Which one would I eat first; Cornflakes, Milk Chocolate, Butter Biscuit, Hazelnut, Yogurt, or Praline?

While pondering the dilemma, my son got sneaky and tried to eat one before me.  Luckily there were two of certain varieties so we could each win. 

I haven’t had all of them, but so far my favorite is Butter Biscuit.  It reminds me of chocolate covered short bread.  The butter biscuit is very flavorful and crunchy.  The milk chocolate is smooth and creamy with soft caramel notes and subtle vanilla.

To learn more about Ritter Sport, check out their website at either   www.ritter-sport.de or www.ritter-sport.us.

Niederegger Chocolates, headquartered in Lübeck, Germany, makes some of the most delicious chocolate covered marzipan.  I enjoy many brands of marzipan, but I am particularly fond of Niederegger.

Be careful!  Some confectionery products that are sold as marzipan are made from soy paste and flavored with almond.

The secret to the Niederegger marzipan, according to their website, www.niederegger.de, is the family recipe that combines a traditional blend of almonds and sugar with an added ingredient similar to rosewater.

Niedereggers began in 1806 by confectioner/founder Johann Georg Niederegger.

Almonds are very healthy.  They contain antioxidants such as Vitamin E, proteins, dietary fiber, magnesium, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, and iron.

Almonds also contain the amino acid L-Arginine (which promotes healthy blood vessels), folic acid, Vitamins B1, B2, and B6.

Marzipan is sweet and the almond flavor notes intense therefore a bold, bittersweet chocolate is needed to pair with it.  In my opinion, dark chocolate is just the perfect “something” to blend with the marzipan.