Chocolate University Online Blog
Neighborhood Cats has been chosen as the Charity of the Month for November 2011 by Rescue Chocolate, a Brooklyn NY-headquartered chocolatier which was founded in January 2010. 100% of the net profits from each handcrafted, all-natural vegan treats are donated to animal welfare organizations across the country.
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
Categories: chocolate in the news
Tags: chocolate, chocolate bars, chocolate companies, chocolate truffles
“There are four basic food groups: milk chocolate, dark chocolate, white chocolate and chocolate truffles.” This chocolate quote surely makes sense to all the chocolate lovers out there.
Chocolate truffles are an immensely delicious treat any time of day and any day of the year. But did you know that they are named after the fungus, the fruiting bodies of underground mushrooms, because of their resemblance as it looks a lot like the dirt?
Chocolate truffles are typically made with ganache which is a mixture of chocolate and cream, but can also be made with centers such as mints and walnuts then served in variety of ways such as covering it with crumbled nuts, shredded coconut, or confectioner’s sugar. These may look intimidating but actually are very easy to prepare, the only difficulty you’ll ever have here is the dilemma of whether to grab another bite or not!
Chocolate Truffles
• 1/2 cup unsalted butter
• 2 1/3 cups powdered sugar
• 1/2 cup cocoa powder
• 1/4 cup heavy or whipping cream
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
For centers: pecans, walnuts, whole almonds or after-dinner mints
For coatings: coconut, crushed nuts, powdered sugar
Cream butter in large mixer bowl. Combine 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar and the cocoa; add alternately with cream and vanilla to butter. Blend well. Chill until firm.
Shape small amount of mixture around desired center; roll into 1-inch balls. Drop into desired coating and turn until well covered. Chill until firm. |
Try making some and giving it us a gift and it’s certain you will be appreciated. You might even be asked for the recipe!
Categories: chocolate gifts, chocolate recipes
Tags: chocolate dessert, chocolate gifts, chocolate truffles, cocoa powder
Godiva chocolate makes three varieties of Gems™, individually wrapped bon bons.
I just finished eating a dark chocolate French Vanilla Truffle Gem described on the package as a dark chocolate with a creamy french vanilla filling. The filling is a vanilla cream center like a butter cream only sweeter. This filling is thinner than frosting but the texture and consistency reminds me more of frosting than a smooth melting truffle.
These should NOT be called truffles.
The dark chocolate is medium in intensity but does not overcome the sweetness. After the initial bite, it is almost as if the chocolate wasn’t even there to begin with–it disappears too quickly. The cream filling takes a while to melt in the mouth and is somewhat sticky (a bit cloying like honey), but it is smooth.
As you can tell, I was not impressed. But, I am used to mediocrity coming from the grocery store products of Godiva. I imagine the Godiva name and the flashy gold packaging still impresses some people, but that won’t last long.
Godiva Chocolatier was founded in 1926 in Belgium and was known for premium chocolates attracting attention from the rich and famous in Paris and New York. It was sold to Campbell foods and then to the Turkish Yıldız Holding company in 2007. I think the glamour is gone.
What do you think? I’d like to know if you think the Godiva line of chocolate lives up to its name and (shall I say, former) reputation?
Categories: chocolate review
Tags: chocolate truffles, dark chocolate, Godiva
Last week I reviewed a delicious hand-rolled cinnamon truffle from Charley’s Chocolates of Madison, Wisconsin. I thought I had found a new favorite, until I had one of their White Chocolate covered ganache truffles.
Oh yes! – velvety smooth melt-in-your-mouth dark chocolate ganache center enrobed in a creamy, white chocolate coating. Pardon me while I wipe away the drool.
The chocolate ganache was nutty, a little earthy, and intensely chocolate. There’s a l-o-n-g finish with a bit of spice at the very end.
Nothing beats a freshly made truffle. Really.
The truffle cost $3.00, which is a typical price in these parts. It’s worth every penny. After eating a Charley’s truffle, hand-rolled or coated, you’ll be completely satisfied. I mean, after you indulge in the good stuff, you’ll NEVER eat handfuls of M&Ms or raid the vending machine for an afternoon candy bar again!
Before you put another Kiss in your mouth, hustle down to your local chocolates shop and truffle up.
Enjoy!
Categories: chocolate review
Tags: Charley’s Chocolates, chocolate truffles, white chocolate
Madison, Wisconsin is home to many great chocolate shops. I recently had the pleasure of eating a delicious hand rolled Chocolate Cinnamon Truffle from Charley’s Chocolates.
This downtown Madison shop is full of hand made chocolates from truffles to fudge.
The cinnamon truffle was not just good, it was melt in your mouth and walk away smiling good. The ganache was smooth and intensely chocolatey. The cinnamon coating blended perfectly without covering the nuances of the chocolate.
I expecially enjoyed the cinnamon because it was slightly crunchy almost like it was deep fried into a cinnamon glaze.
Yes, that’s it! It sort of reminded me of a doughnut, an old fashioned cruller style doughnut.
Maybe Charley has invented a breakfast truffle. I’ll try my next one with my morning coffee!
For more on Charley’s Chocolates, visit their Facebook page.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Charleys-Chocolates/131962653504039
Categories: chocolate review
Tags: Charley’s Chocolates, chocolate truffles, cinnamon
Chocolate Crafters of Yuma, Arizona makes wonderful chocolate. I have recently reviewed their candied orange peel and “Sea Turtle.”
They also make a wonderful dark chocolate coffee bean bark. The roasted espresso beans add crunch and real coffee flavor without bitterness or the aftertaste that some of the flavored syrups can leave behind.
They also offer this same recipe dipped on a spoon. Yes, dipped and hardened on a spoon so that you can stir your morning coffee and change it into a mocha java!
The smooth and mild 62% chocolate allows the coffee flavor from the roasted bean to take over with just the right amount of intensity.
The shop’s signature line of chocolate is the truffle candy bars that come in a variety of flavors. Of course, I did my best to try them all, and one of my favorites is the Aztec Chili Truffle.
A dark chocolate coating covers a ganache center blended with spicy, hot chilies. It really does burn your lips, mouth, and everything else on the way down! If you like a little chocolate with your heat, try these.
My mouth is still on fire…
Categories: chocolate review
Tags: chile peppers, chocolate and coffee, chocolate shop, chocolate truffles, espresso beans
Everyone is Irish in March, so celebrate by enjoying these wee tasty morsels!
Easy Irish Cream Truffles
• 12 ounces dark chocolate, chopped
• 1/4 cup Irish cream liqueur
• 1/4 cup heavy cream
• 2 egg yolks
• 1 tablespoon butter
Melt the chopped chocolate, together with the Irish cream and heavy cream over low heat. Whisk in yolks, one at a time. Mixture will thicken. Whisk in butter. Refrigerate overnight, or until firm. With spoon make small balls. Roll in powdered sugar, cocoa, chopped nuts, etc. |
Enjoy!
Categories: chocolate recipes
Tags: chocolate dessert, chocolate truffles, irish cream, liqueur
Harry & David is a large direct marketing and e-commerce company that sells many edible products, including chocolate.
Harry & David may be best known for their gourmet fruit and gift baskets. Recently, I sampled a bag of gold foil wrapped chocolate truffles from a gift basket.
They looked good on the outside, meaning the packaging was nice. But once opened, I saw that they had been taken over by bloom – perhaps stored in a place that with fluctuating temperatures. I can’t imagine it myself, but could it have been the last thing left in the gift basket???
Since I know that bloom is only unappealing in appearance and completely safe to eat, I ate it of course! The chocolate coating was dark, with bold cocoa notes and the chocolate center was a slow melting center of velvety smoothness.
The overall experience was good, but not my favorite in terms of truffles. My first choice is a fresh truffle with a made-from-cream ganache center. I enjoy the ganache type much more than the coconut oil melt-a-way types of truffles.
Still, the chocolaty flavor was nicely balanced with soft nutty notes. These truffles would make a great gift to the chocolate lover in your life – provided you don’t leave it in the gift basket too long!
Categories: chocolate review
Tags: bloom, chocolate truffles, dark chocolate
You say tah-may-toe, I say tah-mah-toe. Some say mint chocolate, and some say chocolate mint. Although often used interchangeably, there is a difference, technically speaking.
Mint chocolate is a variety of flavored chocolate, in this case, infused with mint flavoring. It can be used as a coating or as a stand alone chocolate bar. Since mint is added to dark, milk, and white chocolate, mint chocolate does not denote just one type of coating. Mint can be peppermint or spearmint or crème de menthe.
Chocolate mint, on the other hand, usually describes a mint confectionery with a coating of non-flavored chocolate.
Mint is a very strong flavor and can penetrate chocolate coatings and their wrappings to contaminate surrounding foods with a mint odor or taste.
The chocolate that surrounds a mint-flavored center must be strong enough to match or even overcome the intense minty notes. In my opinion, a rich, dark chocolate works best but a bold milk chocolate can work well, too. The sweetness of chocolate pairs well with mint.
When I’m in the mood for an intense mint and chocolate combination, I reach for a Lindt Dark Chocolate Mint Lindor Truffle. The interior is a mint chocolate melt-away type truffle covered in a dark chocolate coating.
Hey – that’s a mint chocolate, chocolate mint!
Enjoy!
Categories: chocolate education, chocolate review
Tags: chocolate truffles, Lindt, mint chocolate
It’s an established fact; chocolate pairs well with many foods. Chocolate and nuts, chocolate and caramel, chocolate and fruit; these are all tried and true.
However, many chefs and cooks will quickly point out that chocolate and spice is also a winning combination.
Savory chocolate recipes are becoming very popular in restaurants and spicy ingredients are part of trendy truffles in almost every chocolates shop.
How about a dark chocolate with lemon and basil ganache? Or a milk chocolate with cumin and mint filling? What about a goat cheese truffle? Do these sound weird to you, or simply irresistible?
Let’s talk chocolate and chiles. There are flavor nuances in different varieties of chile peppers that go better with certain types of chocolate. For example, an Ancho chile will enhance a chocolate with herbal or even citrusy notes. A Chipotle, with its smoky flavor, will bring out the bold intensity of a very dark and bittersweet chocolate. Aleppo chiles go great chocolates that have nutty notes, and Aji Panca gives a kick to chocolates with fruity and acidic notes.
If you are willing to explore non-traditional chocolate pairings, you will be in for a pleasant and unique taste experience.
Categories: chocolate pairings
Tags: chile peppers, chocolate truffles, spice
Older Posts »
|
