The holidays are just around the corner. And we all know what’s in it during this anticipated time of the year… food, lots of it. Eating and drinking just can’t get any better when done with the most special people in your life around. And since it happens only once in a year, most of us tend to go overboard and end up gaining unwanted pounds.

The company True Healthy Products is presenting the Simple Chocolate Diet. It may seem confusing and dishonest if you have never seen chocolate and diet mix up before, but such thing actually exists. This particular diet is suggested to those who might want to lose some weight, and chocolate enters the scene primarily as a stress-buster. Chocolates are known to help manage stress so you don’t go gaga over the Holidays’ extensive meals.

The particular diet uses a simple numbering system as a means to sort out food into groups to come up with varying results. These antioxidant rich chocolates are used in the diet to basically help in losing and maintaining weight, but working out and eating healthily are still in the equation.

The specific chocolates used are the company’s own,  “The Doctor’s Chocolate” and “True Healthy Dark Chocolate” which are both dark chocolates. They are sweetened with xylitol instead of regular sugar and so they are safe even for diabetics. Plus, they are supposedly appetite suppressants.  They even pointed out that unprocessed dark chocolate is proven to contain antioxidants even more than green tea. Also, it is said to have amazing benefits to your heart as well as the ability to lower sugar cravings.

The Doctors Chocolate is a raspberry-filled dark chocolate that contain “L-Theanine” which is a known de-stressing agent to help you relax and have better mental focus. The True Healthy Dark Chocolate, on the other hand, is a dark chocolate made up of herbal formula with strong antioxidants.

Jan Hrkach, CEO of True Healthy Products said, “Our chocolates are more than just a tasty chocolate – it’s an important part of your daily diet during the Simple Chocolate Diet. Our chocolates will keep the hunger pains away and give your body an extra boost – just when you need it!”

The free download of the diet plan is available at www.simplechocolatediet.com.  You can also visit the corporate site at www.truehealthyproducts.com.

Nation Bank Financial Group has supported Breakfast Clubs of Canada and cooperated this year by presenting Theobroma chocolates as a means for fund-raising. These organic and fair-trade chocolates are individually wrapped inside boxes and sell for $5.

The available flavors are dark chocolate, dark chocolate with a burst of orange, and dark chocolate with raspberry. You can get these treats at National Bank branches from Nov. 28 to Dec. 31. Proceeds will go to school breakfast programs across all Canada.

“By buying this great Canadian product, people will not only be giving a sweet treat to friends and loved ones, but will also be providing thousands of schoolchildren the chance to start their day with a nutritious meal,” said the president and founder of Breakfast Clubs of Canada, Daniel Germain. “In addition, this year through our partnership with Theobroma, Canadians will also be supporting organic farming and fair-trade abroad,” he added.

It always pays to help others. It is a law of the universe that what you give out will come back to you. It’s not good to expect anything in return though, but with this kind of help, your goodness comes back right after giving it, and it’s the goodness of chocolate sensation.

To learn more about Breakfast Clubs of Canada or to make a donation, visit http://www.breakfastclubscanada.org/.

It is hard to choose my favorite among the Intense Dark varieties because they’re all so good! 

I most recently had the pleasure of eating Toffee Interlude.  This rich, bold chocolate surrounds crunchy toffee pieces and caramelized almonds.  The buttery and caramel flavors blend nicely with the soft sweetness of the chocolate and the hint of salt from the almonds. 

A couple different wines pair very well with the Toffee Interlude.  Choose a Chardonnay with buttery and vanilla notes to bring out the toffee, or a sweet late harvest Riesling to bring out the chocolate and almond.

Ghirardelli (pronounced Gear-ar-delly) was founded in 1852 and has been making chocolate ever since.  One of Ghirardelli’s promotional campaigns declares “Lose yourself in the Dark”.  They offer seven different flavors to do just that; 60% Evening Dream, 72% Twilight Delight, 86% Midnight Reverie, Espresso Escape, Toffee Interlude, Sea Salt Soiree, and Hazelnut Heaven. 

Ghirardelli is a bean to bar operation.  They begin by roasting cacao beans and finish with the molded chocolate bar.  This means they can control the entire process for flavor, quality and consistency.  If you are a Ghirardelli lover, you instantly recognize their signature flavor profile in their chocolates.  That’s due to a proprietary bean blend they use to create this unique flavor.
 
After selecting, blending and roasting the cacao beans, Ghirardelli mixes and refines their chocolate into a velvety smooth texture and a melt-in- your-mouth deliciousness.  Ghirardelli takes careful steps to make sure their chocolate is memorable.  I have already lost myself to the Dark side of chocolate and it is a beautiful place to be!

Please enjoy an Intense Dark Chocolate.  And make a difference in the cure for Breast Cancer at the same time!

The Ghirardelli Chocolate Company is a producer and seller of premium chocolate products. It was founded by an Italian chocolatier Domingo Ghirardelli and derived its name from him. The company was is the second-oldest chocolate company in the United States, incorporated in 1852 and still going on.

National Breast Cancer Foundation or NBCF, on the other hand, is dedicated to spreading awareness and encouraging optimism in the battle against breast cancer. The foundation brings motivation to fight this dreaded big C by backing free mammograms for financially-challenged women as its main mission is to save lives through early detection. They also support research programs across the country. They are standing their ground in increasing awareness through education, providing diagnostic breast care services for those who could otherwise not afford them and giving nurturing support services.

Only in a limited time from September 15 through the end of December 2011, specially marked pink ribbon packages of Intense Dark™, which you can buy at the grocery store and specialty retailers across the country, will have a code inside the package exchangeable to a $1 donation to NBCF.  For every Intense Dark pink ribbon code entered at www.intensedarkpairings.com, up to $100,000, a donation will be made by Ghirardelli in order to be of help to the Foundation’s mission.

Products that have the pink ribbon packaging in respect to Breast Cancer Awareness Month include:  Evening Dream™ 60% Cacao, Twilight Delight™ 72% Cacao, Midnight Reverie™ 86% Cacao, and Toffee Interlude™.  Over the past two years Ghirardelli has donated $200,000 to the foundation.

Wouldn’t it be nice to know that while enjoying yourself a chocolaty treat, you are contributing in the battle against breast cancer? A little piece of chocolate goes a long way. I really just had to say it.

I even heard someone jokingly saying, and I am paraphrasing, “I will eat anything covered in chocolate. You can cover a tennis shoe in chocolate and I’d still eat it.” Yes, you read right. Chocolate can certainly get the best out of us sometimes! Haha

Potato chips are one of the most popular and craved snacks enjoyed by many individuals worldwide. It is reportedly one of the most consumed food items next to rice. It is typically sliced thinly and deep fried in oil to come up with crispy potatoes that’s why it is also known as “crisps”.

Some decades back, potato chips were made by peeling potatoes by hand which eventually gave way to machine peelers as these chips were in very high demand.

Manufacturers produce a variety of types of potato chips but the ridged ones are acknowledged as the “yummier” type as it can hold the flavors as opposed to the plain ones. Today, many of these potato chips are available in ridged forms making it ideal for parties and social gatherings. That is the reason why it is also the best choice for this recipe!

Enjoy!

In an experiment funded by Hershey’s, overweight and obese women who were on a strict reduced-calorie diet but still had a bit of chocolate for snacks (of course, provided by Hershey’s) on the side were still able to lose about 11 pounds within four months on average. These women had BMIs ranging from 25 to 43 and they consumed 1500 to 1800 calories per day.

Body Mass Index, also known as BMI, is the measure of weight in relation to height. A person can be called overweight when his/her BMI is between 25 and 29.9; obese is a BMI above 30. A normal BMI is between 18.5 and 24.9.

We always want what we can’t have, so chocolate cravings are often the main culprit behind the downfall of many dieters. The conductor of the research, Kathryn Piehowski, said: “Women think about going on a diet and think they have to deprive themselves of their favorite foods, but really that’s not the case if you incorporate them in a portion-controlled way.”

Chocolate is indeed a highly-craved food but scientists believed that there are other snacks much more satiating than chocolate, those that contain fiber and protein which help these women stay full in between meals so they don’t binge when they finally get to the next meal.

Half of the participants of the experiment were given small dark chocolate snacks to eat twice a day which counts 90 calories a day and sugar-free cocoa for breakfast. The other half had fruit-flavored licorice snacks and had a sugar-free non-cocoa drink in the morning.

After four months, all of the participants had lost 11 pounds on average. In conclusion, chocolates and other sweet snacks don’t have to be completely taken away from even those on a strict diet and involved in any weight-loss strategies as long as they have them in right proportions.

Looking for a wine that would work with cluster, I described what I needed and then took the suggestion from a very knowledgeable wine guru.   But up until serving it, I had not tried this particular combination.  This always makes me a bit nervous because I am using something unfamiliar, yet I’m simultaneously excited to try something new.

The pairing did not disappoint!  This wonderful twosome worked great in the tasting and would also be a very satisfying after dinner treat.

Petite Sirah wine is dark, and inky colored, with firm texture and thick mouth feel.  This works well with the thick feeling of caramel and pecan.  The flavor notes in this particular petite sirah offered deep fruit of plums and red berries with a hint of spice and a touch of astringency that enhanced the nutty and buttery notes of both the pecans and caramel.

The dark chocolate, around 60% cacao content, complements the tannins in the wine without creating a bitter aftertaste.  I think if the dark chocolate were any higher in cocoa solids and the wine a bit more aged, this pairing would be unsuccessful. But somehow all this complexity works, and it works very well!

The wine came from the Bogle Winery in California.  According to their website, www.boglewinery.com,  Bogle Petite Sirah is “…voluptuous and full-bodied on the entry, the heady aromas of black currants and plums awaken the senses…tones of leather and cocoa…juniper and spice…this wine finishes long and lingering.”

They say it is best served with rich meat dishes and hearty sauces, but I should inform them that it is best enjoyed with Dark Chocolate Pecan Caramel Patties!

Enjoy!

Contrary to popular belief, eating chocolates can possibly improve cholesterol levels, lower blood pressure and the risk of having diabetes. As strange as it may sound, it is true according to Harvard researchers. This study involved a review of 24 studies and 1,106 participants. And the said health benefits are due to the chocolate’s content called flavonoids which are of highest levels in the dark variants. Like I said, the right kind of chocolates, always keep that in mind.

Dark chocolates were considered as potent antioxidants by the researchers as well. These antioxidants affix themselves to free radicals, which are the main cause of cell destruction, and they are flushed away through digestion and other body processes. Chocolates are also found to contain what they call ORACS (Oxygen radical Absorbance Capacity Units), and its contents are even higher than those of red wine’s and even green tea’s. Consumption of food rich in antioxidants cuts down the risk of having heart attacks, stroke, asthma, and even degenerative cognitive diseases such as Alzheimer’s.

Chocolate labels, nowadays, display the percentage of cocoa solids they contain. So, when buying such, make it a point to check it, and choose those with at least 70% of cocoa and those that have minimally-processed cacao in them. Antioxidants are not the only nutritional benefit chocolate has to offer, but other nutrients as well such as iron, calcium, potassium, and vitamins A, B-1, C, D and E.

“What is the appropriate amount”, you may ask. Study indicates that a single 5-g square contains approximately 25 calories and 1.5 g. of fat. Thus, an entire row is about 125 calories and 7.5 g of fat. Instead of devouring one whole bar of chocolate in one sitting, why not try consuming a single row one square at a time? This way, you can rest assured that you are eating in “appropriate” amounts.

Cacao seeds contain Flavonoids (specifically Flavanols) that are chemicals found in plant-based foods that give major health benefits. Over 4,000 flavonoids have been known and almost all of it are found in fruits, vegetables and beverages such as tea, coffee, beer, wine and fruit drinks. Good thing our beloved chocolate is part of the list!

When we eat foods that have flavonoids, it just means that we also take advantage of the antioxidants in it which are believed to help the body fight cell damage.  In addition to that, studies say that flavonoids have other helpful influences on vascular health, such as lowering blood pressure and improving blood flow to the brain and heart, making blood platelets less viscous. Thus, keeping cholesterol from gathering in blood vessels. It also slows down the immune responses that lead to clogged arteries.

Eating a small bar of dark chocolate a day is beneficial for you, very beneficial for you. “Why dark chocolates,” you may ask. Not all chocolate is produced the same. Dark chocolates hold a lot more cocoa than milk and white chocolates which means dark chocolate contains more flavonoids than lighter chocolate. Since processing chocolate almost always destroys the flavonoids in chocolates, chocolate companies have learned to make dark chocolate keep its flavonoids up to 95%.

Nutrition experts advise eating flavonoid-rich foods rather than taking dietary supplements containing large amounts of flavonoids.

Aside from being decadent and delicious, chocolates are actually healthy! But that doesn’t mean you can devour a whole bar of chocolate in one sitting and wait for health benefits. Remember, too much of something is bad. Moderation is always key.

Whatever happened to truth in advertising?

I review a lot of chocolate, and I’d be the first to emphasize that anything I report is a matter of subjective opinion and personal preference. That is, what I write is MY personal preference. Just because I like it, doesn’t mean everyone will like it. We all get that.

This time, however, you can take my review as gospel truth and just trust me…. YOU WILL NOT like Sweet Obsession™ chocolate.

Contrary to the tag line that is on the wrapper, this bar is simply the worst chocolate on earth.  At a minimum, it’s one of the worst I have ever tasted.

The Sweet Obsession Milk Chocolate bar is boldly labeled as “Fine European Chocolate.”  I’ve enjoyed fine European chocolate.  This is not it.  European chocolate makers should be embarrassed to see this phrase on these packages.

There were plenty of warning signs before I bought this bar.  In other words, my my expectations were pretty low from the start.

1. The bar sells for $1.00 despite being a larger size (5.3 oz/150 g) than typical chocolate bars.

2. The ingredient statement declares that in addition to cocoa butter there is vegetable fat, and in addition to whole milk there is whey powder.

3. It is imported by a company (Global Brands, LLC) that is “committed to creating and supplying food products that will never cost more than $1.00 retail.” Ok, it really said supplying “extreme value foods,” but that makes it sound like a good thing.

It only took one small bite to confirm my suspicions. The chocolate was gritty, tasteless, and waxy. To punish myself even more, I tried the dark chocolate version and guess what? It was gritty, tasteless, and waxy – only in a darker color!

I bought these extreme value chocolates at the local Pick ‘n Save grocery store. Don’t get sucked in by the price.  And don’t believe, even for a second, that Sweet Obsession makes the finest chocolates on earth!

Beware!