Is Milk Chocolate Inferior to Dark Chocolate?

I was asked a question like this recently, "is milk chocolate considered inferior to dark chocolate?"

Inferior?  No.

Not as “in”?  Yes.
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Chocolate-Themed Party

Generally speaking, I think parties with a theme are easier to plan and more fun to attend.

Using chocolate as the star of your party appeals to all ages, genders, and budgets.  And it works great for the party–poopers, too.  Ever had the pleasure (or obligation) of trying to throw a party for the person who says “Don’t throw me a party, I hate parties!”?

I bet they won’t turn down a party in which chocolate is the center of attention.
If you are planning a kid’s birthday party, what could better than making it a chocolate party?
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Cocoa Bean Shells Make Great Mulch

I love the smell of my flower bed after it rains.  Ahhhh, it smells so chocolatey! 

Yep, that’s right, an aroma like brownies baking in an oven.  I use cocoa bean shells for mulch and it is true that when it gets wet, it smells delightfully like chocolate.

As the name indicates, cocoa shell mulch is made from the shell of the cocoa bean.  These shells come off the bean either during or just prior to the roasting process.  The shells are cleaned and packaged for sale as mulch.
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Chocolate Board Game

Chocolate-opoly?  Check this out...

Chocolate-opoly is a decadently delicious property trading game for chocolate lovers.  Come again?
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Chocolate, Massage, What?

I just tried chocolate scented therapeutic massage oil...

🙂

What more is there to say?

Bryn
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Hints for Molding Chocolate

This is the second part of the series.  If you missed the first part, or you'd like a review, please see Tips for Molding Chocolate.

Now that you're caught up, here are my Extra Special Helpful Hints when working with chocolate molds.
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Mother’s Day and Chocolate

Mother’s Day and Chocolate

Those two things, Mother's Day and Chocolate, just fit together nicely, don’t they? 

Mother's Day is celebrated on different days and different months depending on which country you live in.  In the United States, it is always celebrated on the second Sunday in May. 

We can thank Anna Jarvis for this great day.  She is the one credited for founding Mothers Day in the US.

How do you choose the perfect chocolate for Mom?
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Cupcakes Rule!

A couple weeks ago I attended an event that included a lunch buffet.  I love buffets, especially the all-you-can-eat-dessert part of a buffet.

After eating my lunch, I elbowed my way through the crowd that had swarmed around the desserts.  I stared at the table.  <gasp> It had an abundance of cupcakes, the most diverse assortment of beautifully decorated cupcakes I had ever laid eyes on!
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Tips for Molding Chocolate

Molded Chocolate (not to be confused with moldy chocolate!), or chocolate from molds (moulds),  has been around for a long time. 

Most chocolate molds are made of either metal or plastic. They can be flat, to shape chocolate like a candy bar, or three dimensional, to shape like an Easter bunny.

If you are a beginner at working with chocolate, start with a flat plastic mold with small cavities of simple shapes.  You can buy these at craft stores or baking/candy supply stores or online at a number of candy-making supply websites.
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The Price of Chocolate

I have friends who are often reluctant to spend 10 dollars or more for a 100 gram chocolate bar.  I can understand that.  They wonder if it is worth it. 

Here’s the thing; in the chocolate world, you get what you pay for!

There is an obvious taste and quality difference between a $0.79 chocolate bar and one that costs $1.99.  All my friends get that.  Also, there is a significant distinction between one priced at $1.99 and one for $7.99.  Most of my friends get that.  Where I lose almost all of them is anything above the magic $8 mark.  Are the flavor differences that occur in this price range really worth the extra dough, they ask? 
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