Author Archive: Joanna Maligaya
Cheese & Chocolate Tunnel Cake
July 18, 2012
I've always been intrigued with the idea of chocolate and cheese pairing. And actually, I'm a huge fan of it. A lot of people out there claim that it's much harder to get right than, say, pairing cheese with fruit, and a lot of time it turns out to be plain nasty. However, when you do get it right, it can be sensational. It happens to be a scrumptious way to end a long day, or just when you feel like having two of the greatest foods humans ever created.
Chocolate and cheese are two uber rich foods, and it follows that a little can go a long way. Try this recipe and savor all the goodness in this pairing.
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Pets and Chocolates Together
July 17, 2012
When I was still a kid, I remember visiting my aunt just to see her dogs. And whenever I failed to swing by her place, I would just ask my father about how the dogs were doing. I always made him tell stories about them. It was funny how I always made him enumerate all their names as I was busy trying to memorize them one by one.
With that short story from my childhood alone, you can easily come up with a conclusion that I am into dogs. You are wrong, honey. I am not just into them, I am in love with them. I am truly, madly, deeply in love with dogs. I grew up with dogs around me. I dress them up like Barbie dolls, I run around with them like a real playmate. I sleep and eat with them like they are my own brothers and sisters. From then till now, it has been my lifelong dream to put up an animal shelter for the homeless ones.
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Scream For National Ice Cream Day
July 13, 2012
Every year, we celebrate several different holidays. Some are simultaneously recognized all over the world while others are exclusive to their respective cities, states or countries. Often, these festivities are dedicated to popular personalities who have made an impact in the society.
However, the most delightful holidays of all celebrate in the name of food. Who would not want that. I know I would. It is something pretty sweet, enjoyed by people of all ages, in all walks of life and in all parts of the world... It is ice cream.
Sunday, July 15, 2012, is National Ice Cream Day. How awesome is that?
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Mocha Ice Cream Cake
July 12, 2012
If you crave ice cream cake, but you don't want to spend a lot of your precious time prepping in the kitchen, this recipe is for you!
Ice cream cake can either be ice cream shaped as a cake or cake and ice cream that are layered together in order to make a single form. The concept of ice cream cake allegedly came from desserts that are composed of cream and cookies or cake named as trifles, which initially surfaced in the Renaissance. Ice cream cake is often served at birthdays and weddings.
However, you can devour it anytime you want. Especially now that you have this recipe in hand!
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Chocolate as Poison?
July 10, 2012
Not being able to eat even a piece of chocolate for a short period of time is bad enough, how much more for a little girl who at the age of five is not allowed to taste even a little bit of this sweet heaven. For normal people, too much chocolate candy could cause maybe cavities, increased sugar levels, sore throats and inflamed tonsils. But to Lola Raine, this could cost her entire life.
Even before she was born, Lola's parents Natalie and Tim already found out that she had Autosomal Recessive Polycystic Kidney Disease or ARPKD. This is one very rare kidney and liver disease that is inherited by a child from her carrier parents. In this condition, kidneys do not function well. They do not dispose properly the waste materials of the body. Because of that, potassium and other toxic agents accumulate in the body, thus poisoning the blood and posing grave threat to the life of a person.
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Toffee Chocolate Cake
July 4, 2012
Toffee candy, whether it be as a traditional sweet treat or homemade goodies, has a lot of fans.
People who were little children in the 70’s and partly the 80’s known exactly how delectable toffee could be, especially its mouth-feel. Most of us have childhood memories that involve toffee as it’s always been a darling to many. We love it for all the good old memories, and also just because it’s downright yummy.
Just so you know, toffee is described as a confection that you can come up with after caramelizing sugar or molasses together with butter, and sometimes flour. Such a mixture must be heated until its temperature reaches the hard crack stage of 300 to 310° F.
It’s head-tilting good when it’s put on top of an already yummy chocolate cake!
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Irish As The Biggest Chocoholics
July 3, 2012
A recent report by Food from Britain shows that the the Irish people have the highest per capita consumption of chocolate globally. Around 24.7 pounds (11.2kg) of chocolate are devoured every year per capita in Ireland.
According to reports, the Irish chocolate market is valued at a staggering $677 million dollars, and places such as Lily O'Briens and Butlers Chocolate Café are reaping some major benefits. Chocolate manufacturers like Nestle, Cadbury, and Rowntree have to be thankful to the Irish chocoholics, as well. The latter should be particularly thankful as they are celebrating their 150th birthday.
Currently, Ireland is Britain’s largest export market for chocolate. Sweet treats that aid in the thriving of business include the British-made Kit-Kat bars.
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Say No To Chocolate-Filled Syringes
June 29, 2012
Dubai Municipality's Food Control Department was forced to issue a warning when rumors about chocolate-filled medical syringes started circulating in the United Arab Emirates.
Photos of these syringes filled with a chocolate spread by Nutella first started surfacing on social media sites, and some concerns were forwarded to the Dubai Municipality hotline.
Khalid Sherif, Director of Food Control Department, said: "The Ministry of Health confirmed that the medical needles are not clean or sanitized and might be used in hospitals to take blood or inject medicine," He also added: "We strongly advise the public to purchase food products from authorized establishments only as they get approval for all food items, apart from the periodical check up by the civic body."
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Chocolaty Bread
June 28, 2012
The Netherlands is probably one of the biggest fans of bread in Europe. A lot of tourists who get to swing by are enamoured with the assortment of their breads. Generally, their breakfast and lunch mainly consist of bread. That being said, you won't be surprised by the variety of bread and sandwich toppings you can find there. "Luxury" isn't the right term for it, you might want to lean toward "necessity".
Typically, breakfast consists of 2-4 slices of bread, and it depends on whether you'd like an open or closed-face sandwich. Margarine or butter is spread onto the bread in order for the toppings to stick. One sandwich will have a cover that is on the more savory side, and the other one will be on the sweeter side. Dutch children typically eat the savory sandwich first, followed by the sweet one which they usually crave.
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Chocolate Milk Shake
June 27, 2012
Basic doesn't necessarily equal plain. Nothing beats the taste and texture of a good chocolate milkshake. When it's good, it's good. When it's not, it's still good! Do I even make sense? It's perfect with a greasy cheeseburger, but it goes well with even a gourmet meal.
A milkshake is described as a sweet, cold drink made out of milk, iced milk or ice cream, and sweeteners or flavorings such as fruit syrup or our favorite, chocolate sauce.
Preparing this tasty and simple chocolate milkshake offers a good chance to get your kids involved. They will surely enjoy doing the drizzling of the sauce, making some mess, and observing the colors as they change. Why of course, they will enjoy having it after all the preparation! And, here's a reduced calorie version so you can have without guilt too!
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