Author Archive: Joanna Maligaya
Chocolate Before Doomsday
June 26, 2012
I know all of us have managed to watch at least a couple of movies whose plot is focused on alien invasion, world destruction, or whatever a screenwriter could think of as long as it is related to ending all the life on this planet. This trend became more elevated with the infamous doomsday thing in the year 2012. I’m not sure if people are just plain masochists thinking about losing their souls or are really curious on whether this suspicion is true and if so, when is it exactly going to happen.
Of course dying is an unpleasant thing most especially if you are unprepared for it. So if it is my turn to go, I think it would be helpful if I knew about it ahead of time. That is not for me to stop it because I am no superhero or God, but the awareness of it will somehow make sense.
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From Diamonds To Chocolate
June 22, 2012
Designer Azature Pogosian, the jewelry designer who has black diamonds as a specialty, is all the rage in Hollywood. Hollywood A-listers such as Beyoncé, Rihanna, Fergier, Scarlett Johansson, and Miley Cyrus, among others, have been seen sporting his designs down the red carpet.
In 2007, he was able to launch his upmarket jewelries and has added an up-to-date fashion jewelry line, AZ by Azature, which you can get for $50-$850. In Houston, for a showcase of his collection at the St. Regis Hotel through Saturday, "The Black Diamond King" has also ventured into the chocolaty world. The designer has recently launched a high-end line of black-diamond pralines hand-made out of the rare "Wild Treasure" cocoa bean.
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Cocoa Chiffon Cake
June 20, 2012
Chiffon cakes have been around for decades already, capturing many hearts. If you want to bake some for yourself or for family and friends, look no further.
A chiffon cake is described as a very light cake made out of vegetable oil, baking powder, flour, sugar, eggs, and flavorings. It’s a mix of both foam and batter type cakes. In distinction with butter, the conventional fat used in cake making, it’s actually a little hard to beat air into oil. Thus, chiffon cakes, like angel cakes and other foam cakes, get its fluffy texture through beating egg whites until they become stiff, and then folding them into the cake batter before baking.
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Bring Home the Chocolate-Covered Bacon!
June 19, 2012
Ed Gotwalt, the owner of Mister Ed's Elephant Museum and Candy Emporium based in Orrtanna, Pennsylvania, recently introduced the phenomenon of meat and chocolate in his store. He started serving chocolate covered bacon about a month ago. Since then he's been keeping his supply up, ordering 25 to 50 pounds nearly every week.
According to Gotwalt, it has been so much of a rage that their supply is having a hard time keeping up with the demand. Their store’s sign says "Bring home the bacon to Dad. It's covered in chocolate." That seems to be pulling people into the store. "Dad always bring home the bacon. Now you can bring home the bacon for Dad, and it's chocolate covered," he said.
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Fano Carnival – Wild Chocolate Dreams
June 14, 2012
As a famous ancient Roman saying goes, 'Semel in anno licet insanire', which means 'madness is permissible once a year', has been really applicable for the Fano Carnival. This is arguably considered the most famous of all carnivals in Italy.
This is the time of the year when people go berserk and are taken by the frenzy of festival, which makes them abandon their daily routine and join the festivities. The Fano Carnival seems to rob people of their inhibitions, and people indulge in it with reckless abandon.
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White Chocolate Brownies
June 13, 2012
Contrary to popular belief, these delectable white chocolate brownies are not so hard to prepare. If you've been craving it but too scared to give it a shot, well, you can now.
It's high time you whipped up these amazing treats, and celebrate your "expertise" with your loved one. You can even prepare with your children or significant other. Quality time at its best! You never know, you might just start a family tradition!
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Part-time Rower, Part-time Chocolate Maker
June 12, 2012
Many of us have dreams. For some, those dreams include the Olympics.
Will Newell is a world class rower who trains much of his time at the Oklahoma City High Performance Center in the Devon Boathouse and Olympic Qualifier. He pointed out that many countries around the world provide their athletes with provisions that are much higher compared to United States athletes. That means the U.S. athletes have to find a way to make a living.
The Oklahoma City Boathouse Foundation sponsors athletes and helps them find jobs and housing while training as Olympic athletes. Newell and his fellow athlete Robin Prendes are currently members of a four lightweight crew. They have earned their way to the 2012 Olympics and are currently working part-time for Devon Energy.
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Dark Chocolate for Reducing Cardiac Diseases
June 8, 2012
As a self-proclaimed and a self-confessed chocoholic, I have always been particularly keen about the things I come across on the Internet that talk about my favorite sweet treat. In recent years, there have been many stories about the health benefits that dark chocolates are able to provide.
Recent research brings up a certain metabolic syndrome, which is a combination of many risk factors that include an elevated blood pressure as well as high cholesterol and abdominal obesity. This condition places a person in a position that can lead to diseases like coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes and many different types of carcinoma or cancer. The participants in the study showed no symptoms of coronary heart disease, and were not takers of any medications that can lower blood pressure.
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