Dark Chocolate Covered Bavarian Pretzel
December 27, 2010
In my opinion, pretzels and chocolate make a stellar combination. The salty, slightly nutty flavor of the pretzel blended with the chocolatey bitterness of the dark coating taste oh-so-good together!
The Rocky Mountain Dark Chocolate Covered Bavarian pretzel is a fine example of this great combination and even beats my expectations. Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory did a superb job in finding the right dark chocolate coating so that with its intense, bold flavor, the pretzel does not overpower the chocolate, rather the flavors merge into a fine taste treat.
As I was tasting my mind wandered to the pretzel part, as I have hardly given pretzels a second thought through the years. Digging into it a little bit I uncovered some basic pretzel info and then tried to find a definition of a "Bavarian" pretzel.
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Chocolate Cough Medicine?
December 23, 2010
Theobromine is a predominant chemical found in chocolate and is often the subject of research studies looking into its affect on the body.
One such study has proclaimed that theobromine can be used as a treatment for the hard-to-get-rid-of cough.
Results from this study are promising. Persistent coughing, one that stays around for at least two weeks, is quieted when test subjects consumed chocolate-based cough remedies.
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Chocolate Egg Nog
December 22, 2010
In my experience, either you love egg nog or you don’t. There aren’t too many people who are on the fence about it, but maybe chocolate egg nog could push you over to the lovin’ it side for good!
| Easy Chocolate Egg Nog • 4 cups dairy eggnog, chilled • 2 cups cold milk • 1/3 cup favorite chocolate syrup • Dash of ground nutmeg Read more |
Mars Company Receives Award
December 21, 2010
The maker of the Snickers bar, Mars, supports the Sustainable Tree Crops Program in Africa.
The program is based on a partnership with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the World Cocoa Foundation. The organizations invest in cacao research and distribute cacao tree seedlings to farmers in order to grow more disease resistant and higher crop-yielding trees.
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Chocolate Dipped Spoons
December 18, 2010
If you are creative and crafty (as in talented in making crafts, not as in clever with intent to do evil) this may be the project for you. Spoons dipped in chocolate can make an impressive gift!
Before I get into the project, I would like to define some terminology for you.
couverture coating - this is a professional-quality chocolate coating that contains a high percentage of cocoa butter, allowing the chocolate to form a thinner coating shell than other chocolate.
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Chocolate in the Freezer?
December 17, 2010
A question I hear somewhat frequently is, "Should I store chocolate in the freezer?"
A friend once told me that the best place to store chocolate is in your mouth. 🙂
Now for a more serious answer, the best place to store chocolate is in an odor-free, air-tight container surrounded by a 65 to 68 F air temperature with no more than 50% relative humidity. How’s that for precise?
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Chocolate to Clear Your Head
December 16, 2010
'Tis the season – to be tired!
I know the holidays can be stressful and exhausting. Even if you aren’t in charge of preparing for the parties and family gatherings, you may find yourself having to do something unexpected that requires a tremendous amount of your time and energy.
One of two things usually happens to me in times of stress as it pertains to food; overeat or forget to eat. Neither extreme is healthy, and neither condition will do anything to keep a body going.
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Dirty Snowball Cookies
December 15, 2010
Stay warm and enjoy some fun in the kitchen with a baking buddy. This is a great recipe to make with your kids.
| Dirty Snowball Cookies • 4 ounces unsweetened baking chocolate • 2 cups granulated sugar • 2 teaspoons vanilla • 1/2 cup vegetable oil • 4 eggs • 2 cups flour • 2 teaspoons baking powder • 1 cup powdered sugar for dusting Read more |
Think, and Eat Less Chocolate?
December 14, 2010
Do you ever crave a chocolate bar and then resign yourself to only dream about it, knowing that if you act upon your desires it will just add extra calories to your already holiday-cookie saturated diet?
If you are like me (and answered YES, YES, YES!) then there may be some good news in your future. Close your eyes and imagine that you are eating that chocolate bar, and you will devour less of it!
There is a new study released from Carnegie Mellon University that suggests thinking about forbidden food could make you eat smaller portions of it. Forming a mental picture before we eat causes us to reduce the amount we would eat of that particular food later.
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