Peppermint Chocolate Granola
January 22, 2014
Granola is something else! Always has been, always will be. And it can be delicious, especially if it's not made up of too much mysterious organic stuff that some dude tripped over while hiking some prairie lands.
Here's a yummy twist on the Granola concept that you can use to get rid of some of those extra candy canes lying around after Christmas.
Chocolate Coconut-Filled Almond Cupcakes
January 15, 2014
Ah, Christmas. 'Tis the season to reunite with family and friends. Time to catch up with all the loved ones. And then suddenly, it's the new year!
Chocolate Prophecies For 2014
January 10, 2014
The taste, shape, and size of chocolates may drastically change in the years to come, in accordance with cocoa price hikes.
The big names in the chocolate industry are bound to tweak their formulations in an attempt to cut costs. Loading bars with sugar is one of the anticipated moves. However, the price of sugar is also foreseen to increase by 8% this year.
There are sugar substitutes, such as steviol glycosides, but they are limited due to added cost and negative effects on the taste.
Hot Chocolate Eggnog
January 8, 2014
I'm a sucker for drinks. I always have something in hand to sip. And it so happens that I'm a big fan of the eggnog drink.
A lot of people still believe that eggnog doesn’t go well with chocolate. For the most part, they think chocolate kind of overpowers the eggnog flavor. I beg to differ. I firmly believe that the ultra-creamy texture of eggnog is a great match for chocolate. One sip of the Eggnog Hot Chocolate and you’ll be on board in no time.
The Problem with Rising Chocolate Prices
January 3, 2014
Baker's Boutique of Grand Junction, Colorado, makes use of an array of cocoa products when baking. They use it in making the batter, icing, as well as ganache in their infamous chocolate truffle cupcake. Callie Ash, Baker’s Boutique owner, says that it’s no surprise that they are affected when the price of raw materials shoot up. Price increases affect those who try to keep the prices of their products low.
Ash says it’s all about balancing raising prices at the burden of the buyer or taking a hit to their profit margin. Since they pre-ordered for the holiday season, their prices can luckily remain low. However, if reordering is called for, then they would be compelled to pass the price increase to the consumer.
Eat Chocolate Cake Without The Guilt
December 20, 2013
Studies have shown that people who eat sweet treats with an attitude of celebration are more likely to stay fit compared with those who are often plagued with guilt after eating. Those who experience guilt are more likely to gain some unwanted pounds.
This study was published in the current online edition of the journal Appetite, and it shows that how we see treats, such as chocolate cake, is just as important as its caloric value when it comes down to expanding waistlines.
Triple Chocolate Granola
December 18, 2013
Baking for people with food restrictions can be a little tricky, considering cross-contamination issues, but with the right preparation, it can be just as fun and fulfilling!
This is one of those recipes that can be easily made for those without food restrictions, or easily adapted for those who have to be careful of certain ingredients. This one is real simple to make, only requiring a few minutes of your precious time to combine ingredients.
To get those yummy chocolate clusters, you can toss in mini dairy-free chocolate chips while the granola is still quite warm. The decadence you get from the melty, gooey goodness of it is oh so good!
Violent Video Games and Chocolate
December 13, 2013
This particular research took place in Italy, involving 170 teenagers showing their skills in a violent video game, like Grand Theft Auto III, or a non-violent game like MiniGolf 3D, in a span of 45 minutes. A bowl of chocolate was beside the gaming console while they were playing. They knew they could eat the candies, albeit they were told that it was unhealthy to devour so much chocolates in a short period of time.
Those who played violent video games ate three times as much chocolates as those who played non-violent ones. After playing, the participants went through a 10-item logic test where they got one ticket for a prize raffle for every question they answered correctly. After learning the number of answers they got right, they were told to get the corresponding number of tickets from an envelope while not being watched.
Hot Chocolate on a Stick
December 11, 2013
'Tis the season to give gifts!! Hot Chocolate on a Stick, anyone? It screams thoughtfulness and creativity. Not only does it warm your taste buds, but your heart, as well. Here is a creative twist to the traditional and dearly loved hot chocolate, you can whip it up with kids, and it's also a surefire way to impress the hard-to-impress people on your list.
Are You Ready For White Chocolate Pringles?
December 6, 2013
This product serves as a simpler sequel to last holiday season’s White Chocolate Peppermint Pringles. White chocolate’s fan base is pretty small, as compared to the humongous number of people who swear by the darker varieties, considered as "real chocolate."
Kellogg's second attempt with Pringles is actually worth mentioning, considering how the prior white chocolate experiment didn’t pan out very well. "Imagine mouthwash gone bad, and then put on a potato chip," says the Huffington Post. Taste testers at Today.com claimed that such chips were “unanimously despised, with one staffer comparing it to a Pringle with ‘a thin layer of toothpaste on it.’"