Growing Cacao on American Soil
September 12, 2014
Did you know that there is an increasing amount of high quality cacao being grown in the United States?
We know there is a massive amount of chocolate being produced in the US, but until recently, there were no cacao trees being grown on American soil, and all chocolate being made in the US was made from imported cocoa beans. That is slowly changing.
Chunky Chocolate Pudding
September 10, 2014
Chocolate pudding, to me, will always be dreamy. Something I will always be willing to spare some space for in my stomach even after a pretty heavy meal. This chunky version, the one I sifted through dozens and dozens just to get that oomph I’ve always been yearning for, is chocolaty but not too heavy, indulgent yet not overly rich.
Exploring Cacao in Southern Belize
September 5, 2014
If you’re willing to fly over rain forests and aqua colored Caribbean shores in a small plane to learn more about chocolate, you may want to consider a trip to Southern Belize.
Why travel there? The Toledo District in Southern Belize has a rich cacao history (and an annual chocolate festival *). You can also experience chocolate as it originated hundreds of years ago, as a beverage and rustic confection, before European explorers arrived.
Disappearing Marshmallow Brownies
September 3, 2014
I have been using my oven more than I usually do, but I ain’t complaining! This dessert is outrageously decadent & comforting any day of the week.
Moist fudge brownies with marshmallows. It’s not a true “brownie”, though, it’s a blondie! Stopping while there’s still some left in your plate is almost impossible! It’s sooo rich, so a glass of milk or coffee might come in handy!
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Beverly Hills – A Chocolate Tourist’s Dream Destination
August 29, 2014
Two hours, seven chocolate shops. This is the promise of Great Food Tours’ chocolate tour in Beverly Hills, California.
A premise that begs many questions: What kind of chocolate? What is the dress code? Will there be hillbillies? Can I eat chocolate for two hours and still fit in my pants? Among others.
And as is the case with all adventures, the only way to get answers is to go out and find them.
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Creamy Mocha Fudge
August 27, 2014
I swear by the combination of coffee and chocolate in desserts. I love the depth of flavor when coffee and chocolate go together. They’re divine even individually, alright. But they just go so perfectly together it’s almost sinful!
I know my friends would go gaga over this, and when I make them several batches I know they just wouldn’t stop until trays are emptied. Indeed, the inventor of mocha should be sainted.
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Q&A: What’s the Big Deal About Lecithin?
August 22, 2014
Recently a reader asked me the following question. It's a good one, so I wanted to answer here on the blog...
What is the big deal about soy lecithin and if most artisan producers manage to do without it, why don't all chocolatiers?
The big deal about soy lecithin is a combination of science and economics.
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Natural Chocolate Hormone?
August 15, 2014
In vitro fertilisation (IVF) is defined as a process where an egg is fertilized by sperm outside the body: in vitro. IVF is considered as a major treatment for infertility when other measures of assisted reproductive technology have not been successful.
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Super Chocolate Sorbet
August 13, 2014
Summer is still around, except of course if you’re from the Land Down Under or Antarctica. And I got myself some new appliances the past weekend, ice cream maker included. Yay adulthood! Yay me!
What I’m sharing with you today though is not, I repeat, NOT a heavy chocolate ice cream. This is a sorbet (chocolate and water). Light, refreshing, but very, very rich! I wasn’t really holding my breath for something spectacular when I was making it, but then I took a spoonful… And another one. And another one. It was head-tilting good! And it even got better after freezing.
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Devil’s Food Delight
August 6, 2014
Anyone will delight in this recipe. The best thing about it is the fact that it’s actually a breeze to make! There's no denying that it tastes sensational, but it also happens to have so many other phenomenal things going for it that I just have to share with y’all.
A good devil's food cake recipe is, without a doubt, one of the most versatile things ever. Think cupcakes for any occasions, chocolate sheet cake for a children’s party, and layer cake for the grown-ups, just to name a few. Sprinkles and frosting with sugar on top wouldn’t be so bad of an idea, or some whipped cream and some berries, perhaps?
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