Chocolate for Breakfast

Recently, a breakfast survey was conducted to group of www.foodchannel.com subscribers.  The purpose?  To discover trends and habits of today’s busy breakfast eaters.

Here are Breakfast Trends for 2011:

Read more

Chocolate Crafters of Yuma, AZ

No matter where I travel or visit, I must keep with the tradition of seeking out (and sampling!) the local chocolate shops. During my recent mid-winter retreat to Yuma, AZ to visit my in-laws, I discovered Chocolate Crafters. They opened last fall so they are brand new to the Yuma chocolate scene.

Right after walking in the door Lorena, one of the owners, asked if I was a first time visitor of the shop...

Read more

Ritter Sport White Chocolate

I love chocolate—milk, dark, even white.  Now I know many consider white chocolate to not be REAL chocolate.  However, if it is labeled white chocolate, it must contain at least 20% cocoa butter and that makes it REAL and GOOD.  My favorite to date had been Ghirardelli’s Vanilla Dream but now I have a new favorite and it is delicious...

Read more

Coco Preggers

Chocolates can easily help pregnant woman satisfy their cravings, but can they also provide a guilt free, good for you feeling?

Coco Preggers can.  A chocolate company out of California, Xan Confections, launched a new chocolate containing folic acid and DHA omega-3.  This chocolate was designed to deliver important nutrients during pregnancy.

Folic Acid helps prevent birth defects and DHA is a specific omega-3 fatty acid important to the correct development of the brain.
Read more

Chocolate Mint Dessert

Chocolate and mint are one of many flavor combinations that just “goes together.”  Here they are together in a low-fat dessert that you freeze before serving.

Read more

THE Chocolate Room

Check out this fascinating chocolate sanctuary.  Yes, it's an actual room with walls, furniture, and home décor all made out of chocolate. 

Heaven?  No. Vilnius, Lithuania...

Read more

Aldi, Lidl Brand Chocolate Bars

This is the last review in my consecutive series of store brand chocolate.  Aldi stores in the US, and the equivalent in the UK called Lidl, have a few store brand chocolates to choose from.

Lidl's own brand offers a selection of single-origin tasting squares that I think are really good.  Right now, as a matter of fact, I am eating a dark chocolate with cocoa from Peru at 72%.  The snap is crisp, the intense chocolate is rich, the texture smooth, and the fruity notes are outstanding.

The Aldi near me carries a luxury line of in-house brand chocolate called Choceur.  They carry single origin bars, truffles, and nut clusters in milk, white and dark chocolate. 
Read more

Giant Chocolate Billboard

OK, I'm keeping it quick today.  This is another one of my “time for a quick chuckle” type of blog posts.

This giant chocolate bar-shaped sign looks good enough to eat, don't you think?

Read the whole article at the link below:
Read more

Chocolate Chemistry

This is officially the International Year of Chemistry 2011 brought to you by the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

Chemistry is essential for our future and an improved quality standard of living for everyone. 

What does this have to do with chocolate?
Read more

Dark Chocolate & Irish Cream Pudding

When the mood strikes for warm, homemade pudding try this dark chocolate variation using a shot of Irish Cream liqueur.

Dark Chocolate & Irish Cream Pudding

• 1 egg
• 1 1/2 cups of milk
• 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
• 2/3 cups of sugar
• 3 Tbsp. corn starch
• 2 Tbsp. butter
• 4 oz. chopped dark chocolate
• 1/4 cup Irish Cream liqueur
 
• Toppings: whipped cream and dark chocolate shavings or cocoa powder
  Read more