Tag Archive: cocoa powder
Chocolate Facial Mask Recipe
February 22, 2011
One day I came home from work to find my daughter putting lemon juice and sugar on her face. “What are you doing?” I asked. “I’m making my own facial scrub,” she answered, “and next, I’m making pore strips out of gelatin and honey.” There goes my grocery budget!
The practice of using food as a beauty treatment is certainly not new. And for my daughter, the interest in making her own natural products from scratch comes partly from being sensitive to harsh, laboratory made chemicals. Plus, it appeals to her creative side!
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The Power of Cocoa Powder
February 15, 2011
New research finding just released in the Chemistry Central Journal compares the antioxidant power of the powders; fruit powder vs. cocoa powder.
Cacao and a number of other fruits are often classified as super fruits. So which is the most super?
In the study, a variety of fruit powders were analyzed for their antioxidant capacity (ORAC) and total flavanol (TF) content. Cocoa powder was also analyzed.
After all the powders were tested, it was determined that cocoa powder had the most concentrated source of antioxidants and flavanols (ORAC and TF).
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Chocolate and Cocoa Substitutes
January 28, 2011
Have you ever discovered you were out of an ingredient? Of course that always seems to happen right in the middle of making something!
When the recipe calls for chocolate, cocoa powder, or unsweetened baking chocolate, using the correct substitution can mean your crisis is avoided. And no emergency trip to the grocery store!
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Facts About Cocoa Butter
September 30, 2010
One of the reasons we love chocolate so much is because of the way it melts in our mouth. The velvety, luxurious melting characteristics of chocolate come from the cocoa butter.
When cacao beans are ground and pressed, cocoa butter and cocoa powder are separated. While both cocoa butter and cocoa solids are essential to making chocolate, the cocoa butter is responsible for the smooth mouth-feel and chocolatey flavor release.
The two most unique qualities of cocoa butter are its melt point and its ability to contract.
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