tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81859181830109570992023-11-15T09:54:49.624-08:00Chocolatedas in spirited, to be chocolated away.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8185918183010957099.post-69390213065546876282009-04-15T19:11:00.000-07:002009-04-15T19:21:07.466-07:00Taxes and ChocolateOn this April 15th, celebrate with chocolate and be happy that we do not live in a country that considers <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37tt0N0JjPY">taxing our chocolate as some are suggesting in the UK</aUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8185918183010957099.post-18177839822631477892009-04-14T19:29:00.001-07:002009-04-14T19:45:41.617-07:00Rosewater Chocolate<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kamutflakegirl/2661274736/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3131/2661274736_03dc93fa55_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kamutflakegirl/2661274736/">raw rosewater cheesecake with chocolate-orange-pistachio crust</a> <br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/kamutflakegirl/">kamutflakegirl</a></span><br clear="all" /><p>Instead of chocolate and roses, consider rosewater chocolate.<br /><br />As in a <a href="http://www.chocolate.com/products/dark-chocolate-with-rosewater-chocopologie-bar/">dark chocolate bar with rosewater</a><br /><a href="http://www.godiva.com/recipes/recipe.aspx?id=527">Chocolate Rosewater Tart</a><br /><a href="http://www.jfconfections.com/guide.php">Rosewater with White Chocolate</a></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8185918183010957099.post-18734981363169841882009-04-02T17:27:00.000-07:002009-04-02T17:41:29.036-07:00Chocolate and PomegranatePomegranate isn't just for fancy martinis and juice. Try adding it into your dessert menu in the below ways:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.finecooking.com/recipes/chocolate-pomegranate-torte.aspx">Chocolate Pomegranate Torte</a> <br /><a href="http://www.recipezaar.com/Chocolate-Pomegranate-Seeds-45549">Chocolate Pomegranate Seeds</a> <br />or if you're not up for baking here's <a href="http://www.smilechocolatiers.com/chocolate-bars/very-dark-chocolate-pomegranate-white-tea.php">a bar to check out</a><br />or for something chocolate-less try <a href="http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Pomegranate-Sheet-Cake-with-Lime-Glaze-350410">this cake</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8185918183010957099.post-57334077077059343962009-04-01T23:07:00.000-07:002009-04-01T23:24:16.612-07:00Chocolate BunniesSo, after a brief hiatus I am returning to the world of chocolate just in time for one of the most important chocolate holidays, Easter.<br /><br />This Easter, I give you the following sites to consider:<br /><a href="http://www.lindtusa.com/category-exec/category_id/2/view_all/1?crcat=Holiday~easter&crsource=adwords+easterAd1&crkw=lindt%20easter%20chocolates&gclid=CNyZjI7F0ZkCFSMSagod7ngYuA"><br />for an all-time favorite milk chocolate bunny</a> or <a href="http://www.lakechamplainchocolates.com/Holidays-Occasions/Easter-Chocolates/Milk-Chocolate-Easter-Bunny.aspx">the solid milk chocolate bunny</a> or for a dark variety consider <a href="http://www.chocolaterrashop.com/dachbu.html">this fair-trade option</a> or <a href="http://www.taraluna.com/main_Chocolate.htm">an organic, vegan variety</a> for something a little more unusual perhaps <a href="http://www.vosgeschocolate.com/category/solid_chocolate_easter_bunnies">this will match your taste</a> or <a href="http://ingber.com/louise/CreekHouseOnline.html">for something more low-key check this out</a><br /><br />This is just for starters. . .Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8185918183010957099.post-57051845902420563872009-03-11T18:56:00.001-07:002009-03-11T18:56:55.205-07:00Artful Chocolate<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/pokeystik/4082477/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/3/4082477_e2db5c722f_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/pokeystik/4082477/">Chocolate Sushi</a> <br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/pokeystik/">pokeystik</a></span><br clear="all" /><p>Chocolate is a serious matter. So why not lighten it up from time to time with your own artful creations, like this chocolate sushi for instance.<br /><br />Let your cereal and your chocolate collide. You will have fun with it and so will your guests.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8185918183010957099.post-26412067959967452012009-03-05T20:43:00.001-08:002009-03-05T20:44:48.173-08:00Classic chocolate<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/idovermani/3332421316/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3576/3332421316_3367fa02a3_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/idovermani/3332421316/">milk_and_cookie</a> <br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/idovermani/">idovermani</a></span><br clear="all" /><p>And then there are the times when a chocolate chip cookie and a glass of milk hit the spot. O.k. I would eliminate the milk but even as a non-milk drinker this seems appealing.<br /><br />Try adding a couple of ounces of shaved dark chocolate into your cookies for an extra dose of goodness.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8185918183010957099.post-12729112663240782562009-02-25T10:24:00.001-08:002009-02-25T10:34:08.148-08:00Make Your Chocolate Hot<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/veganfeast/3304067071/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3319/3304067071_d1b6e15dc9_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/veganfeast/3304067071/">White Chocolate Jalapeno Love</a> <br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/veganfeast/">norwichnuts</a></span><br clear="all" /><p>In the case of this photo, someone apparently lost a bet and the chocolate dipped jalapenos were the consequence.<br /><br />While there is debate over the value of eating a raw, hot pepper dipped in chocolate there is good reason to believe that a little bit of hot in your chocolate is not a bad idea. In the case of chilis, many call for a few tablespoons of cocoa.<br /><br />Now another way to make your chocolate hot is to add some diced, seeded, jalapeno to your brownies, your cakes, and your truffles (these recipes often call for toasting the jalapeno first).</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8185918183010957099.post-62341284820251414832009-02-20T15:10:00.001-08:002009-02-20T15:17:21.678-08:00Good Bad Chocolate<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/carbonnyc/449779175/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/185/449779175_a149ec07d5_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/carbonnyc/449779175/">Cocoa Peeps?</a> <br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/carbonnyc/">CarbonNYC</a></span><br clear="all" /><p>If there is such a thing, I'm not sure I'd put Peeps into this category but I do have some choices.<br /><br />Old favs like <a href="http://www.hersheys.com/reeses/">Reeses Peanut Butter</a> cups (esp. the Easter egg variations b/c they give you even more good/bad peanut butter)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.nutellausa.com/">Nutella</a> mmmm spread it on your white bread in gobs, spread it in the bottom of your ice cream pie<br /><br /><a href="http://www.smuckers.com/products/category.aspx?groupId=4&categoryId=8">Magic Shell</a> remember this? We used to load it on our ice cream and later report to the mother of our sick, sick stomachs.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.dutchmarket.com/kinder.html">Kinder Eggs</a> a European good/bad. Good=they give you a miniature toy in your white/milk chocolate egg. Bad=the chocolate itself white/milk blend<br /><br />I feel like I'm forgetting some critical Good/Bads pls. feel free to tap me on them.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8185918183010957099.post-15950321621098485792009-02-17T15:14:00.001-08:002009-02-17T15:15:40.748-08:00Tangerine Please<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/the_tahoe_guy/3215826719/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3385/3215826719_48412c7524_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/the_tahoe_guy/3215826719/">Canon 50mm f/1.4 prime lens test</a> <br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/the_tahoe_guy/">the_tahoe_guy</a></span><br clear="all" /><p>This holiday weekend, I had a short stack of tangerine pancakes with chocolate sauce. Oh, my. <br /><br />Try adding the zest from a 1/3 of a tangerine ( to your liking) to your favorite pancake recipe and melt a few quality chocolate chips such as <a href="http://www.callebaut.com/usen/">Callebaut</a> or a good bulk chocolate chip overtop. <br /><br />I think you will approve.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8185918183010957099.post-90518843492499135512009-02-16T19:58:00.000-08:002009-02-17T14:43:58.588-08:00On President's Day Take His Advice and Have Chocolate with SaltWhen I first heard of this concept, I was a nonbeliever. But, it turns out (that done with just the right amount of salt) this can be an incredible chocolate experience.<br /><br />Three winners in this field are:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.franschocolates.com/home.php?cat=2">Fran's</a> gray and smoked salt caramels<br /><a href="http://www.pocodolce.com/tiles.html">Poco Dolce</a> with their bittersweet tiles<br /><a href="http://www.theochocolate.com/">Theo</a> with their ghost chile caramelsUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8185918183010957099.post-45297445494825737452009-02-13T12:02:00.001-08:002009-02-13T12:06:38.317-08:00Valentine's Last Ditch<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/emilywaltonjones/1112839370/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1335/1112839370_c3c564a7d7_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/emilywaltonjones/1112839370/">Chocolate Valentine's Sculpture</a> <br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/emilywaltonjones/">emilywjones</a></span><br clear="all" /><p>So, I've given you a lot of ideas for this approaching chocolate loving day. Maybe they did not always appear neatly in the list above as promised, but if you scroll through this blog you'll find ideas sprinkled about the page.<br /><br />If you still haven't figured it out and the hand-painted chocolates aren't up your alley. Then maybe a sculpture out of chocolate or cookies is still a possibility? You have twelve hours.<br /><br />Ready, set. . .</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8185918183010957099.post-20489290478501675202009-02-12T19:21:00.001-08:002009-02-12T19:28:40.262-08:00Cognac and Chocolate<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ajawin/3082087943/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3158/3082087943_d1ab0c8abb_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ajawin/3082087943/">Let's paint the world in cognac and chocolate!</a> <br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/ajawin/">lepiaf.geo</a></span><br clear="all" /><p>Another great duo. Here are some options:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.chocolatesimports.com/LINDT-Lindt_Chocolate_Cognac.html">Lindt makes a milk chocolate with a cognac filling</a><br /><a href="http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Chocolate-Cognac-Truffle-Tartlets-546">Chocolate Cognac Truffle Tartlet Recipe</a><br /><a href="http://www.bestfondue.com/dark-chocolate-fondue.html">Chocolate Fondue with Cognac</a><br /><br />or choose a good, quality dark such as <a href="http://www.divinechocolate.com/products/default.aspx">Divine</a> and pair it with a cognac. Raspberries would also make a nice accompaniment to this match</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8185918183010957099.post-24422295055993722232009-02-11T17:12:00.001-08:002009-02-11T17:16:56.074-08:00All the way to Japan<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/bananagranola/2248815774/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2114/2248815774_4168392a21_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/bananagranola/2248815774/">Valentine's chocolate from Kyoto</a> <br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/bananagranola/">bananagranola</a></span><br clear="all" /><p>So, maybe Japan is a little far to go for Valentine's confections so I thought I'd bring these to you via this lovely photo. If you were really, really wanting to impress I think you could stay up all night and paint edible images on chocolate formed from shells. And then, you could play <a href="http://www.aisf.or.jp/~jaanus/deta/k/kaiawase.htm">Kaiawase</a>. <br /><br />You know, you could if you really, really wanted to impress.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8185918183010957099.post-55460440241476286932009-02-09T18:57:00.001-08:002009-02-09T19:01:48.578-08:00And then there are the things we shouldn't do with chocolate<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/clevercupcakes/3268449782/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3449/3268449782_140cfc3574_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/clevercupcakes/3268449782/">Batch Caramel Bacon Pumpkin Cupcake</a> <br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/clevercupcakes/">clevercupcakes</a></span><br clear="all" /><p>for instance--what is this fad with adding bacon to chocolate? <a href="http://www.vosgeschocolate.com/product/bacon_exotic_candy_bar/exotic_candy_bars">Vosges</a> has done it to the tune of $7.50 chocolate bars and now I'm seeing it pop up all over the cupcake world. <br /><br />In this case there is also caramel and pumpkin involved. Yikes! Sweetness says just say no to the pig in your chocolate.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8185918183010957099.post-406598441415466852009-02-06T11:15:00.001-08:002009-02-06T11:17:24.134-08:00Godiva Outdoing Themselves<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/maynard/97354543/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/28/97354543_3fb3271eb3_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/maynard/97354543/">Godiva, take 1 #1069</a> <br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/maynard/">Nemo's great uncle</a></span><br clear="all" /><p>For those chocolate obsessed folks looking to splurge on a $25 box of chocolates, or more, in the USA or Canada, consider Godiva. <br /><br />A take on Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, they have announced a contest where only lucky couple will enjoy a fantasy weekend including a room of chocolate. I repeat. A Room of Chocolate.<br /><br />But before you run out and buy a box, take a peak at <a href="http://www.godiva.com/promotions/valentines_day09.aspx">these official contest rules</a>. In the meantime, dream a little dream of the golden ticket or Brooke Shields, oh that already happened. She most certainly will not be coming along with the fantasy, but hey enjoy the chocolate dream wherever it takes you.</p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8185918183010957099.post-53703249963634705642009-02-05T21:33:00.000-08:002009-02-05T21:48:03.055-08:00Vegan Chocolate: A Positive MemoryI love my dairy. <br /><br />Usually there is a period at the end of this statement and that is all. But, I must admit I just rediscovered a chocolate company I had nearly forgotten about <a href="http://www.denmanislandchocolate.com/">Denman Island Chocolate</a>. <br /><br />Oh, my--they are so very rich and lovely and organic. <a href="http://www.denmanislandchocolate.com">Denman Island Chocolate</a> arrives in neat, little packaging that is sometimes playful and involves the shape of woodland creatures, or Buddhas (these are not, I believe listed on their site though).<br /><br />Really, you must treat yourself to a <a href="http://www.veganessentials.com/catalog/denman-island-organic-mint-frogs.htm">little mint/chocolate frog</a> or a <a href="http://www.veganessentials.com/catalog/denman-island-organic-chocolate-buddha.htm">Buddha</a> pronto. And tell me they don't stack up to the dairy kind!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8185918183010957099.post-84882592165808333352009-02-04T10:18:00.001-08:002009-02-09T18:32:10.749-08:00Lime and Chocolate<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ajagendorf25/2832416254/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2326/2832416254_3750f524de_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ajagendorf25/2832416254/">Chocolate Lime Strudel</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/ajagendorf25/">ajagendorf25</a></span></div>A friend came over last night and brought me chocolate, which of course makes her a dear friend, but not just any chocolate she brought me chocolate with lemon and pepper. Oh, my. It got me to thinking what else can we do with chocolate and citrus and then I found this photo. I feel a little like a tease with this post, because I'm not producing the recipe for the above. Tell you what. I will mail one bar of the aforementioned chocolate to the first person (in the USA--sorry can't afford to ship overseas) who gives me a good recipe for the above lime and chocolate strudel. Deal? You'll be pleasantly surprised with this bar and shocked by its producer. <br clear="all" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8185918183010957099.post-38440976319287400792009-02-03T12:07:00.001-08:002009-02-03T12:11:46.285-08:00Chocolate and Coconut and . . .<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/yomi955/1452236981/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1025/1452236981_1f63754009_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/yomi955/1452236981/">チョコレートマフィン / chocolate and coconut muffin</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/yomi955/">yomi955</a></span></div>I found this photo so beautiful I wanted to share it. . . actually I wanted to eat it, gingham and all but that would be very silly and would probably involve some form of electrical shock. <br /><br />On a more serious note here is a <a href="http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Individual-Coconut-Rum-Chocolate-Cakes-13090">recipe</a> for wedding the two. O.k. these have rum in them and they are not muffins but cakes, but how can you go wrong with Epicurious?<br clear="all" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8185918183010957099.post-81529512101453269192009-02-02T19:33:00.001-08:002009-02-02T19:52:52.847-08:00Drink Your Chocolate<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ryustar/2731487872/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3136/2731487872_5da3b23ceb_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ryustar/2731487872/">sipping chocolate</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/ryustar/">heliosphan</a></span></div>Who said we were just talking about candy bars? Especially in the winter months, consider drinking your chocolate. Some decadent brands include <a href="http://www.scharffenberger.com/prodinfo.asp?number=POWDER">Scharffen Berger, <a href="http://www.worldpantry.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ProductDisplay?prmenbr=122797&prrfnbr=194893">Shokinag</a> or <a href="http://www.kakawachocolates.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=4&zenid=d90fe2e80e67ddf12448ae8efcd3b363">Kakawa</a></a> for something with a MesoAmerican/Aztec bent.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8185918183010957099.post-65867520002016413312009-01-31T16:49:00.001-08:002009-02-02T19:56:36.728-08:00Milk Chocolate<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alexpeters/2439084316/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3172/2439084316_3b92b8744f_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/alexpeters/2439084316/">brains of milk and chocolate</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/alexpeters/">Alejandro Peters</a></span></div>There are worse things in life than being reduced to milk and chocolate. Worse things than being called a Milk Chocolate Brain on the playground, the office, or your local cafe. <br /><br />So, let's talk about milk chocolate. Some of you die-hard fans are reluctant to approach but I sense you're more willing to consider it over White Chocolate, the twice-removed cousin. <br /><br />Milk chocolate does not have to be Reeses or Mars or Snickers or KitKat or or or. . . there are some varieties worth purchasing on their own value, not because you misread the label. For one, try <a href="http://www.jadechocolates.com/page/chocbars">Jade's Genmai bar</a> which contains only 35% cocoa blended with jasmine and roasted brown rice. Seriously, you will be pleasantly surprised discovering that a little more milk in your chocolate isn't always a horrible thing.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8185918183010957099.post-78292268823864831342009-01-31T16:29:00.001-08:002009-01-31T16:34:40.490-08:00Light Chocolate<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gx9/2883594925/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3083/2883594925_77687d1366_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/gx9/2883594925/">lite chocolate</a><br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/gx9/">gravityx9</a></span></div>I found this photo humorous and hope you will, too. <br /><br />In the past decade, chocolate has caused quite the stir as various findings announce benefits including anything from mimicking the euphoria of falling in love to possible reduction in blood pressure and decrease in symptoms of Chronic Fatigue. <br /><br />So, what about light chocolate? Generally, I am a skeptic of anything listed as light as the substitutions are usually synthetic, which doesn't bode well for long-term consumption, and/or they have a larger dose of sweetener. But for kicks, I thought I'd put aside my skepticism and do a little research on the matter. This is what I found:<br /><br />When cooking, applesauce appears to be the number one substitute for butter as in this <a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/portal/site/mslo/menuitem.fc77a0dbc44dd1611e3bf410b5900aa0/?vgnextoid=010af6123cdf6110VgnVCM1000003d370a0aRCRD&vgnextfmt=default">Martha Stewart recipe for brownies</a> or in the case of mousse, use a combination of egg whites with egg yolks and a reduced fat milk as in this <a href="http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=226788&package_id=232526">Cooking Light recipe</a><br /><br />In terms of chocolate itself, you're best off reducing the amount you intake versus going with the alternatives. But I welcome your feedback. <br /><br />Surprise me. Turn me onto a low-fat chocolate bar that you find as irresistible as its pleasantly plump counterparts and I'll add it to this posting.<br clear="all" />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8185918183010957099.post-55008089239014429732009-01-25T15:46:00.001-08:002009-02-02T19:57:04.474-08:00Do Tootsie Rolls Count?Introduced to Europe/European chocolate at the age of five, spoiled by sweetness ever since. I have, on occasion and under the influence of fever, sworn off cacao but always returned to my senses/my emergency stash of usually 70% (although I am a sucker for Lindt.)<br /><br />As a die-hard fan of fantastic chocolate, I wish to believe that Tootsie Rolls, in fact, do not count. I have been amazed at my fellow chocolate lovers who would not only admit to liking them but would place them in a category of chocolate-like foods, that in their minds, redeems the Tootsie Roll because it is not trying to be chocolate. They would also add carob to this category while I, again, would dismiss carob on its basis of being a poseur or some substance that moms in Green Halloween districts give the Trick-or-Treaters along with packets of granola and toothbrushes and pennies.<br /><br />Obviously, I am outing myself. But you tell me what you think. Take the poll. Tell me that the Tootsie Roll is something other than a cheap way to fill those plastic orange pumpkins we used to carry around instead of . . .well, plastic bags on Halloween.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8185918183010957099.post-56631063598729116962009-01-23T11:59:00.000-08:002009-02-02T19:57:43.801-08:00Chocolatedas in spirited, to be chocolated away. Used in a sentence: to be taken by the spirit of chocolate, to receive the gift of chocolate (whether virtual or real), to have eaten serious poundage of chocolate to result in the state of being chocolated. Generally perceived as a pleasant state, albeit temporary. Chocolated. Spelled like chocolate with a "d" on the end. Chocolated.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0