Your Chocolate Shopping

Stop Your Sweet Tooth Craving With Chocolate Smoothies

2011-09-19T06:37:00.000-07:00

Most people have cravings for certain food at certain periods, be it sugar, carbohydrates or alcohol. This is felt as an urge to reach for that bar of candy or that bag of potato chips to snack on, or to drink that glass of wine after dinner. The cravings are signs that the body gives. When someone is tired or depressed, brain chemicals react and tell the body to eat something. The brain signals are the cravings.
Sugar cravings are very common, especially among women. For some, eating sweets have become a habit after a meal or during certain periods of the day. Others are used to the feel-good effect that sweet treats provide and they feel irritable when avoiding them. In short, sugar can be addictive. Fortunately, there are healthy ways to give the body what it needs and one of these is by drinking a chocolate smoothies.
Chocolate, by itself, is not unhealthy. In fact, it has been touted as a health food because it contains anti-oxidants that are also found in green tea.
Anti-oxidants provide many benefits for the body such as improved circulation, better digestion, lowered risk of cardiovascular diseases and cancer, and defense against free radicals that can cause many types of illnesses. This does not mean that people can have their fill of the chocolate bars available everywhere. The benefits can only be obtained when eating dark chocolate with a high cocoa content, and not from the more common ones containing processed cocoa that has been mixed with sugars, milk and artificial flavors.
Since the aim is to make the chocolate smoothies as healthy as possible, only dark chocolate of good quality should be used. Milk can be added but others have suggested using nuts, coconut, avocados and oatmeal to make their drinks creamy. Smoothie drinkers are encouraged to experiment with ingredients when it comes to mixing them with chocolate because it is very versatile and goes well with many types of flavors. Who knows? One might stumble into a mixture that tastes amazingly great.
As most of us would attest, what is chocolate without the sweetness? Although refined sugar can be added, it should be avoided as much as possible because it will only add empty calories to the chocolate smoothies. A good alternative is to use dates that have been soaked in water. Dates are naturally sweet fruits that are very rich in vitamins and fiber. They will not only make the smoothie taste better, but will also make it creamy. Bananas are also excellent substitutes for sugar. They are rich in potassium that promotes normal blood pressure and heart functions. Adding nuts will make the smoothie tastier and more protein-rich and good for boosting energy.
Chocolate smoothies not only provide great taste but great nutrition as well. Amazingly, despite the benefits that it gives, it does not add extra pounds to the body. Anyone can now satisfy sweet cravings without feeling the guilt.

Chocolate smoothies really make deliciously healthy desserts. You can find more smoothie recipes for other dessert smoothies by clicking on the blue links today! Remember, dessert doesn't always have to be unhealthy!

Chocolate Can Help You!

2011-09-19T06:35:00.000-07:00

In a dieter's perfect world, all diets would include chocolate. For years researchers have been trying to convince us that chocolate is beneficial to our health. Many chocoholics ran with this idea and started eating chocolate like crazy; that didn't turn out very well for some. Researchers have recently found out that chocolate is actually incredibly beneficial to many areas of the body including the heart and the brain. This does not mean that we can run to the nearest grocery store and buy five candy bars; the key to chocolate being beneficial is to eat it in moderation and to eat chocolate in the purest, darkest forms possible.

The most recent research studies have shown that by regularly eating chocolate you can reduce the risk of both high blood pressure and diabetes. High blood pressure and diabetes are both leading risk factors for heart attack, stroke and heart disease. Chocolate contains polyphenols which are antioxidants that help produce nitric oxide. An increase of nitric oxide could help with circulation and blood flow in general which would then lower blood pressure. Chocolate is also rich in antioxidants. Antioxidants have been found to lower the risk of heart disease, stroke, and cancer.

Chocolate has also been proven to help cure emotional stress. The consumption of an ounce and a half of dark chocolate for two weeks straight has shown to lower stress levels tremendously.

If you are planning are adding chocolate to your diet for beneficial reasons always remember; the more cocoa present in whatever chocolate treat you are enjoying, the better. The majority of fat found in chocolate is coco butter. Coco butter is composed of oleic and stearic acids, having a diet containing foods that have these two acids in them have been known to lower cholesterol. Some people might question the sugar found in chocolate. Sugar is definitely going to be present, but what some do not understand is that there is approximately ten to fifteen grams of sugar per serving of dark chocolate. Most fruit juices contain three times that amount of sugar in one eight ounce glass.

At the end of the day, chocolate is still chocolate. It has been proven to do great things but if you go off the deep end you could end up doing more harm than good. As stated before, if you do decide to add chocolate to your diet, make sure you are choosing the healthiest forms of the tasty treat.

3 Sister's Chocolate - A Cocoa Delight

2011-09-19T06:33:00.000-07:00

With the century-long domination of the American chocolate scene by Hershey's and the considerably larger worldwide conglomerate Nestle, a little old outfit based in Jacksonville, Florida, can struggle to compete for recognition. Their chocolate, however, speaks volumes. 3 Sister's Chocolate specializes in not just a wide variety of common chocolate combinations, but also some very original ones - like their chocolate pizza, which thankfully has no cheese in it. It is basically a pie with everything on it, from Reese's Pieces, M&M's, a range of nuts, to chocolate and vanilla swirls.
For the 3 Sisters, the buck doesn't stop there: they also offer a wide range of cakes and bakery desserts. Their award-winning wedding cakes and birthday pies will be sure to include you in their growing fan base. Their unique and inspired designs (check out the scuba-diving birthday cake on their website) cover so many special events you will rarely call on any other company to deliver. Of course, the basics are also there; else they wouldn't deserve to be called a chocolate company: their assorted chocolate caramel box makes a sweet little gift for a special friend or family member, for a small milestone.
Furthermore, 3 Sisters will of course make a cake to your specifications, and due to their business portfolio - which includes regular appointments by Fortune 500 companies - they will do so promptly and professionally.
True all-chocolate-lovers ought to make their way down to Jacksonville - or up to Jacksonville if you live in the ocean - to try their one-and-only chocolate bar, which is like a Starbucks for chocolate fans. The obvious offers are varieties of milkshakes and hot chocolates and mochas; the unique stuff is actual chocolate liquor (as opposed to liqueur, which isn't alcoholic at all, but is the name given to refined chocolate liquid after the cocoa butter has been extracted), called Liquid Chocolate Shots. It is comprised of the same high-quality chocolate employed in their more pedestrian delights, with alcohol added. As expected, there is also delicious gourmet chocolate coffee, strained from roasted milk chocolate ganache. Granted, having a cup of this with an Oreo-cookie cupcake or White Chocolate Cranberry dessert will leave you rushing for a gym membership once you leave this Willy Wonka of Florida behind, at least you will now be aware of delectable options other than Hershey's. You will be sure to take a slice of their famous cheesecake or carrot cake with you on your journey home.

Chris is a chocolate lover and connoisseur with a soft spot for Saint Valentines Day and other holidays. She has tasted probably every type of chocolate in the world, from the chalky to the milk chocolate delectable that runs like a river. Obscure chocolates will always get her to try them, if she can find any more.

Hershey's Chocolate - The American Original

2011-09-19T06:31:00.000-07:00

The secret to good commercial chocolate is comprised of three things: longevity, good taste, and affordability. Only after these three things are secured can the maker think of anything else. Way back in 1894, a certain Mr. Milton Hershey realized all this, and set his mind to making what would ultimately be the largest chocolate company in America.
The range of Hershey's chocolate products is mind-numbing; they either make or sell just about everything in the stores that you see. In the U.S, they actually sell Cadbury chocolate through their own stores. From the old favorite coconut chocolate Almond Joy Bar, to the Reese's Peanut Butter Cup and Kit Kat bar, Hershey's has a solid chocolate imprint on the whole works. What makes their chocolate so manageable and reproducible?

The process of gathering the raw ingredients for Hershey's eventual milk chocolate - as well as the dark chocolate brands they make - has remained the same for over a century: the cocoa beans are picked from their indigenous countries and shipped to Hershey's headquarters in Pennsylvania (charmingly called "The Sweetest Place on Earth"). The little township of Hershey, Pennsylvania is ideal, precisely because the cows outnumber the people, and the natural reservoirs of spring water round out what's needed for milk chocolate.
The next step in the cocoa beans' short journey to becoming milk chocolate is a huge automated process, once they're loaded by Hershey employees onto a conveyor belt. The cocoa beans will be heated, roasted, and smashed; all for eventual human pleasure. The smashing is necessary because it liberates the part of the bean that is used in the milk chocolate, shedding the shell.
The coca bean's torture is hardly through; it is then fed into more giant machines which pulverize it to such an extent as to liquefy the hard nut. In this state, the chocolate is dubbed "chocolate liqueur", until yet another process removes the cocoa butter from the liqueur; it is now a solid, waxy-looking mound of chocolate. The cocoa butter isn't thrown away; in fact, this is the key ingredient to chocolate, as the type of chocolate you end up with - whether milk, dark, etc - is determined by how much cocoa butter is reintroduced into the waxy chocolate mound.
By this time, the chocolate is nearing the end of its long journey to the storefront. It is mixed in rarely-varying amounts of milk, sugar, and chocolate, and pounded relentlessly to imbue it with that smooth consistency for which commercial chocolate is famous. The tireless machines will eventually produce a million pounds of chocolate daily.

A chocolate-lover born-and-bred, Chris and her husband love their holiday-centered day jobs of tasting and testing chocolates of all brands. From Godiva to Hershey's chocolate, she has probably had 20 different types of chocolate; usually, the most prolific time for tasting is on a holiday like Valentines Day.

Chocoholics Dream Comes True

2011-09-19T06:30:00.000-07:00

I am an admitted chocoholic. Every trip to a chocolate store is heaven. The rich chocolaty aroma sends me into rapture. My mind conjures up steamy cocoa on a cold winter day and rich, flowing chocolate fountains. It is synonymous with contentment. There is no substitute for a piece offline dark chocolate. It is a universally welcomed dessert. They are both gastronomic delights. The finer the product, in both cases, the more wonderful the dining experience. Offer me a chocolate soufflé or a mousse and I will be your willing kitchen slave. The chocolate hunt just got easier. Thanks to modern technology, you can now search for the perfect dark chocolate from the comfort of your home. It's a great way to find the finest chocolate and at great prices. The only drawback to online gourmet chocolate stores is that I miss that wonderful smell and the chance to taste test.
What makes a fine dark chocolate?
Dark chocolate is sometimes referred to as black or bittersweet chocolate. It is the purest and richest of chocolate varieties. It is also good for your health. Research has shown that eating small amounts of chocolate is medically sound for your heart. Like dark vegetables, it also contains flavonoids. These antioxidants block free radicals which have been shown to be contributors to heart disease. It is even better for you than some fruits. It has eight times the antioxidants of strawberries and three times as much as blueberries. These substances lower blood pressure and cholesterol. They also serve as an anti-depressant. No wonder we chocoholics are happy!
Not all chocolate varieties are considered top quality. Ghirardelli gets highest marks. They also produce blended flavors like mint, toffee, strawberry, hazelnut and raspberry. Their Evening Dream variety combines dark chocolate and cacao. Another variety, Midnight Reverie, has a large amount of cacao and a small amount of it. Ghirardelli is an American company out of San Francisco. They were started by Swiss specialists over a half century ago. They have earned a great reputation as fine chocolate manufacturers. Their product is easily recognized by chocoholics like me.
Astor also has a great name as premium dark chocolate. Another American company--this time out of New York-Astor works with only Belgian. Perhaps you know the company best for its individual bars commemorating several American cities. Kids love them. Astor also manufactures dark chocolate treats which combine it with rare fruit such as pomegranate. Astor are always beautifully wrapped. They are a gustatory and an aesthetic treat.