Yummy Chocolate Desserts: Chocolate PB Cookies, Chocolate Passion, Also With Diabetic Directions

Chocolate seems to be the universal language of love. We are not just talking romantic love but also food loves. Chocolate is everywhere from the simple chocolate chip cookie to fancy desserts in expensive restaurants. The next time you want to share love with your family, entertain guests, or take a dessert to a pitch-in meal, try one of these yummy chocolate recipes. Starting with the lowly cookie, we have a recipe for a decadent Chocolate Chunky Peanut Butter Cookie, the pairing of two favorites. If you want a fancy scrumptious dessert, the Chocolate Passion for Chocoholics is just what you need.

CHOCOLATE CHUNKY PEANUT BUTTER COOKIES
1 cup chunky peanut butter
1/4 cup canola oil
3/4 cup brown sugar, packed
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 tbsp vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Combine the peanut butter and canola oil in a large mixing bowl. Add the brown sugar and the granulated sugar to the peanut butter mixture. Mix together well. Add the eggs and the vanilla extract mixing in well. In a small bowl combine the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda and salt. Add the flour mixture to the wet mixture stirring until blended. (This is a sticky dough.) Stir in the mini chocolate chips. Drop the dough onto ungreased cookie sheets by a rounded teaspoonful. Place approximately two inches apart. Using a fork, flatten cookies slightly making a crisscross pattern on the tops. Bake at 350 degrees for about 8 to 10 minutes until the cookies are set and the tops are cracked. Cool on the cookie sheets for 2 minutes. Remove to wire racks to cool completely.
Yield: Approximately 48 cookies.

CHOCOLATE PASSION FOR CHOCOHOLICS
3 cups cold milk
2 pkgs (4-serving size) Chocolate Instant Pudding and Pie Filling Mix
1 container (8-oz) frozen whipped topping, divided
1 9-inch square pan of baked brownie, cooled, cut into cubes
2 cups fresh raspberries

Pour the milk into a large mixing bowl. Add the dry pudding and beat with a wire whisk 2 minutes or until well blended and all pudding is dissolved. Gently stir in 1 cup of the thawed whipped topping.

Put half of the brownie cubes in a 2-quart clear glass (if available) serving bowl. Top with half the pudding mixture then half the raspberries and half of the remaining whipped topping. Repeat the layers with the remaining ingredients.

Refrigerate for at least 1 hour or until serving time. Store leftovers, if there are any, in the refrigerator.

NOTE: This dessert can be made for diabetics by using sugar-free pudding mix, sugar-free whipped topping, and homemade brownies made with Splenda instead of sugar.

Enjoy!

For more of Linda's dessert recipes visit her blog at http://ladybugssweettreats.blogspot.com.

For her diabetic dessert recipes visit her at http://diabeticenjoyingfood.blogspot.com.

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Is White Chocolate Really Chocolate?

Is white chocolate really chocolate? Truth must be told I also asked myself this question long ago. And after some research I learned that white chocolate is not really chocolate, if you know what I mean. But before that, let us discuss more about chocolates.

Chocolates are known all over the world. For me, it's the number one stress reliever. One bite and you know it's magic. How can something so delicious and luscious exist on this planet? These are one of the few things that make me think that life is indeed good. Now, wouldn't it be appropriate to learn more about it?

Chocolate is actually made up from natural stuff;it's from the cacao bean which is taken from a cacao tree.

To create chocolate, you need to first extract cocoa from the cacao bean. This is done by harvesting cocoa pods. After harvesting them, you need to crush them and extract the pulp. When the pulp is extracted it is then taken to undergo fermentation. Natural fermentation would take about six days and it could either be executed through the use of boxes or just lay they all down in open heaps. Artificial fermentation does exist but the natural method is much favored because it brings about the best tasting chocolates. After fermentation, the beans are categorized by grades and it is roasted. The roasting itself varies depending on the size and the kind of cocoa beans present. The roasting has a lot to do with the taste of the chocolate afterwards. Some manufacturers add the nibs to enhance flavor which is disapproved by some purists. These nibs contain high - fat content or what we also call the cocoa butter.

Now, to create white chocolate, manufactures uses only the cocoa butter in making it. The process is pretty much similar with dark chocolates the U.S> Food and Drug Administration considers it not chocolate because it doesn't use chocolate liquor in creating it. Calling it white chocolate is the best way to address it however, it is still not chocolate. To make white chocolate, makers would only use the butter and add up some milk solids, sugar, vanilla and lecithin to complete this recipe.

However, you should also be aware that there are manufacturers who use substitutes for the real thing. Like for example, instead of using the natural cocoa butter, they use vegetable oil. Mind you, it's not the same. Using substitutes would definitely change the taste. Genuine white chocolate are usually ivory in color. When you eat it you would instantly taste vanilla and cream which is irreplaceable. You will know it if the white chocolate is made up from vegetable fat. The taste is different.

So basically, to answer the question, white chocolate is not chocolate in a sense, but also chocolate if you really look at it at a certain perspective. It's different but it is made up of the same cocoa seed.

Are you an addict of chocolate like me?

All about chocolate => http://chocolate-addict.com/

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Gourmet Sugar Free Chocolates, The Perfectly Delicious Gift

Gourmet chocolates are relished by people of all age groups. This is a good gift option as well as a great stress buster. Chocolate gift baskets are now in great demand. People customize these baskets and send chocolates to their near and dear ones. There are a variety of chocolates like unsweetened, slightly sweetened, dark chocolates, milk or white chocolates, liquor chocolates to name a few. Diabetics, who are chocolate lovers, need not feel left out any more. There are now delicious chocolate options available for them called gourmet sugar free chocolates.

When you go to the market to get chocolates for yourself be cautious in reading the label that mentions the laxative effects that the chocolate might have. Maltitol is sugar liquor used in these chocolates and too much of its consumption may cause diarrhea. More than 50 grams of sorbitol or 20 grams of maltitol every day may lead to digestive disorders as stated by American Dietetic Association. These can be great chocolate gifts. Although this type of chocolate has been available for many years, you should still read the instructions regarding content level of sugar liquor in it.

Maltitol is a natural form of sugar usually derived from starch and is the main content in the new version of sugar free chocolate. Maltitol is in a stable form and melts fast enabling it to be used to make these delicious sugar free treats.

These high quality chocolates do not have a bitter taste which usually is present when made from artificial sweeteners. Maltitol makes chocolates taste as sweet as original but with less in calories causing no tooth decay and not adding to your weight in terms of fat. Maltitol still gives that rich creamy texture to chocolates. But make sure you keep a check on the amount you consume every day. The next time you need to give something to a diabetic person, choose something along the lines of this type of chocolate gift.

What's great about the new gourmet sugar free treats is that they come in all kinds of styles, tastes and with some incredible additions mixed in. No longer do you just have to suffer with a bland sugarless bar, but gourmet sugar free chocolates now are found in glorious gift baskets and wonderfully elegant boxes as well. There are some incredible selections as well. You can get chocolate peanut clusters or delicious sugar free almond buttercrunch and so many other scrumptious options!

So not only can you pay attention to your weight and still enjoy gourmet chocolates, but you can show that you care by sending some scrumptious sugar free chocolates to others that are health conscious or have diabetes. What better way to share something sweet than to make it a delicious box of gourmet sugar free chocolate?

Colleen Maguire -
Writer, Traveler and Chocolate Lover
For More Delicious Chocolate Ideas and Tastes:
http//www.UltimateChocolateShoppe.com

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Tempering Chocolate Simply

I thought this would be incredibly difficult, but it just takes patience and a very accurate candy thermometer that can read from 20-50 degrees celsius (68-122 degrees fahrenheit). This is a very simple guide on tempering.

Tempering your chocolate gives it a lovely shine and allows it to stay solid at room temperature and when picked up. It gives the chocolate a lovely crisp snap and is absolutely necessary if you intend on making chocolates as gifts or to keep. Non tempered chocolate melts almost instantly in your hands and is pretty unusable.

What you'll need
2 bowls, one big enough to place over simmering water without it touching the water.

A good thermometer

Dark, milk or white chocolate, (minimum 400g)

A helpful short guide
Melt to
Dark chocolate 46C/115F
Milk or white 43C/110F
Add seed chocolate and cool too
Dark 32C/90F
Milk or white 31C/88F
If you need to reheat to work with the chocolate, heat only to 33c/92F

Rules
Never, ever get water in your chocolate. This cannot be stressed enough. It will ruin your whole batch.

Be patient and love your chocolate. Let the temperature rise and drop slowly, turn the simmering pan down if needed.

Detailed instructions
1. Grate your chocolate so that it all melts evenly.

2. Separate into three piles, add 2 piles to the bowl you will be placing over the simmering pan. Put the last pile into a separate bowl. Make sure the bowl that will be heated does not touch the water whilst over the simmering pan.

3. Place a large enough pan of shallow water over the stove and bring to a low simmer. Turn off heat, place chocolate over the pan (remember, not touching the water.) Melt to

Dark chocolate 46C/115F
Milk or white 43C/110F
4. Remove and wrap bowl in towel, add the remaining chocolate from earlier and stir.

5. Cool too

Dark 32C/90F
Milk or white 31C/88F
6.You should notice it becoming very shiny and pretty. Being in a hot or cold place here makes all the difference. If you need to move to a warmer/colder place to reach the temper stage, you can.

7. Place back on hot pan and reheat to maximum 33C/92F to make the chocolate usable.

8. Thats it! You're done. You have tempered chocolate. You can use it for dipping, or make your own chocolates as gifts.

To check it is properly tempered, place some on a knife and place in the fridge for a couple of minutes. It should be smooth, slightly shiny and when placed between your fingers it melts slowly. Instead of putting it in the fridge, I usually place a piece on some baking paper with a knife, and it should peel off neatly and not melt in your hand.

Remember, smooth, matte/shiny, crisp, doesn't melt easily. It also snaps nicely.

I hope you have enjoyed this article! For more great methods and recipes, visit my blog

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Classic Candy Bars That Are Perfect For The Holidays

Candy has existed in one form or another for thousands of years. Ancient peoples enjoyed honey right out of the hive and later combined it with nuts and fruits to create tasty confectionary treats. Sweets were typically served at the end of a meal for dessert or were eaten as a snack. For most of its history, candy made from sugar was too expensive for commoners. It was a delicacy only the rich could afford.

After the Spanish rediscovered cacao, from which chocolate is made, in Mexico in 1519, the price of candy fell precipitously. By the 17th century, hard candy was wildly popular in North America and chocolate was all the rage in Europe. Large factories were suddenly springing up on both sides of the Atlantic. Though the chocolate bar was invented in England in 1847, it was popularized by an American company at the dawn of the twentieth century.

The Hersey Company introduced the first wrapped chocolate bar in 1900. Its success encouraged countless candy makers to develop their own candy bars. The Hershey Bar has been one of the best-selling candies on earth for most of its history. However, it is not the company's most popular product. Miniature chocolate droplets called "Kisses" were introduced in 1907. The Hershey Company ships about sixty million of them each day! Their diminutive chocolate bars, Hershey's Miniatures, are also extremely popular with chocolate lovers everywhere.

Holiday Candies

Chocolate bars have never been particularly popular during the holiday season. As you might expect, the nearly ubiquitous candy cane is the most common holiday treat. According to reliable estimates, about 1.76 billion of them are made each year! But chocolate bars and candies have gained a loyal following of late.
Hershey's Kisses

As we mentioned, Hershey's Kisses are one of the most popular products in the history of chocolate. Tens of billions of them are shipped and sold each year. Though annual sales peak just before Halloween, they also spike during the holiday season. They are so popular, in fact, that Hershey's produces a special holiday edition of its famous candies wrapped in festive red, silver and green foil. With 7 ounces of milk chocolate, the Giant Hershey's Kiss has also become a trendy stocking stuffer and holiday gift.

Hershey's Holiday Miniatures

Modeled after their original chocolate bar, Hershey's Miniatures are a common holiday gift. Whether deposited into stockings or left out in bowl, miniatures make for a tasty treat when the weather gets cold. Just like their more famous cousins (the Kisses), Hershey's Miniatures are wrapped in festive foils for the holiday season. They are sold in variety packs at most major supermarkets and department stores.

Advent Calendars

The holidays are a hectic time of year for any parent. Crowded stores, annoying in-laws, and boring office parties make the season a chore for most. Of course, most parents forget all about those minor frustrations when their kids open their presents. An easy and affordable way to prolong the air of magic and mystery that surrounds the holiday season is to give your little angel an advent calendar.

The standard advent calendar contains twenty-four doors, and behind each one is a tasty milk chocolate treat. Most calendars also include information about the holiday, so that your child can learn the story and meaning of Christmas as the big day approaches.

Chocolate Ornaments

As popular as candy canes are, they are rarely eaten. Sure, the kids might have one or two of them. But if you decorate your tree with dozens of cane-shaped candy treats, most of them will probably end up in the trash. We're not saying that candy canes have fallen out of fashion, but a little variety never hurt anyone. Chocolate ornaments wrapped in festive foils are an attractive and tasty accessory for any tree. And don't worry, they will not melt!

Chocolate Dreidel

A dreidel is a popular toy Jewish children play with during the holiday of Hanukkah. The four-sided spinning top is used in a gambling game where contestants bet raisins, chocolate, pennies or candies. Chocolate dreidels may not spin like their wooden brethren, but they are far tastier!

Holiday-inspired chocolate candy bars can be purchased from reputable sellers on the internet.

David Shirey is a freelance writer who writes about shopping and food products including candy bars.

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When Can You Gift Chocolate Gold Coins?

Chocolate gold coins have been around since the times of Julius Caesar! These coins were engraved with the ruler's face and gifted to the courtesans. However, they were draped with gold sheet so that the countrymen also received something valuable along with the chocolates. Today, we have identical coins covered in golden foil which are highly popular as gifting items. You can also choose to personalize them in whichever way you please. In order to customize it, you can get the coins engraved with special dates, logos, photos or even religious symbols.

Chocolate gold coins can be gifted for a host of occasions and purposes. However, their value would be more appreciated when they are gifted on certain special occasions. Read up on the occasions when you can actually gift chocolate gold coins before you buy them.

Best Uses of Chocolate Gold Coins

Chocolate gold coins can be offered as gifts for one of the following occasions:

1. Hanukkah celebrations

Coins made from chocolate are substituted for "gelt" which is the Yiddish term for money, during the holidays of Hanukkah. Confections are distributed around this time instead of cash coins, for playing the game of Dreidel. These confections can also be stored in small organza pouches to make it presentable. However, make sure that you place your order for these coins well in advance so that you can receive them at the desired time.

2. Baptism

You could use chocolate gold coins souvenirs to commemorate the event of being baptized. You can have the coins distributed among women attendees. Alternatively, they can also be thrown along with real money, as a part of the ritual performed by the godfather of the baptized child.

3. Anniversary centerpieces

Chocolate gold coins can be suitably used to decorate the centerpiece of your anniversary party. They would be most suited for your silver or golden jubilee celebrations! You could also have them distributed among your guests with the anniversary year printed or engraved on it.

4. Birthday parties

These coins could also be used as confections for birthday parties. You can fill up balloons and toys with them and gift them to young children. Having your child's name or date of birth engraved on them would also be a suitable personal touch. You could simply hand out coins to your guests as a part of the return booty they would take back home as well.

You can buy chocolate gold coins from ChocolateFavorWorld.com. The range of options hosted by the shop is truly amazing and you can easily find ones that suit your gifting needs perfectly.

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Buying Bulk Candy Online to Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth

Who could ever resist the sweet temptation of chocolate candy? Or, the smell of butterscotch candies in a candy bowl? Candy is a sugary treat known throughout the world. It comes in many different varieties, shapes, and sizes. Candy canes, gum drops, bubble gum, and more are a favorite of many, from kids to adults. If you like to eat candy, and spend a lot of money on candy, consider buying bulk candy.

Why You Should Be Buying Bulk Candy

Buying bulk candy is cheaper than buying candy individually from the store. If you go to a convenience store or a wholesale store, you would notice that individual boxes and bags of candy would sell for over one dollar. With the economy being in such a poor condition, you have to save each penny that you earn. If you work with a candy wholesaler, you can save your hard earned money.

Working with wholesale candy suppliers is very easy. If you are with an organization that consumes a lot of candy, such as a church, a school, or a non-profit organization, you can receive a discount from the wholesaler for buying bulk candy. Discounts are great if you or your organization is on a tightly strapped budget. If you would have bought candy straight from the store, you would have had to sell double the cost in order to cover your expenses and to make a profit.

Various manufacturers carry certain brands of candy in bulk. Chocolate covered candy can contain nuts, caramel, coconut, and other types of flavors, and are a popular choice. Other popular types of candy are bubble gum, peppermints, sweet tarts, and butterscotch. You can even have candy personalized for an event, such as a sporting event or a wedding. This will have your customers or your guests to keep a momento of your event.

Another reason to buy bulk candy is that it is a good fundraising activity. Kids and adults love candy, especially chocolate bars. You can order packages of chocolate bars in bulk to give to your teachers at school. The teachers can give the children an order form for the children to keep track of the candy bars. The children can take the candy bars home and sell them to family, friends, neighbors and church members. As a fundraiser, you can have prizes for the children who sell the most boxes of candy in the entire school. Prizes, such as a pizza party for the person who sells the most candy would be exciting to younger children. For older children, a day at the amusement park would be exciting. The fundraiser could go to help to fund a school's band trip, specific club, or another type of expense.

Finding a candy wholesaler is not difficult. In fact, it is relatively easy. Search online. Many reputable ones exist around the world, specializing in many different types of sweet treats. If you search for a bulk candy company wholesaler, be sure to contact them through telephone or through e-mail for any special types of deals that they can offer. This will save you money in the long run.

RoyalCandyCompany, the leading online wholesale candy retailer, offers the top Bulk Candy and Bulk Chocolate at highly discounted prices. Their price guarantee keeps customers coming back as they will match and beat any competitor's price.

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