chocolate passion

Godiva Chocolatier  is a manufacturer of premium  chocolates  and related products. Godiva, founded in  Belgium  in 1926,  as purchased by the Turkish  Yıldız Holding , owner of the  Ülker  Group, on November 20, 2007 is the true story of a craftsman chocolate maker, whose legendary name has become a symbol of luxury and prestige the world over. Praliné, a mixture of finely grounded almonds or hazelnuts and caramelized sugar, was first invented in Belgium. In 1926, Pierre Draps Senior created his first praliné chocolates, or pralines, in the small atelier of his Brussels home. Soon, the entire family including the four children helped their parents produce, finish, package and deliver their elegant chocolates, which were sold in the smartest department stores in Brussels. The family choose the evocative name “Godiva” being inspired by the passion, boldness and generosity of Lady Godiva from the old English legend. After ...

If you’re going to eat chocolate at all, get a high  percentage  cocoa.  This means at least 85%.   Look for organic and Fair Trade brands.

For years, people ate chocolate for its stimulatory properties: it was thought to increase energy, stimulate sexual desire, and generally add zest to life. Chocolate is a divine, celestial drink, the sweat of the stars, the vital seed, divine nectar, the drink of the gods, panacea and  universal medicine. ( Geronimo Piperni (1796)    Chocolate may have effects on people’s moods. Most chocolate is eaten in the winter, which suggests that people often use it as a way to beat the seasonal blues. Chocolate may also improve cognitive performance, according to some studies. Foods rich in cocoa may reduce blood pressure, which could be due to flavonoids, since they can modify the production of inflammatory modulators and dilate blood vessels in the body, similar to omega-3 fats. While some research has shown that cocoa is associated with a lower incidence of experiencing a cardiovascular event, other studies indicate no benefit (unless you consider a higher heart rate a ...

Yield:  approximately 65 1”x1” (2.25 cm x 2.25 cm) pieces Ingredients 5.3 oz. (150 g) heavy cream  .7 oz. (20 g) glucose 5.2 oz. (150 g) blueberry purée .7 oz. (20 g) butter  19.4 oz. (550 g) deZaan Intense 35 milk couverture (or milk chocolate of your choice), tempered  3.5 oz. (100 g) deZaan Essential 54 dark couverture (or dark chocolate of your choice), tempered  .9 oz. (25 g) whiskey For coating in chocolate Chef Wybauw suggests: Tempered DeZaan dark couverture (Sensation 72 or Temptation 64) ( see tempering instructions ) or you can use any other dark chocolate of your choice. Method Bring the cream, glucose, blueberry purée and butter to a boil. Remove from the heat and allow to cool to a temperature of approximately 95°F (35°C). Add the tempered milk and dark chocolates to the cream and fruit mixture and stirring to combine. To emulsify the ganache properly, it is best to use a hand blender. Submerge the blender head into the ganache before...

Forget death by chocolate. More and more research is showing that high quality, dark chocolate (or cocoa or cacao) may actually improve your health. Here are 13 reasons to love chocolate: 1.  Chocolate, cocoa, and cacao are high in the mineral magnesium which is essential for over 500 functions in your body , including:  heart health and muscle function. 2.  Chocolate may reduce the risk of heart failure.  Murray Mittleman and his colleagues at Harvard Medical School studied data on 31,823 middle-aged and elderly Swedish women to assess the relationship between chocolate and heart failure.  The women who consumed an average of one to two servings (that’s a fairly small amount) of high-quality, cocoa-rich chocolate per week had a 32 percent lower risk of experiencing heart failure.  Those women who ate one to three servings a month had a 26 percent lower risk of heart failure.  See my article “Nutrient Slashes Risk of Cancer, Heart Disease, Diabete...

INGREDIENTs 3 tablespoons unsalted butter 3 tablespoons vegetable shortening 2 cups all-purpose flour 1 tablespoon baking powder 1/4 teaspoon salt 3 tablespoons sugar 3 large eggs 1 cup milk 1/2 cup chocolate syrup, plus more for topping 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract Cooking spray Confectioners’ sugar and/or berries, for topping (optional) Preparation Melt the butter and shortening in a small saucepan, stirring to combine; remove from the heat and set aside. Whisk the flour, baking powder, salt and sugar in a large bowl. Whisk the eggs, milk, chocolate syrup and vanilla in a large liquid measuring cup or a separate bowl. Whisk the egg mixture into the flour mixture until combined. (The batter will be slightly lumpy.) Whisk in the butter mixture until combined. Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F. Preheat a waffle iron and spray with cooking spray. Ladle some of the batter into the waffle iron to within an inch of the edge (1/3 to 1/2 cup batter, dep...

INGREDIENTS • 1/2 cup butter, softened • 1/2 cup sugar • 1/3 cup packed brown sugar • 2 large eggs • 1 cup molasses • 1/4 cup buttermilk • 1/2 teaspoon anise extract • 4-1/2 cups all-purpose flour • 1-1/2 teaspoons baking powder • 1 teaspoon baking soda • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon • 1/2 teaspoon salt • 1/2 teaspoon each ground allspice, cardamom and cloves • 1/2 cup ground walnuts • 1/2 cup raisins • 1/2 cup pitted dates • 1/2 cup candied lemon peel • 1/3 cup flaked coconut • 1/4 cup candied orange peel • 3 tablespoons candied pineapple For Glaze: • 1/2 cup sugar • 1/4 cup water • 2 tablespoons confectioners’ sugar METHOD • Preheat oven to 350° • Line a 15x10x1-in. baking pan with parchment paper. • In a large bowl, cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in molasses, buttermilk and extract. In another bowl, whisk flour, baking powder, baking soda, ci...