Chocolate Magic - The Ultimate Feel-Good Food! By Mike Deighow

Chocolate...Mmmmmm...one of the best ways to express your thanks or love, or simply to treat yourself with some delicious pampering!..EVERYONE loves a bit of indulgence every once in a while!

In its many forms, this cocoa-based food has been around for two thousand years or more. Recently, scientists in the US have discovered residual evidence of its existence dating back to approx 600 BC.

Specialists have for a long time recognized that consumed in moderation, it can offer positive benefits to our health in the form of Antioxidant promotion and even blood pressure reduction! . Although any claims of being an effective aphrodisiac are yet unproven, it remains a very sensual and pleasing taste sensation...releasing positive endorphins from the brain. This is similar to `euphoric` feeling experienced after exercise for example. The Dark variety in particular is thought to be beneficial to circulation and the digestive system, whilst being generally lower in saturated fats and sugar than its milk counterpart.

As a result, it is often given as the perfect Birthday, Christmas, Easter, or Valentines gift. Simply put, nothing says `I love you` better than chocolate!...dim the lights, turn on the soft music, and indulge with that special person in your life. There is even a large selection of sensual body products to tempt and tease, as tastes and emotions combine!...irresistible!

From Eggs to luxurious multi-tray boxes, bunnies to footballs and flowing fountains the range of treats and delicious products is truly vast.

If your appetite has been whetted, an idea of the vast range of gourmet products and gifts available can be viewed here...enjoy!

Mike Deighow UK based Musician, Author, Web-Promoter

http://www.houseofchocolate.info

Healthy Chocolate Health Tips By Bradley A Smith and Theresa J Smith

Science now confirms chocolate is healthy. Medical doctors are proving that chocolate is healthy through clinical trials and research. The word is spreading; from radio, to television, to Internet, doctors now confirm that chocolate has numerous health benefits both physically and emotionally. So how do we know which chocolate is truly healthy and good for us? Here are some healthy chocolate tips to help you find the chocolate that is right for you.

More and more people today are drawn to eating chocolate for health benefits. With nine out of ten people who love chocolate and one out of two of them eating it every day, this is indeed good news. What do we want to look for in a healthy chocolate? First of all, the more unprocessed cocoa powder a chocolate contains, the more flavanoids (plant based antioxidants) are present.

It is best to look for a chocolate with at least 70% unprocessed cocoa. Secondly, it should be a raw food chocolate. When chocolate is heated above one hundred degrees Fahrenheit the majority of the nutritional properties in the antioxidants are destroyed, leaving it devoid of the precious nutrients sought after in the first place. Seek to find a chocolate that has low-glycemic sweeteners, such as raw sugar cane, as opposed to refined sugar. Low glycemic chocolates are diabetic friendly and don't leave you feeling "crashed", due to high blood sugar spikes associated with refined sugars.

Not all chocolate is created equal. Another important point to consider when choosing a healthy chocolate is the ORAC rating. ORAC stands for oxygen radical absorbance capacity, which is a measurement of the antioxidants ability to eradicate disease-causing agents (free radicals). Some chocolate producers have ORAC ratings on their products, guaranteeing the antioxidant effectiveness. A company called Brunswick Labs tests antioxidants on a variety of foods, including chocolate, giving them a certified score. The higher the ORAC score the more antioxidants a food contains, thus healthier for the body.

Not all dark chocolate is healthy for the body. Many people believe that if a chocolate has a high percentage of dark chocolate that it is automatically high in antioxidants. However, most chocolate is dutched (alkalized, to modify flavor and color) and roasted during processing. Dutching and heating destroys the antioxidants and their capacity to eradicate free radicals. It is also common for dark chocolate to be filled with refined sugars, caffeine, waxes, and unhealthy fillers, which are all well known for contributing to adverse health effects.

Chocolate that is considered healthy has certain characteristics. One should consider where the cocoa beans come from. Cocoa beans harvested in more rugged, harsh conditions are more potent and richer in polyphenols (antioxidants). It is also important to know what the growing conditions are and what types of farms the beans are grown on. Cocoa trees that are grown next to other fruit trees often produce milder beans.

A natural, privately controlled setting is best at producing beans without use of pesticides. Another point to consider is fillers and fats. Chocolate rich in healthy fats such as cocoa butter and omega fatty acids are beneficial to the body. Avoid chocolate with milk fats or hydrogenated oils....bad fats. It is also of great importance to know that Not all chocolate contains caffeine, though caffeine is often associated with chocolate, it is not a naturally occurring ingredient. Caffeine is usually added to commercial chocolates.

Eating the right chocolate on a steady basis can be a great benefit to your health. Knowing the ingredients, processing methods, ORAC ratings, and growing conditions can enhance your choices and experiences with chocolate.

The bottom line; yes you CAN have your chocolate and EAT it too!

Contact Bradley and Theresa Smith to learn more about healthy chocolate at http://www.thechocolateoracle.com

Cocoa Nibs By Donya Schweizer

Cocoa nibs are roasted cocoa beans separated from their husks and broken into small bits, not yet crushed or ground, not yet transformed into unsweetened chocolate or processed into smoother or more refined forms of sweetened chocolate. Simply put, nibs are cocoa beans on the brink of becoming chocolate and, as such, they are a unique and fascinating new ingredient. These little delicacies are a delightful treat for the adventurous.

Nibs are even crunchier than toasted nuts, and unsweetened, making them relatively bitter so they may take some adjusting to. You will find some nibs to have a sweetness and fruitiness and others will be nuttier. Some will be very astringent and some will be tart. If you are a taster, you will notice more flavors than you ever imagined were in chocolate, such as banana, peanuts, pineapple, lemon peel, cherries and coffee. But do not make the mistake of thinking nibs will act like chocolate chips!

Some of the uses for nibs are to grind some nibs with your coffee beans before making coffee; sprinkle nibs, as you would toasted nuts, on a simple salad of field greens dressed with good olive oil and red wine vinegar; add nibs to Bolognese sauce; make your favorite chocolate chip cookie recipe but omit the chocolate chips; sprinkle nibs on bread and butter; sprinkle with sugar if desired; sprinkle nibs over ice cream. My personal favorite is to mix the nibs with salted nuts of various kinds and add in bittersweet chocolate chips for a trail mix of sorts!

As I always say, "A balanced diet is chocolate in everything!"

To learn more about me and what I do go to http://www.DonyaMaries.com or Donya Marie's Beyond Chocolate Blog at http://donyamaries.wordpress.com

Donya Schweizer, President / Donya Marie's Beyond Chocolate

The Most Popular Valentine's Candy - Our Top 5 By Thor Hanso

If you are wondering what to get for your valentine this year, don't worry. As I am sure you know, candy is one of the most popular Valentine's Day gifts you can get. A box of candy says "I love you" in a rich, sweet, and unassuming way that you would be hard pressed to match in any other fashion! But still, the fact remains that everyone else is buying candy too! So, how do you stand out? Well, by doing your research, and discovering what the 5 most popular Valentine's Day candies are! By finding out what all the Valentine's Day shoppers are after, you can find out what the best thing is to get for your special someone this February 14th!

So, without further adieu, here is your list. It features the top five most scrumptious, delectable, and delightful candies available. You can be sure that any of the candies on this list will never fail to impress, flatter, and woo the heart of your valentine this year!

1) Galaxy Minstrels: The hard crust and rich soft insides make these candies utterly irresistible!

2) Flakes: Flakes are a very common, very popular style of chocolate that consist of chocolate flakes that literally melt in your mouth!

3) Milka Chocolate: That's right, Milka Chocolate. This brand comes from Austria, and is especially delightful.

4) Lindor's Milk Chocolate Truffles: These chocolates have a liquid chocolate center, making them absolutely to die for.

5) Mars Bars: A simple Mars bar says "I love you" in the sweetest of ways!

This Valentine's Day, get your special partner something that will not only satisfy their sweet tooth, but that will show them how much you care. And any of the popular candies above will be sure to accomplish these both with no problems!

Thor runs a Valentine's website. Here you can find not only valentine's chocolates but other great valentine's day ideas for your special someone.

A Guide to Chocolate Fondue Fountains By Bralynn Bell

Do you know what a fondue fountain is? It's basically an overflowing fountain, just like you would see in the front of someone's yard, or at a park that flows water up and then down like a circular waterfall, but it flows chocolate instead of water.

They are usually seen at special events such as weddings, nice office parties, graduation parties or any other event that calls for elegance and style beyond what you would find at a normal work party, or simply event.

There are different styles but the basic form stays the same. Many are made of stainless steel which make them a lot easier to clean up and maintain, but some of the more classic styles can be metal.

You can either rent one for your occasion which most people do, or if you are perhaps a party coordinator or have your own catering business, you could spend the money upfront to buy one if you know you will get the use out of it.

You can decide what kind of chocolate you want to use in it, by either buying dark chocolate, Belgium chocolate or even combine and make your own. Normally people go with normal flavors because there will be so much of it, if you choose the wrong taste or find one that people do not particularly enjoy, you might waste an awful lot of chocolate.

Because it is an overflowing fountain of chocolate, you need a way to get the chocolate out, so you can eat it, and that is where the dipping materials come in. You can virtually item you can think of, with strawberries being the most common.

When you decide that you do want to get a Chocolate Fondue Fountain you can find all your needs online or by finding a local store that rents and sells them.

Find out more about Chocolate Fondue Fountains by visiting our site.