Running into the problem of seized chocolate is something that happens quite often in the kitchen. Especially if you are rushing to prepare a delicious chocolate dessert for your guests, and do not take enough care to handle your chocolate well. This article explains about the seizing process, and how you can bring your seized chocolate back to life.

Why chocolate seizing happens

Apart from the cocoa butter that is known to be found in chocolate, other dry ingredients such as cocoa solids and sugar are also present. When melted chocolate is exposed to water, these dry ingredients start to clump to each other, resulting in your chocolate becoming seized. It doesn't take a lot of water to cause seizing to occur. Just a tiny drop will be enough to cause your chocolate to start clumping together in grainy masses. Even water in the form of steam shouldn't go near your chocolate.

Seizing isn't always a bad thing. Sometimes the seizing process can be taken advantage of to reduce the fluidity of the chocolate, such as when you need to do some piping with the chocolate. But for most purposes, the occurrence of seizing is a bad thing. So how can you cure your chocolate of this calamity and bring it back?

Bringing back seized chocolate

First, take your chocolate off the heat. In order to bring back seized chocolate, you will need some fat in the form of vegetable oil or shortening, cocoa butter, or clarified butter. Add slowly in small amounts and keep stirring until your chocolate eventually comes back to normal... Well, almost normal. After this process your chocolate will probably be too soft for dipping, but you can still use it for other baking purposes that require melted chocolate.

Prevention is better than cure

In order to avoid the troubles that come with seized chocolate, it is best to follow some basic measures so that you can prevent it from happening in the first place. Before melting your chocolate, ensure that all your utensils and equipment are as dry as can be. Avoid using wooden spoons or other wooden tools, as their porous nature means that they are likely to retain moisture between their tiny cracks.

When melting chocolate, it is important that you never cover it with a lid, as moisture can condense on the lid and drop into your chocolate. When using a double boiler, be especially careful that the water in the lower container does not come into contact with the upper container that is holding your chocolate. When taking off the container holding the chocolate, always remember to wipe off the moisture underneath it using a cloth. If you do not do this, you run the risk of water getting into your chocolate.

If you plan to use a microwave instead of a double-boiler, then be careful that the container you use for microwaving it in does not retain a lot of heat after few minutes of microwaving. If not, it could be too hot for the chocolate. Set the heating level on your microwave to low, and occasionally stop to stir in between.



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Yes..healthy chocolate is a real concept. There is such a thing as healthy chocolate. The most amazing
part of this is that it actually tastes great! To be able to eat a piece of chocolate and know that it
is good for you .. and actually enjoy it is really amazing.

Usually when we eat something that is healthy for us, we think of a boring salad, some broccoli, or
cabbage soup. One of the reasons that many of us do not eat healthy is because we do not like the taste
of these healthy foods.

Enter now healthy chocolate which contains contains the highest level of antioxidants on the planet. Most forms of processed chocolate have little nutritional value because of the heat processes that destroy all of the antioxidants of the cocoa bean. With all of the added milk, sugar, additives, and chemicals, it is no wonder that chocolate is not perceived as a very healthy food!

There is a special healthy chocolate that uses cold pressed patented technology that retains all of the
antioxidant and nutritional value of the chocolate. This product also adds the acai berry as well as blueberry to increase the antioxidant value of the
product.

You do not have to worry about swallowing those huge supplements anymore so you can get your daily
requirements of antioxidants.

In addition, if you do not get your full serving of fruits and vegetables on a daily basis, you need not
fret. Having a couple of pieces of healthy chocolate is a nice supplement to any diet, and the benefits
have been proven to be amazing!

So yes.. there is such a thing as healthy chocolate. Finally something that tastes great and is actually
good for you!



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The pairing of chocolate and strawberry is a delicious one. But after filling up on "plain old" dipped strawberries, and heck that alone can take a lifetime as I have plenty of experience, you can nonetheless choose to expand your palette and cooking repertoire by incorporating the essence and flavor of chocolate covered strawberries in different and exciting ways.

The first obvious idea is to top sliced strawberries on a decadent chocolate cake. You can look online for lots of recipes for a cake should your personal book library not suffice. Or there's always great subscriptions to nice magazines like Food and Wine or Cooking Light that offer good dessert reads. Don't forget about the magazines more suited to desserts and pastry too!

But for a strawberry-topped cake, this gives the cake lovers more of the moistness and volume to fill up for their dessert appetites and still provides a bit of the fruit accent. And as a red garnish on top of a very dark cake, it adds a bit of wow factor and dimension.

You can strengthen, spice, and stiffen up your strawberry chocolate partnerships by mixing in a little liquor. Some recipes infuse Grand Marnier in a small dose to reduce with the berries and give that richness without really having a significant amount of alcohol in the final product. This will give you the cognac brandy flavor with orange hints along with the strawberry and chocolate. I think this is a delightful combination myself. The liquor burns off in the cooking process somewhat, leaving the flavor and experience without the buzz. This is a flavor profile that adds layers to your food enjoyment experience.

A strawberry mousse cake is a welcome option too. This will provide a greater strawberry percentage as most recipes call for several cups of strawberries placed around a cake's perimeter.. And you're still getting about 12 ounces to a full pound of chocolate folded in to the whipped cream to create the mousse. You can always go with a straight strawberry cake as well. Of course you'd be missing out on the chocolate entirely, and I say where is the fun in that? But you can simply flip the order by having a cake or pie filled with the strawberries and go with a small plunk of chocolate mousse, a squirt of chocolate syrup, or even some melted chocolate from the stove drizzled gently over the strawberry dessert. Is your mouth watering yet? It's a tempting set of things to make.

And that is what desserts and cooking in totality is really all about. Adding up layer upon layer of flavor in subtle ways. The eater can consciously or subconsciously realize a superb symphony of flavor. Yet they have a challenge describing what exactly all the ingredients are in the dish. It's the undercurrent and hint and sophistication of extra touches that leaves the person wanting more. This is a learned skill that takes some dedication and a little more time, but it's worth it. And it's not that hard to develop a great set of skills and trust in the kitchen with your own abilities. And who wouldn't want to make five or ten variations using these fantastic chocolate and strawberry ingredients to discover what works best. Tell you what, time to head over to the kitchen and brush up on my technique right now.


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Their products are consumed by millions and available from supermarket shelves, Ye Olde Sweet Shoppe, and in vending machines the world over. But despite its popularity, throughout history the confectionery industry has sometimes been the subject of criticism - from specific business actions, to being blamed for mass obesity. Interestingly, the massive confectionery industry we know today had surprisingly humble beginnings and it seems that the pioneering spirit, ethical reasoning, and the inspirational business awareness of those who founded the three biggest names in chocolate is all to forgotten.

Heinrich Nestle was born in Germany in 1814. After growing up in a huge family of fourteen children, he bucked the trend of going into the glazier business of his father and grandfather before him, and instead concentrated his efforts on pharmaceutics, taking up an apprenticeship at a local pharmacy for four years in his mid-teens. It was at this time that he moved to Vevey in Switzerland and changed his name to Henri Nestle, and soon developed his original product. By combining flour, malt, sugar and cows milk he invented the first substitute for mothers milk (inspired by the young deaths of half of his siblings) which, by the 1970s, was selling as far a field as North America. In 1875 he retired and sold his business choosing to then concentrate on offering small loans to locals in Glion. The company did not adopt chocolate as another product until the 1920s.

Interestingly, John Cadbury in the UK began to find his feet at a similar time. Born in 1801 and coming from a Quaker background, Cadbury couldn't study at university nor join the army and so also started an apprenticeship. After spending some time dealing tea in Leeds he moved back to his hometown, Birmingham, and opened a small grocery store and by 1831 he had enough money to switch his focus to establishing his own cocoa/drinking chocolate factory. Like Nestlé's reasoning for the invention of baby formula, Cadbury chose to focus his efforts on chocolate as a viable alternative to what he considered the major reason for the social ills of the country, alcohol. Today, the district around Bourneville remains dry in honour of Cadbury's opposition to alcohol.

Franklin Clarence Mars introduction to the manufacture of chocolate came when he was a child in Minnesota in the late 1800s. Whilst suffering from Polio, his mother taught him to hand dip chocolate, and by the time he was 19, his entrepreneurial spirit and love of candy inspired him to sell molasses chips in the local neighbourhood. By 1910, Mars was selling confectionary wholesale and in 1920 founded the Mar-O-Bar Co. which released the Milky Way. The Milky Way (incidentally was his son, Forrest's idea) quickly became the best-selling chocolate bar in the US, and they moved again to Chicago in 1929. Here they developed the Snickers and M&Ms as his son took the helm. Mars moved into a ranch estate with a horse racing track and barns, and lived out his house until 1950.



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David Wolfe is a respected world authority on raw food nutrition, raw organic superfoods,herbal healing and chocolates. David Wolfe is a conscious lifestyle activist and noted author. So if he tells us that we can enjoy chocolates guilt free, then he must be right, right? Of course he is right. With Raw Cacao Nibs, he is right.

Raw Cacao Nibs are raw unadulterated chocolate that is a valuable potent superfood that contains nutrients and neuro-peptides that are very similar to the ones our bodies create when we are in love.

Raw Cacao Nibs contain quantities of magnesium for strong bones and a balance brain chemistry. In fact it contains more magnesium than any other food known to man. With a 80% of Americans being deficient in magnesium ,this organic superfood is very much ideal for Americans. Magnesium is also good for women during their menstrual cycle which means if your woman is having the moods because of her menstrual cycle, it would be advisable to share your chocolate

They have mild moamine oxidase enzyme inhibitors that is needed to facilitate rejuvenation. It has got Phenylethylamine(PEA) that increases focus and alertness. Then it has got a phyto-chemical called anandamide that is also called the bliss chemical. Pair anandamide with enzyme inhibitors then anandamide stay longer in the circulation of our body. You don't need to understand the words to know people love it.

Raw Cacao Nibs will give us bliss, it will also make us feel in love. Who would not want that in their chocolates?



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Chocolates are known the world over- in almost any corners of the globe; these decadent creations are widely known. And these are the common go-to gifts during special occasions and holidays like Valentine's Day. Shops and chocolate manufacturers know this and they are gearing for shoppers who want to buy luxury chocolate online. Chocolates, whether these are the luxury ones or the conventional ones trace its roots from the seeds of the cocoa tree. And these seeds and the chocolates were first discovered by the ancient cultures of Mayas and the Aztecs of South and Central America. And the popularity of cocoa seeds and chocolates has expanded to other cultures too.

One of the reasons why chocolates are popular during the early days is due to the versatility of the chocolates. Chocolates are consumed as food and used too in many religious ceremonies. Based on some records, the first lovers of chocolates consumed chocolates as an unsweetened hot beverage topped with chilies, annatto and flavored vanilla. This was considered as popular with the Spaniards, and after a century this has made its way to the rest of the continent. With the prosperity in industrial revolution in Europe, chocolates was started to be manufactured and made in large quantities. Chocolates right now in the modern times are considered as comfort food. For others who buy luxury chocolate online, these are comfort food in a sense that these food items make the heart warms.

Chocolates are considered as the food that can satisfy the soul. Chocolates are known to give the person that feel-good factor and feeling and this is the result of the endorphins that were released the moment the chocolates were eaten. The feel good feeling will start with the anticipation of eating your guilty pleasure, then un-wrapping the chocolates and finally taking a bite. The feel-good feeling will start the moment the aroma of the chocolates wafts through the nostrils and send signals to the brain. And when the information is processed by the brain, then this gives the person that fleeting pleasure and relieves some of the stress. This is why people tend to get their chocolate drink fix early every morning in order to get that feel-good feeling in order to start the day on the right note. Comfort is simply what these products give; and a reason why they will buy luxury chocolate online without reservations.



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For others who think of chocolates and gifts for chocolate lovers, the term comfort food will come into mind. And a random survey in a group of people will reveal this fact; chocolates alongside other guilty pleasures are considered as their comfort food. And for those who think that chocolates are there as their comfort food, then here is one comforting food for thought. Did you know that chocolates are examples of that comfort food that actually do a good role in making you better persons, at least health-wise?

As compared to other saturates, these chocolates are known to contain 'stearic acid' and this acid will not allow for the rise in cholesterol levels. In addition to this acid, these chocolates are also known to be rich source of iron and these are known to be helpful in making red blood cells and magnesium which in turn are useful in making the bones of the person healthy. But these aren't the only things that make this comfort food interesting.

Chocolates will also contain high levels of polyphenols compounds and these compounds are often found in the plant-based foods and in turn these serve as antioxidants that can help protect the person from some diseases like cancer. Others have taken it to distance by saying that chocolates will have a higher concentration of polyphenols if compared to other plant food and beverages. The biochemists at Kings College in London said that a person needs to consume twenty eight glasses of white wine, six apples and also seventeen glasses of orange juice just to get the level of antioxidants that can be sourced from a 50-gram bar of dark chocolate. This finding alone could spur once again the sales of chocolates as comfort food items.

The researchers at the University of California also made their study and they found out that these comfort food items can also prevent the blood clotting. With this in mind, these comfort foods are best for patients prone to heart attacks and a number of other heart-related issues. And that is just health-wise. In terms of the other 'needs' of the heart, chocolates makes every heart warms with happiness. Just the thought of receiving gifts for chocolate lovers will make a recipient happy in anticipation. There will be that great feeling while un-wrapping these gifts and out of this world happiness when consuming these comfort foods.



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Valentines Day brings thoughts of bouquets of flowers, special dinners and candy. Chocolate candy is nostalgic and a great way to say "I'm sorry", or "I love you." Which is the most popular chocolate? White chocolate, milk chocolate, or dark chocolate?

White chocolate is produced with sugar, milk solids, and cocoa butter. This particular variety of chocolate was created in 1956 by Mars Inc. By law, since 2004, white chocolate can only be labeled as such if it contains 20% cocoa butter and 14% milk solids.

Milk chocolate, on the other hand, is produced mainly from the seeds of the tropical cacao tree. This nostalgic candy's earliest recorded use is by the Mayans circa 1100 B.C. in South America. It contains 10% cocoa butter and 12% milk solids. It is reportedly the food of the gods.

We also have dark chocolate. What is the difference between milk and dark? Where milk chocolate contains 10% cocoa butter and 12% milk solids, and white chocolate contains 20% and 14% respectively, dark chocolate contains the usual 12% milk solids, but a huge amount (35%) of cocoa butter.

Which is the most popular candy? It may come as a surprise. One survey of ten women from Baby University breaks it down like this:

The third most popular is actually a tie between white and milk with two votes each. The most popular is dark with a vote of three. There was one person allergic to all chocolates and two women that do not like it in any form.

Not like chocolate? (Shudder! How do they survive?) In fact, I do have two friends that do not like it at all. That thought amazes me. While most of the rest of the civilized world cannot get enough (with the Swiss in the lead at a consumption rate of 12.3 kg per person for the 2008 year-end total), there are actually people who do not touch the stuff!

But then we get into other areas. Dark chocolate might win in the categories of candy, but what about companies? With so many to choose from, who is the maker of your favorite? We have choices of Sees, Hershey's, Ghirardelli, Mars, and Belgium's. I really cannot help you there, for it entirely has to do with the taste buds of the individual chocolate connoisseur.

How do you feel about mint chocolate? Chocolate in smaller quantities such as chocolate chip cookies? Plain, or with nuts? Chocolate covered cherries or strawberries?

One of the greatest things about it is its versatility. You can bake it, boil it or eat it with nougat or peanut butter. You can sprinkle it, dip it, shave it or chop it into bite size squares. What is my favorite thing to do? Just let it melt in my mouth. No matter the type or form. What a delectable dilemma!

So, on this holiday, made just for chocolate lovers, just sit back and relax. Take a little break and ponder a bit about your favorite chocolate and why it is so.



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There have been numerous questions as regards the dark chocolates and their health benefits. Scientists from the time of their invention have been doing researches to find out whether dark chocolates are really beneficial for the human body or not. There are numerous health benefits of dark chocolates. They are the following:

Dark chocolate contains a substance called flavonoids which has a number of benefits. Dark chocolates are regarded as antioxidants. Most diseases are caused by oxidation of the cells of the body. When the cellular oxidation reaches a certain level, then various kinds of diseases occur in the body. In order to prevent cellular oxidation, it is important to take a lot of green tea as well as dark chocolates. Green tea and chocolates also possess an anti ageing property.

The function of the chocolates is to capture the free radicals which are harmful to the body. Some of the dark chocolates have more anti oxidizing property than others. This is because of the flavonoid content of dark chocolate. Some chocolates contain 70% flavonoid while some contains 75%, 80% or even 90%. Truly speaking there is no dark chocolate which contains 100% flavonoid.

Another important function of the dark chocolate is to reduce the blood pressure. This is possible because of high content of nitric oxide. Nitric oxide is considered to have hormonal effect and reduces blood pressure. If the hormonal balance is maintained the blood pressure remains normal. This is the reason why dark chocolates, when consumed by people with chronic heart disease and other pulmonary problems give some relief.

Dark chocolates are considered to reduce LDL (bad) cholesterol as much as ten percent. They stimulate the production of endorphins and serotonin. Dark chocolates contain caffeine, theobromine and other stimulants, and have a good taste as well.

It is also important to note that dark chocolate is a fairly fatty food. About one third of the fats in chocolate are monounsaturated, and two thirds are saturated. This means the fats are able to affect your cholesterol levels. Moreover there is also a high sugar content in the chocolate. Thus there is a high possibility to gain weight on too much consumption of chocolates. It is said according to research result that three and a half ounces of dark chocolate can be taken each day to enjoy its benefits. This comes to an intake of about four hundred calories, similar to having two small doughnuts.



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Why do we need to eat healthy chocolates? The main reason might be that we want ourselves to be more healthy and fit. Nobody wants to fall sick and it is painful even to see patient suffering from chronic heart diseases. Many kinds of pulmonary diseases are also equally fatal. If a patient suffers from some hereditary disease then of course it is not in our hands to prevent it, but we try to do o in out own way by finding medicines and herbs which prevents heart ailments. Scientists have found a special substance called catechins in chocolates which are able to prevent heart, skin and pulmonary diseases.

It is not available in any other form of chocolate except the dark variety. Dark chocolates contain a special substance called cocoa by which heart diseases can be prevented. The available catechins in dark chocolates may prevent blood coagulation and strokes. The amount of flavonoids (anti oxidizing agent) in dark chocolates is far more than found in milk chocolates. It is even said that dark chocolates contains 3 times the amount of flavonoids as found in green tea.

Research says that dark chocolates comprise 8 times more flavonoids than flavonoid rich fruit strawberry. Thus the nutritional value of dark chocolates is extremely high. It is considered to reduce the blood pressure level by minimizing the unhealthy substances of blood and thus prevents unnecessary clotting. Another essential property of dark chocolate is prevention of heart diseases. Dark chocolates are essentially used to prevent diseases of the immune system.

The immune system of human body is susceptible to various kinds of diseases. Especially when pollution has engulfed the entire surface of the earth leading to melting down of snow caps and consequent global warming, immune system is the worst hit. Many a times, fatal diseases are encountered with. The chocolates consist of those healthy substances which are considered to prevent nerve diseases and prevent problems of the immune system. For the pregnant mothers the healthy chocolates comes as a special boon. It helps them to deliver healthy babies without chronic diseases and with a healthy immune system.



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