Cheesecake Samplers: Don’t Commit to One Flavor!

By Steven Barnhart

Picking and choosing which dessert you want after a meal at a restaurant is always a tough decision. Everything on the dessert menu always looks so good, and wouldn’t it be great if you could have just a little bit of everything? The fact is that with cheesecake samplers, you can truly sample a little bit of everything without committing to just one flavor. And what’s best is that you don’t even have to go out to a restaurant to enjoy such decadent treats. This is a sampler that is shipped right to your door so you can enjoy it in the comfort of your own home!

Flavor Options. When you order cheesecake samplers, you are truly treating yourself to several nights of fabulous desserts. The sampler package comes with flavors like Chocolate Chip, Amaretto, New York Style, Blueberry, Chocolate Fudge, Raspberry, Cappuccino, Pistachio, and White Chocolate. Just think of how decadent each of these amazing flavors will be as you savor each and every bite or share them with your family and friends.

Size. Cheesecake samplers are available in a 10-inch size that weighs about 4 pounds. Now, you may be thinking, “That’s a lot of cheesecake!” If you are hosting a get-together, this is the perfect option so that everyone can get their hands on their favorite flavor, but if it’s just you at home or you and a spouse, you may be worried about the food going bad before you can eat it all. The fact is that this is enough dessert to feed 16 people, but it can be refrigerated for up to a week or even frozen for up to 8 weeks. If you want, you can take out a single piece every few days!

Gifts. Cheesecake samplers may be great for eating at home on your own or serving at dinner parties and special events, but they also make perfect gifts, too. You can have them shipped to the home of someone special for a holiday or birthday gift, and they also make great gifts for the workplace, too. You really cannot go wrong when you give the gift of dessert, and with the assortment of flavors, you know there is something in the package that everyone will love. Your gift is sure to be a big hit!

Order Today. Cheesecake samplers are made fresh once your order is received and are only made on certain days of the week. Whether you are giving these sweet treats as a gift or you want to enjoy them for yourself or with friends and family, you will want to place your order today so that your dessert can be baked fresh to your specifications. Orders are sent via overnight delivery to the delivery address you specify, so you can control when you or your special gift recipient receives the order. This sampler package is sure to please everyone, from you and your own sweet tooth to special gift recipients and those you entertain at home, too.

A cheesecake sampler is the ideal dessert choice because there is sure to be a flavor that will please everyone in your dinner party or event.

http://www.moomoocheesecakes.com/cheesecake-samplers

What to Expect in Chocolate Gift Baskets

By Steven Barnhart

The funny thing about these baskets is that unlike other chocolate items that a person gets, these are usually not consumed all that quickly. Because the contents are such high quality and precious in nature, they are consumed over time and enjoyed for days or weeks. It is also not at all unlikely that the recipient will keep the basket for years to come. All in all, this is a fabulous gift to give anyone who has a taste for things that are chocolate.

There are few gifts that you can give someone that will always receive such an unabashedly enthusiastic response as chocolate gift baskets. These are unique gifts in that each one is very different, and they offer a huge variety of treats for the recipient. If you are looking for just the right basket, then there are a few things that you should keep in mind with regard to the contents.

First of all, most chocolate gift baskets will have a variety of chocolate items, some of which will be pure chocolate of various types – semi-sweet, dark, or even white chocolate – and also items that either go good with chocolate or use some chocolate in them. You will also find some baskets that offer solely dark chocolate or white chocolate in their offerings.

In addition to chocolate bars or candies, you will also find some of the following items inside:

– Chocolate biscotti or other types of cookies that go well with coffee and hot chocolate, or just to eat as a snack.

– Mixes for hot chocolate or chocolate milk.

– Chocolate-covered peanuts or other types of nuts.

– A mug for your coffee or hot chocolate.

These chocolate gift baskets also come in a variety of sizes, ranging from those that are perfect for a small gift for a co-worker to one that is big enough for an entire family. Some of the larger gift baskets have towels, clothing, or other non-edible products that have a chocolate motif.

When you are buying chocolate gift baskets for friends or family, one thing that you should keep in mind is whether anyone in their household has an allergy to nuts. If so, make sure that the baskets you are looking at are nut-free.

You may also want to see if the recipient has a preference for a particular brand of chocolate or type of chocolate (dark, semi-sweet, or white). You can find baskets that have all of them or you can choose a basket that has only the type of basket that the recipient truly enjoys.

Also, it is important to remember that some of the items in any chocolate gift baskets may be prone to melting, so if you are having it sent (particularly to a warmer region of the country), make sure that it is being sent with sufficient packaging and protection from sun and heat. Many gift baskets are shipped in dry ice or hand-delivered (rather than sent via regular mail) so that there is no chance that the gift basket is left sitting out in the sun.

Everyone loves chocolate and giving a chocolate gift basket is an ideal way of showing your appreciation for your friends and loved ones.

http://www.firstavenuegiftbaskets.com/page/597428

Vegan Chocolate: The Impossible?

Vegan chocolate: it might seem like the impossible dream. Can you avoid eating all animal products but still enjoy the delicious taste – and the health benefits – of chocolate? I know at least one friend (a vegetarian who avoids dairy products, which means that vegan chocolate would be appropriate for her) who would love to find this product, and I guess that you probably know a person like this too – maybe it’s you. Is vegan chocolate possible? Or are vegans permanently condemned to carob substitutes while others enjoy the pleasures of chocolate?

It’s easier than you think to make and find vegan chocolate. You have to remember that although we’re used to seeing and tasting chocolate that has had milk or dairy products added to it, chocolate does not come from a cow (or even a goat). Chocolate is made from substances derived from the seed of the Theobroma cacao tree, known as the cocoa bean. The primary ingredients that go into chocolate – cocoa solids and cocoa butter – both come from a plant source, which is good news for vegans. Most vegan chocolate is dark chocolate: the type of chocolate with 70% plus cocoa solids. This is because vegan chocolate is usually dark chocolate, and it’s only the light coloured (milk chocolate and white chocolate) varieties that have to contain milk. Looking at the label of a 72% cocoa solids block of dark chocolate, the ingredient list contains cocoa solids, cocoa butter, sugar, soya lecithin and vanilla.. Each of these ingredients passes the vegan test – they’re all from plants – this is vegan chocolate, all right. Most dark (70% plus cocoa solids) chocolate is likely to be vegan chocolate, but read the label if you want to make certain.

Many people are getting very interested in vegan chocolate (a.k.a. dark chocolate) because it is rich in antioxidants, and also contains a large number of trace elements, some of which are hard to find in other dietary sources, especially selenium. Nobody should go overboard and binge on any sort of chocolate, vegan chocolate or not, but eating around 50 g of dark chocolate (70% cocoa solids or more) has a number of health benefits: lowering stress, boosting the immune system and supplying the body with good nutrients. Anecdotal evidence also hints that eating small amounts of dark chocolate can help you lose weight, as dark chocolate has a high “satiety index”, meaning that eating a little of it makes you feel full and satisfied, so you don’t go and eat large quantities of other food.

It’s also possible to find fair trade vegan chocolate and organic vegan chocolate.

You can also enjoy using chocolate in other vegan foods, including baking, by using ordinary cocoa powder. A very easy recipe for vegan chocolate cake that is so simple that children can cook it is given below:

1 ½ cups flour.

1 cup sugar.

1 t baking soda.

¼ t salt.

3 T cocoa powder.

6 T vegetable oil (not olive oil – the flavour is too strong).

1 T vinegar.

1 t vanilla.

1 cup water.

Combine the dry ingredients in a bowl. Scoop three holes in the mixture, one large and two small. Fill the largest hole with the oil, and put the vinegar and vanilla separately into the other two holes. Pour in the water over the entire mixture and stir well to make a smooth batter. Place into a greased cake tin and bake at 170°C for 30-40 minutes. For variation, cinnamon and/or sultanas can be added to the dry ingredients.

To find delicous vegan chocolate treats and gifts or to ask more about vegan chocolate, visit Luna Mare Vegan Chocolate. (Click now to get SEO for real readers, not robots, using Semantic Writing by Rick Rakauskas)

Eight Popular Chocolate Varieties That Each Chocolate Enthusiast Should Learn

Though there are lots of chocolate addicts, not all of them actually know the different kinds of chocolates on the market. The types are often based on the quantity of materials used in the blend. Here are a few of the very common chocolate varieties:

Not sweetened chocolate

Not sweetened chocolate is typically referred to as bitter or baking chocolate. This type is created from genuine chocolate liquor and comprised entirely of blended cocoa beans. It features a chocolate appearance as well as fragrance however it is not intended to be eaten on its own because it is extremely bitter. It’s best for preparing food and provides baked goods an abundant chocolate flavour. With the exclusion of white chocolate, all other chocolate types possess not sweetened chocolate as their base element.

Dark chocolate

Dark chocolates are composed of cocao butter, vanilla and sugar, lecithin, and chocolate liquor. Dark chocolate does not consist of any milk solids and its usual cocoa content can vary from 30%, which is thought to be sweet dark, to very dark bars with 70%-80% cocoa content. Bittersweet and semi-sweet chocolate are also labeled as dark chocolates.

Semi-sweet chocolates

The label semi-sweet chocolate became well known by the semi-sweet chocolate chips of Nestle Toll House. This chocolate variety has more than 35% cocoa solids and is thought to be more dark compared to sweet dark but sweeter compared to bittersweet. However, the product?s sugar content is not regulated so the classification may vary across different brands.

Bittersweet chocolates

Chocolates that contain greater than 35% cocoa solids are usually labeled as bittersweet chocolates. Many bittersweet chocolate bars possess a minimum of 50% chocolate spirits. Bittersweet chocolate normally possesses a more bitter taste compared to sweet dark or semi-sweet chocolate. Yet, the sugar content of this type isn’t managed therefore one business’ bittersweet chocolate products may be sweeter compared to the semi-sweet chocolate merchandise of another maker.

Sweet dark chocolate

Sweet dark chocolate is merely regarded as dark chocolate because it does not have milk solids. However, it is still sweeter compared to other dark chocolate varieties. Many sweet dark chocolate brands have 20-40% of cocoa solids in their goods.

Milk chocolate bars

The leading components in milk chocolate are cocoa butter, chocolate liquor and either condensed milk or dry milk solids. Most European whole milk chocolate varieties utilize condensed milk. In order for chocolate to be categorized as milk chocolates, it must include a at least 10% chocolate spirits for United States types, 12% milk solids and 3.39% butter fat. Milk chocolate is famous for being distinctly sweeter compared to dark chocolates and possesses a lighter color and fewer distinct chocolate flavour.

White chocolates

White chocolate consists of cocoa butter, but it doesn’t have any chocolate spirits or some other cocoa products. Due to this, white chocolate often includes a distinctive vanilla taste or it can have other flavorings instead of chocolates. So that chocolate products to be labeled as white chocolates, they need to include 14% whole milk solids, 20% cocoa butter and no more than 55% glucose. There are some white chocolate products which substitute vegetable fat for cocoa butter which, theoretically, cannot be called white chocolates.

Couverture chocolate

Couverture chocolates are famous for their high cocoa butter content and chocolate liquor, which make them rather expensive. This specific type is generally liked by candy makers and baking experts because it results in a smooth and quick- and even-melting chocolate product. It is commonly used for enrobing candies and may be bought at cake decorating stores in milk, white or dark varieties.

Each type of chocolate features its own distinctive characteristics and properties, that make it well designed for particular uses.

Written by Patricia Strasser. To get the best Michigan chocolates, take a look at http://www.champagnechocolates.com/

3 Handmade Candy Gift Ideas Everyone Will Love

Candy is the best present for someone with a sweet tooth. Any occasion can be the perfect time to surprise your children with homemade candy gifts that they can love and enjoy. Here are some interesting and fun to make candy presents for any age at any occasion:

Create excitement and pleasure to your guests and friends with rum and truffles, on the occasion of Christmas

These rum truffles make a wonderful handmade candy gift for your family and friends especially on Christmas. You’ll love rum truffles for their firm exterior and chewy insides. The main ingredients of this recipe are different types of chocolate, in the form of cake crumbs, sprinkles and chopped chocolates; the other ingredients are cream, butter and dark rum. After it has been cooked leave the mixture until it is able to be shaped into balls. Roll them in the chocolate sprinkles and refrigerate for thirty minutes. Put it in small cups made of paper or small cupcake sheets, put it into a box,tie with a ribbon, and voila, you have a amazing Christmas gift for your family and friends.

In the event you don’t have time to make these, visit local chocolate shops that have handmade truffles for you to give as a special gift! Check the local directory or search the web to find chocolate stores around you. An example of a search would be the entry of “truffles Michigan” that would list candy shops that sell truffles in Michigan.

Amaze your children with a variety of shaped and chocolate covered white chocolates

Make a kid’s birthday or Christmas more enchanting and enjoyable by surprising him with chocolate-coated white chocolates in assorted shapes. These are too easy and engaging to create. To begin, you need buy a white chocolate bar, melt it, and pour it in a mold. Shape the white chocolate candies depending on the occasion or the recipient’s preferences. For Christmas, you can make candy cane or Christmas tree shaped gifts; for birthdays, you can choose numbers and letters. You can add nuts and bits of chocolate for some interesting handmade goodies, Secondly, open the box of white chocolates. Once the white chocolate is hard, dunk the candy into the melted milk chocolate and then allow it to dry prior to packaging.

Peanut butter rice krispies are a great treat for your friends to munch on

For any age and occasion, peanut butter rice krispies are surely a sweet, addicting gift. Rice Krispies, butter, marshmallows, peanut butter, white chocolate chips, and melted chocolate will create a treat for dessert lovers. First use a microwave to melt the butter, marshmallows and peanut butter, mixing for three minutes at one minute intervals, until it is rich and creamy. Add the rice krispies and white chocolate chips and mix slowly. When finished, put the mixture in a teflon pan to keep them from sticking, since that makes it too tough to divide and serve them. The final step is to drizzle the chocolate, that you melted, over the prepared Rice Krispies. Allow it to sit. Another option would be to slice the treat and place them cupcake or cookie sheets. Now you are ready to give this sweet handmade gift to a special person or family member.

There are several more handmade candy gift options to suit any age. As a matter of fact, when you feel confident about making these exceptional treats, you can play around with your own ideas like adding candies or anything you thing that would fit and personalizing your sweets for the the recipients. Life can be so very good.

When finding delicious homemade chocolate, like truffles Michigan, visit http://www.champagnechocolates.com/

Fun Facts About Chocolate

Chocolate is known throughout the world as a delightful treat and loved by most people. Here are a few fun facts you may not know about chocolate.

• Ancient Aztecs thought chocolate had magical powers; like the ability to give them strength.

• Chocolate was consumed by the ancient Aztecs as a frothy beverage, somewhat like hot chocolate we drink today.

• Chocolate contains over 300 mineral properties that are beneficial to your health.

• Chocolate comes from a plant, called Theobroma cacao, which translates “Food of the Gods”.

• Dark chocolate has more antioxidants than green tea and just as many as blueberries.

• White chocolate really isn’t chocolate. It’s made from cocoa butter, the substance you get by pressing cocoa beans. Cocoa butter is absent of the cocoa solids used to make chocolate.

• Chocolate does contain chemical elements that really do boost your mood and produce a euphoric feeling.

• Eating chocolate gives you the same feeling as falling in love. This is probably why Valentine’s Day and chocolate go hand in hand.

• Chocolate comes from the Aztec word “xocolatl” which means “bitter water”.

• Switzerland is one of the top countries for chocolate consumption. The Swiss consume about 22 lbs of chocolate, per person, per year.

• Cocoa beans were used as currency by the Mayan and Aztec cultures. Perhaps this is where they saying “Money grows on trees” came from.

• Allowing chocolate to melt in your mouth produces the same or even stronger reactions as passionately kissing.

• Hershey is the oldest and largest chocolate company in the US.

• Cadbury is the most popular chocolate in the UK.

• Most cocoa comes from West Africa.

• The most expensive chocolate in the world is $2,600 per pound. It’s called Madeleine and is made by Fritz Knipschildt, a chocolatier in Connecticut.

• Craving chocolate when a woman is on her menstrual cycle may have more to do with the fact that chocolate is known for helping ease menstrual symptoms.

• Eating chocolate can also reduce the symptoms of stress.

• Chocolate is beneficial for proper blood flow to the lungs and other organs.

• The minerals in chocolate help to increase brain power and function.

• An English doctor prescribed chocolate to pregnant women as he believed it helped the fetus and embryo’s development.

• Thomas Jefferson, third president of the US, was quoted as saying “The superiority of chocolate, both for health and nourishment, will soon give it the preference over tea and coffee in America which it has in Spain.”

• One of Hershey’s ads reads: More Sustaining Than Meat.”

There you have it, twenty-three fun facts about delicious chocolate.

Do you love chocolate as much as I do? If so, don’t miss these chocolate fountain tips

Dark chocolate may soon be prescribed to liver patients

By Rebecca Smith, Medical Editor
Published: 4:00PM BST 15 Apr 2010 by Telegraph.co.uk

Doctors could soon be prescribing a dose of dark chocolate to help patients with liver damage, according to new research presented at a conference.