tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24296058464057877152024-03-13T03:14:25.552+02:00Chocolate: food for the soul!Natali Lekkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08341592484654866179noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429605846405787715.post-54284794315105221582010-04-02T18:45:00.000+03:002010-04-02T18:45:01.118+03:00Happy Easter folks!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eU3FbxKhE3Y/S7YQ71aP-LI/AAAAAAAAAH0/FOt9D6ZEZuk/s1600/easter_chocolate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eU3FbxKhE3Y/S7YQ71aP-LI/AAAAAAAAAH0/FOt9D6ZEZuk/s320/easter_chocolate.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><iframe src="http://rcm-uk.amazon.co.uk/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=wherechocolbe-21&o=2&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&md=0M5A6TN3AXP2JHJBWT02&asins=B00005LDBH" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>Natali Lekkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08341592484654866179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429605846405787715.post-11699173825780234662010-03-01T21:37:00.001+02:002010-03-01T21:38:38.456+02:00Odd and unusual chocolate flavoured items<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eU3FbxKhE3Y/S4wWztILomI/AAAAAAAAAHs/fWXHE7IR15s/s1600-h/choco-toothpaste.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eU3FbxKhE3Y/S4wWztILomI/AAAAAAAAAHs/fWXHE7IR15s/s320/choco-toothpaste.jpg" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>For more unusual chocolate flavoured items, visit : <a href="http://www.chocolate-world.net/chocolate-weird-news">http://www.chocolate-world.net/chocolate-weird-news</a></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>and <br />
<a href="http://purpleslinky.com/humor/food/12-odd-unusual-chocolate-flavored-items">http://purpleslinky.com/humor/food/12-odd-unusual-chocolate-flavored-items</a></i> </div><h3 class="UIIntentionalStory_Message" data-ft="{"type":"msg"}"><span class="UIStory_Message"><a href="http://purpleslinky.com/humor/food/12-odd-unusual-chocolate-flavored-items/" onmousedown="UntrustedLink.bootstrap($(this), "591bd77008863bdcc36c50e2c5358426", event)" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><br />
</a></span></h3><div class="blogger-post-footer"><iframe src="http://rcm-uk.amazon.co.uk/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=wherechocolbe-21&o=2&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&md=0M5A6TN3AXP2JHJBWT02&asins=B00005LDBH" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>Natali Lekkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08341592484654866179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429605846405787715.post-8332846880272363142010-02-28T22:59:00.003+02:002010-02-28T23:06:32.564+02:00Chocolate festivals, museums & competitions<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eU3FbxKhE3Y/S4rayErvA3I/AAAAAAAAAHk/WXfw9tGFNrs/s1600-h/choco_heart.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eU3FbxKhE3Y/S4rayErvA3I/AAAAAAAAAHk/WXfw9tGFNrs/s320/choco_heart.gif" width="246" /></a></div><br />
<b>Chocolate festivals</b><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.festivalofchocolate.com/">http://www.festivalofchocolate.com</a>/<br />
<i>A chocolate festival in Orlando, Florida, March 6th -7th, 2010</i><br />
<a href="http://www.chocolate-festival.org/"><br />
http://www.chocolate-festival.org</a>/ <br />
<i>Colorado chocolate festival, May 7th -8th 2010</i><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.chocolateshow.com/">http://www.chocolateshow.com/</a> <br />
<i>See calendar for amazing chocolate shows all around the world</i><br />
<a href="http://www.salonduchocolat.fr/"><br />
http://www.salonduchocolat.fr/</a><br />
<i>See agenda for chocolate events around the world</i><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.eurochocolate.com/it/home.html">http://www.eurochocolate.com/it/home.html</a><br />
<i>Perugia, 15-24 October, 2010</i><br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Chocolate museums in the world</b><br />
<a href="http://www.chocolatewrappers.info/chocomuseums.htm"><br />
http://www.chocolatewrappers.info/chocomuseums.htm</a><br />
<i>Yippee! Happy travelling!</i><br />
<br />
<a href="http://europeforvisitors.com/europe/articles/chocolate_museums3.htm%20">http://europeforvisitors.com/europe/articles/chocolate_museums3.htm </a><br />
<i>European chocolate museums - Italy, Switzerland, Belgium, France, England, Germany</i> <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.galenfrysinger.com/barcelona_chocolate_museum.htm">http://www.galenfrysinger.com/barcelona_chocolate_museum.htm</a><br />
<i>A chocolate museum in Barcelona</i><br />
<a href="http://www.mucc.be/EN/index_en.htm"><br />
http://www.mucc.be/EN/index_en.htm</a><br />
<i>A chocolate museum in Brussels</i><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/real_estate/2009/10/16/2009-10-16_mmmm__top_10_chocolate_museums.html">http://www.nydailynews.com/real_estate/2009/10/16/2009-10-16_mmmm__top_10_chocolate_museums.html</a><br />
<i>An amazing article from the NY daily news: Top 10 chocolate museums</i><br />
<br />
<a href="http://blog.hotelclub.com/chocolate-museums/">http://blog.hotelclub.com/chocolate-museums/</a><br />
<i>More chocolate museums!!!</i><br />
<br />
<br />
<b>Chocolate competitions</b><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.ffc.ca/chocolate_competition.pdf">http://www.ffc.ca/chocolate_competition.pdf</a><br />
<i>Lindt Chocolate competition , Calgary – Alberta, March 14th , 2010</i><div class="blogger-post-footer"><iframe src="http://rcm-uk.amazon.co.uk/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=wherechocolbe-21&o=2&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&md=0M5A6TN3AXP2JHJBWT02&asins=B00005LDBH" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>Natali Lekkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08341592484654866179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429605846405787715.post-15072570084690836592010-02-15T16:48:00.002+02:002010-02-15T16:50:04.220+02:00Which film featured an actor eating chocolate on screen for the first time in cinema history?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eU3FbxKhE3Y/S3leYRGpi9I/AAAAAAAAAHc/Wp-3ChYUW1g/s1600-h/dinner-at-eight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eU3FbxKhE3Y/S3leYRGpi9I/AAAAAAAAAHc/Wp-3ChYUW1g/s320/dinner-at-eight.jpg" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i> Jean Harlow eating chocolate in the film 'Dinner at Eight'</i> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><iframe src="http://rcm-uk.amazon.co.uk/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=wherechocolbe-21&o=2&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&md=0M5A6TN3AXP2JHJBWT02&asins=B00005LDBH" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>Natali Lekkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08341592484654866179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429605846405787715.post-61241772594286580802010-02-13T21:21:00.000+02:002010-02-13T21:21:56.008+02:00Happy Valentine's Day folks!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eU3FbxKhE3Y/S3b7nIuB5oI/AAAAAAAAAHU/n-Y5tGv7vVw/s1600-h/comoagua.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eU3FbxKhE3Y/S3b7nIuB5oI/AAAAAAAAAHU/n-Y5tGv7vVw/s320/comoagua.jpg" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i> Still from the film "Como agua para chocolate"</i> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><iframe src="http://rcm-uk.amazon.co.uk/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=wherechocolbe-21&o=2&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&md=0M5A6TN3AXP2JHJBWT02&asins=B00005LDBH" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>Natali Lekkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08341592484654866179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429605846405787715.post-57576283514951150702010-02-07T16:29:00.012+02:002010-02-07T17:13:32.243+02:00Cool Chocolate Gifts for Valentine's Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>It’s Valentine’s Day next Sunday and chances are that you will be tempted to try some chocolate, whether you celebrate or not. If you do celebrate however, why don’t you try something different this year, other than the usual box of chocolates? You have a week to decide.<br />
<br />
I am suggesting:<br />
<br />
<b>Chocolate- opoly </b><br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eU3FbxKhE3Y/S27O_hyuslI/AAAAAAAAAGA/PBhyr0m4Ol4/s1600-h/chocolatopoly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eU3FbxKhE3Y/S27O_hyuslI/AAAAAAAAAGA/PBhyr0m4Ol4/s320/chocolatopoly.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
A decadently delicious property trading game for chocolate lovers! Dark, milk, bittersweet, semi-sweet, in a shake, filled with caramel, covered in nuts, or as a warm, frothy brew - there's nothing the cocoa bean can't do. In Chocolate-opoly players buy favorite chocolate properties, collect chunks of chocolate and trade them in for chocolate factories. Sounds easy enough but pay your conching fees, suppress your cravings or get sent to Chocoholics Anonymous and it becomes a little more difficult...and a lot more fun! So choose your token and roll the dice! Who knows? You may be chosen as a "Supertaster" or you may experience Death by Chocolate. Here's a game for the true chocophile! For 2-6 players, ages 8 to adult.<br />
<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm-uk.amazon.co.uk/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=2E0101&fc1=640D0D&lc1=D1FF00&t=wherechocolbe-21&o=2&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&md=0M5A6TN3AXP2JHJBWT02&asins=B0009GWFPI" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><br />
<br />
<br />
<b>A Chocolate Chess Set </b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eU3FbxKhE3Y/S27ReXevvlI/AAAAAAAAAGI/nNbHWWcbsCI/s1600-h/chococess.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eU3FbxKhE3Y/S27ReXevvlI/AAAAAAAAAGI/nNbHWWcbsCI/s320/chococess.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
You play it like normal chess but you get to eat each other's pieces as you take them out. Milk and white chocolate. It comes with moulds so you can make more chocolate chess pieces after each game.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.yellowmoon.org.uk/src/ADWORDS/product-Chocolate-Chess-Set-D703.htm"><u>Buy the chocolate chess set here!</u></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<b>A Chocolate Bar USB Drive</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eU3FbxKhE3Y/S27T3CTuFaI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/ivSLpLTjRIs/s1600-h/chocolate-bar-usb-drive.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eU3FbxKhE3Y/S27T3CTuFaI/AAAAAAAAAGQ/ivSLpLTjRIs/s320/chocolate-bar-usb-drive.jpg" /></a></div><br />
It looks like a regular bar of chocolate but just pull the top off to reveal the hidden USB connector. It is compatible with Windows, Mac and Linux. It comes in 2GB, 4 GB and 8 GB sizes and prices ranges from $17 for the 2GB version, $22 for the 4GB and $29 for the 8GB. <u><a href="http://usb.brando.com/usb-chocolate-bar-flash-drive_p00976c041d15.html">Available from Brando. </a></u><br />
<br />
<br />
Oh! There's even a cuter one from the same company!<br />
<br />
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</div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eU3FbxKhE3Y/S27Yd1TYojI/AAAAAAAAAGo/6lc0cKAQ2NY/s1600-h/Chocolate-Popsicle-USB-Flash-Drive-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eU3FbxKhE3Y/S27Yd1TYojI/AAAAAAAAAGo/6lc0cKAQ2NY/s320/Chocolate-Popsicle-USB-Flash-Drive-2.jpg" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>And if you are feeling extremely generous...</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b> A Chocolate by LG </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Did you know that the LG Chocolate phone was made and released for Valentine's Day?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eU3FbxKhE3Y/S27XLZF-BZI/AAAAAAAAAGg/tYtFMpMWfUc/s1600-h/chocstrawb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eU3FbxKhE3Y/S27XLZF-BZI/AAAAAAAAAGg/tYtFMpMWfUc/s320/chocstrawb.jpg" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>The Chocolate - Strawberry LG phone </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://chocolate.lgmobile.com/"><u>Chocolate by LG</u></a><u></u> </div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><iframe src="http://rcm-uk.amazon.co.uk/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=wherechocolbe-21&o=2&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&md=0M5A6TN3AXP2JHJBWT02&asins=B00005LDBH" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>Natali Lekkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08341592484654866179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429605846405787715.post-89301778236319386312010-02-06T13:20:00.002+02:002010-02-06T13:23:24.393+02:00How to remove chocolate stains from clothes and the carpet<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eU3FbxKhE3Y/S21QgL5mdCI/AAAAAAAAAFw/mC5imh8t_Kg/s1600-h/Melted_chocolate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eU3FbxKhE3Y/S21QgL5mdCI/AAAAAAAAAFw/mC5imh8t_Kg/s320/Melted_chocolate.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
<b>How to remove chocolate stains from clothes</b><br />
<br />
-Allow melted chocolate to dry and harden.<br />
-Scrape away its remains with a blunt knife.<br />
-Pour hot water through the back side of the cloth to melt it. This will allow it to come off the fabric faster. <br />
-Use a stain remover or detergent (in powder form together with hot water) to retreat stain.<br />
-Wait for at least 10 minutes.<br />
-Gently fold the cloth and rub the fabric together to agitate the soap and stain. <br />
-Wash as usual.<br />
-If the stain persists, you can dub it with dish detergent for 15 minutes and throw it in the washing machine.<br />
-If you have a chocolate catastrophe, soak the cloth in a gallon of whole milk for at least 30 minutes before you throw it in the washing machine. <br />
<br />
<b>How to remove chocolate stains from the carpet</b> <br />
<br />
-Allow melted chocolate to dry and harden.<br />
-Scrape away its remains with a blunt knife.<br />
-Vacuum the crumbs with a hand vacuum or hose. <br />
-Arrange a layer of paper towels on top of the stain and iron them at the lowest non-steam setting to soften and absorb the stain. Keep the temperature steady so as not to spread the chocolate.<br />
-Repeat with clean paper towels until the chocolate is gone.<br />
-Treat dark spots with a cleaning spray, carpet remover or dish detergent, blot with a clean towel and leave to dry for at least 10 minutes. <br />
-For stubborn stains, use products for tough stains. <br />
<br />
<i>From eHow.com</i><div class="blogger-post-footer"><iframe src="http://rcm-uk.amazon.co.uk/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=wherechocolbe-21&o=2&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&md=0M5A6TN3AXP2JHJBWT02&asins=B00005LDBH" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>Natali Lekkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08341592484654866179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429605846405787715.post-1668019675892060712010-01-30T17:21:00.000+02:002010-01-30T17:21:00.798+02:00What’s an Eskimo Pie and a Chipwich?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eU3FbxKhE3Y/S2RNJ92nFVI/AAAAAAAAAFY/CSridDHiPp4/s1600-h/Eskimo_pie_box.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eU3FbxKhE3Y/S2RNJ92nFVI/AAAAAAAAAFY/CSridDHiPp4/s320/Eskimo_pie_box.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<b>Eskimo Pie</b>, a chocolate-covered vanilla ice cream bar wrapped in foil, was the much anticipated solution (and should have won, “invention of the year”) for every child who had just enough money to buy either a chocolate bar or an ice-cream. <b>Kristian Kent Nelson,</b> a Danish immigrant from Iowa, experimented with different ways to adhere melted chocolate to bricks of ice cream and in 1921, he began selling his invention under the name <i>I-Scream Bars</i>. While, ice-cream per se is old news, this was the first dessert of that kind to be sold in the United States. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eU3FbxKhE3Y/S2RNDbCPitI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/NqkDMYWGadQ/s1600-h/Eskimopies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eU3FbxKhE3Y/S2RNDbCPitI/AAAAAAAAAFQ/NqkDMYWGadQ/s320/Eskimopies.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<i>Eskimo Pie ad, as it appeared in the Iowa City-Press Citizen on November 3rd, 1921.</i> <br />
<br />
<b>What’s a Chipwich?</b><br />
<br />
A <b>Chipwich</b> is exactly that, an ice-cream sandwich; <i>ice cream between two chocolate chip cookies</i>, another American invention, this time from <b>The Sweet Tooth</b>, a New Jersey based confectionary retail store, in 1976. The ingenious name of the product “Chipwich” was the result of a name contest held by The Sweet Tooth, while the brain behind this delicious treat and its branding was <b>Richard LaMotta.</b> On January 24, 2007, both the Eskimo Pie and Chipwich brands were sold to <b>Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream, Inc.</b>, an indirect subsidiary of <b>Nestlé.</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eU3FbxKhE3Y/S2RN3xmJ17I/AAAAAAAAAFg/yGjaP6sHvZ0/s1600-h/chipwch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eU3FbxKhE3Y/S2RN3xmJ17I/AAAAAAAAAFg/yGjaP6sHvZ0/s320/chipwch.jpg" /></a></div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><iframe src="http://rcm-uk.amazon.co.uk/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=wherechocolbe-21&o=2&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&md=0M5A6TN3AXP2JHJBWT02&asins=B00005LDBH" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>Natali Lekkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08341592484654866179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429605846405787715.post-74996769293659042482010-01-30T16:23:00.000+02:002010-01-30T16:23:25.877+02:003 ideas to make your chocolate drink...chocolatier, and their calories.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eU3FbxKhE3Y/S2RAzPc2dlI/AAAAAAAAAFI/gbRMtcKXrGc/s1600-h/hershey+chocolates+syrup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_eU3FbxKhE3Y/S2RAzPc2dlI/AAAAAAAAAFI/gbRMtcKXrGc/s320/hershey+chocolates+syrup.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<b>Hershey’s Chocolate Syrup</b><br />
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<i>Perfect for every occasion, ideal for flavored milk or ice cream.</i><br />
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<u>Serving portion: 2-3 tbsp</u><br />
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<b>Total Calories : 100</b> <br />
Calories from fat: 0<br />
Carbohydrates: 24 g<br />
Sugars: 20 g<br />
Protein: Less than 1 g. <br />
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There’s also Hershey’s Chocolate Syrup with Calcium, there’s Special Dark Syrup and Whoppers Chocolate Malt Syrup by the same company. <br />
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<b>Ovaltine Rich Chocolate </b><br />
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<u>Serving portion: 2-3 tbsp</u><br />
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<b>Total Calories: 80</b><br />
Carbohydrates : 19 g<br />
Sugars: 18 g <br />
Protein: 1 g<br />
Vitamin A: 10 %<br />
Vitamin C: 15%<br />
Calcium: 4%<br />
Iron: 20%<br />
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<b>Nesquik Chocolate</b><br />
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<u>Serving portion: 2-3 tbsp</u><br />
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<b>Total Calories: 180</b><br />
Fat : 0,5 g. <br />
Carbohydrates: 14 g<br />
Sugars: 13 g<br />
Protein: less than 1 g.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><iframe src="http://rcm-uk.amazon.co.uk/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=wherechocolbe-21&o=2&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&md=0M5A6TN3AXP2JHJBWT02&asins=B00005LDBH" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>Natali Lekkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08341592484654866179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429605846405787715.post-20304286634929282712010-01-27T20:18:00.005+02:002010-01-27T20:20:14.178+02:00National Chocolate Cake Day!It's National Chocolate Cake Day today in the United States. Send a yummy e-card to all your American friends!<br />
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<a href="http://www.123greetings.com/events/chocolate_cake_day/cake22.html"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://i.123g.us/c/ejan_chococakeday/th/112997_th.gif" /></a><a href="http://www.123greetings.com/events/chocolate_cake_day/cake22.html">Send this eCard !</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><iframe src="http://rcm-uk.amazon.co.uk/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=wherechocolbe-21&o=2&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&md=0M5A6TN3AXP2JHJBWT02&asins=B00005LDBH" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>Natali Lekkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08341592484654866179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429605846405787715.post-88392761481137988652010-01-23T21:35:00.002+02:002010-01-23T21:40:36.679+02:00Where does the name Häagen-Dazs come from?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eU3FbxKhE3Y/S1tOttsv6HI/AAAAAAAAAFA/QdrAoqlhyyI/s1600-h/haagendazs_logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eU3FbxKhE3Y/S1tOttsv6HI/AAAAAAAAAFA/QdrAoqlhyyI/s320/haagendazs_logo.jpg" /></a><br />
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Have you ever wondered where the name <b>Häagen-Dazs</b> comes from? Personally, I thought it was Dutch, because of the two “aa” or even because of Den Haag. In fact, this famous ice-cream brand was established by two Polish immigrants (well done Poland!) Reuben and Rose Mattus in the Bronx, New York, in 1961. Häagen-Dazs are made-up words that are meant to look (but are not) Scandinavian to the American eyes. This form of foreign branding served one purpose, to make the product look exotic and thus exciting enough to try. The Mattus couple had even included an outline map of Scandinavia in their early labels together with the names Oslo, Stockholm and Copenhagen to reinforce the Scandinavian theme.<br />
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But the name Häagen-Dazs was merely the outcome of a word game of random nonsensical words that Reuben Mattus started in order to find a combination that pleased him.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><iframe src="http://rcm-uk.amazon.co.uk/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=wherechocolbe-21&o=2&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&md=0M5A6TN3AXP2JHJBWT02&asins=B00005LDBH" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>Natali Lekkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08341592484654866179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429605846405787715.post-88364140743479984332010-01-23T15:26:00.003+02:002010-01-23T15:41:11.720+02:00News: Chocolate Wonderland set to open in Beijing, China in January 2010!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eU3FbxKhE3Y/S1r45Wg4CsI/AAAAAAAAAE4/ljw6P5e-RXQ/s1600-h/cocoa-army.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eU3FbxKhE3Y/S1r45Wg4CsI/AAAAAAAAAE4/ljw6P5e-RXQ/s320/cocoa-army.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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An entire theme park dedicated to chocolate, complete with the Great Wall of China and life-size edible chocolate replicas of the Terracotta warriors is set to open in Beijing, China on <b>January 29th 2010</b>. <a href="http://www.chinahighlights.com/news/travel-latest/beijing-chocolate-wonderland-to-open-on-january-19.htm">Read more… </a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><iframe src="http://rcm-uk.amazon.co.uk/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=wherechocolbe-21&o=2&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&md=0M5A6TN3AXP2JHJBWT02&asins=B00005LDBH" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>Natali Lekkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08341592484654866179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429605846405787715.post-19892486138636774312010-01-20T23:50:00.005+02:002010-01-20T23:55:12.412+02:00News: Kraft to buy Cadbury in friendly $19.5 billion deal<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eU3FbxKhE3Y/S1d6ks32EtI/AAAAAAAAAEE/mQht_kZUdAk/s1600-h/kraft_cadbury.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eU3FbxKhE3Y/S1d6ks32EtI/AAAAAAAAAEE/mQht_kZUdAk/s320/kraft_cadbury.jpg" /></a><br />
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For more information on the deal that will make Kraft the world's biggest chocolate and confectionery producer by revenue, please visit:<br />
<u><a href="http://www.marketwatch.com/story/cadbury-kraft-finalizing-terms-of-friendly-deal-2010-01-19?dist=afterbell"></a></u><br />
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<a href="http://www.marketwatch.com/story/cadbury-kraft-finalizing-terms-of-friendly-deal-2010-01-19?dist=afterbell"><u>Kraft to buy Cadbury in $19.5 bln deal</u></a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><iframe src="http://rcm-uk.amazon.co.uk/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=wherechocolbe-21&o=2&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&md=0M5A6TN3AXP2JHJBWT02&asins=B00005LDBH" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>Natali Lekkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08341592484654866179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429605846405787715.post-75094369174367623222010-01-20T23:00:00.010+02:002010-01-20T23:28:38.274+02:00Top chocolate manufacturers in the world<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eU3FbxKhE3Y/S1dxFPVyfRI/AAAAAAAAAD0/FlYFWjiAq9Y/s1600-h/marschocolate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eU3FbxKhE3Y/S1dxFPVyfRI/AAAAAAAAAD0/FlYFWjiAq9Y/s320/marschocolate.jpg" /></a><br />
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If you ever wondered who were the top 10 global chocolate manufacturers in the world, Candy Industry has the facts. Although, the data is a bit old now and a lot of the companies have changed their name over the years (as you will read further down), you can rest assured that these are still the movers and shakers of the chocolate industry today. <br />
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Total Sales in US$millions <br />
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Mars Inc (USA)----------------------- 9,546 <br />
Cadbury Schweppes PLC (UK)----------- 8,126<br />
Nestlé SA (Switzerland)------------- 7,973<br />
Ferrero SpA (Italy)----------------- 5,580<br />
Hershey Foods Corp. (USA)------------ 4,881<br />
Kraft Foods Inc. (USA)-------------- 2,250<br />
Meiji Seika Kaisha Ltd. (Japan)------ 1,693<br />
Lindt & Sprüngli AG (Switzerland)---- 1,673<br />
Barry Callebaut AG (Belgium/France)-- 1,427<br />
Ezaki Glico Co (Japan)-------------- 1,239<br />
<i>Reference: Candy Industry, January 2006</i><br />
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1.<b>Mars Inc.</b> is ranked as the 6th largest privately held company in the US by Forbes and was founded by Frank Mars in Washington in 1911. In 1923, <b>Milky Way</b> was introduced, its best-selling candy bar, whilst the <b>Mars Bar</b> was launched in the UK, in 1932. Its famous chocolate products include: <b>Mars, M&Ms, Milky Way, Bounty, Snickers, Twix, Dove, Galaxy, Skittles.</b> <a href="http://www.mars.com/">www.mars.com</a> <br />
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2.<b>Cadbury plc</b> is a British confectionary and beverage company. It was founded by John Cadbury in Birmingham, in 1824 and today, it has its headquarters in Uxbridge, UK. The firm was known as Cadbury Schweppes from 1969 until 2008. Its famous chocolate products include <b>Cadbury, Fry’s, Green & Black’s, Boost, Brunch Bar, Crispy Crunch, Crunchie,</b> etc. <a href="http://www.cadbury.com/">www.cadbury.com</a> <br />
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3.<b>Nestlé SA</b> was founded by Henri Nestlé in Vevey, Switzerland, in 1866. Its famous chocolate products include <b>Aero, 100 Grand Bar, Kit Kat, Nestlé Crunch and Rolo.</b> <a href="http://www.nestle.com/">www.nestle.com</a> <br />
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4.<b>Ferrero SpA</b> is an Italian chocolate manufacturer founded by Pietro Ferrero, in 1946 and based in Pino Torinese, in Italy. Today, it has got its headquarters in Alba, Piemonte. Its famous chocolate products include: <b>Ferrero Rocher, Pocket Coffee, Mon Chéri, Giotto, Confetteria Raffaello, Kinder Surprise, Fiesta Ferrero, and the Kinder Chocolate series.</b> <a href="http://www.ferrero.com/">www.ferrero.com</a> <br />
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5.<b>The Hershey Company</b> was founded in 1894 by Milton Snavely Hershey, in Hershey, Pennsylvania, where it still has its headquarters. Milton Hershey began planting cocoa trees in his hometown Derry Church, in Pennsylvania, in 1903, and the job has taken off since then. The <b>Hershey’s Chocolate Bars</b> are among its famous chocolate products. <a href="http://www.hersheys.com/">www.hersheys.com</a> <br />
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6.<b>Kraft Foods Inc</b> was founded in Chicago, in 1903 by Canadian-born James L. Kraft, of German origin. Today, the company is headquartered in Chicago and has its European headquarters just outside Zurich, Switzerland. Although, chocolate doesn’t exactly come to mind with Kraft , the company is in fact the colossus behind <b>Milka, Oreo, Nabisco, Jacob’s, LU.</b> <a href="http://www.kraftfoodscompany.com/">www.kraftfoodscompany.com</a> <br />
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7.<b>Meiji Seika Kaisha Ltd.</b> was founded in Tokyo, in 1916 where it still has its headquarters. Its famous products include <b>Hello Panda and Yan Yan.</b> <a href="http://www.meiji.co.jp/en">www.meiji.co.jp/en</a> <br />
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8.<b>Lindt & Sprüngli AG</b> is more commonly known as Lindt. It was founded by David Sprüngli- Schwarz and his son Rudolf Sprüngli- Ammann in Zurich, in 1845. Today, it has its headquarters in Kilchberg, Switzerland. Johann Rudolf, son of Rudolf Sprüngli acquired Rodolphe Lindt’s chocolate factory in 1899 and the business thus changed its name to incorporate both family names. <b>Lindor</b> is a famous chocolate type produced by Lindt. <a href="http://www.lindt.com/">www.lindt.com</a> <br />
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9.<b>Barry Callebaut</b> is the result of a merger that took place in 1996 between the Belgian Callebaut and the French Cacao Barry. Cacao Barry was founded by Charles Barry in 1842 and Callebaut by Eugenius Callebaut in 1850. Callebaut began as a brewery which started producing chocolate bars in 1911. In 2005, Barry Callebaut introduced <b>ACTICOA,</b> a healthy chocolate which contains higher levels of polyphenol antioxidants than any other chocolate. <a href="http://www.barry-callebaut.com/">www.barry-callebaut.com</a> <br />
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10.<b>Ezaki Glico Co.</b> was founded by Toshikazu Ezaki in Osaka, Japan, in 1929. Many chocolate products have come out of this company: <b>Pretz, Pocky, Bisco, Kiss- mint, Papico,</b> etc. <a href="http://www.glico.co.jp/en/index.htm">www.glico.co.jp/en/index.htm</a><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eU3FbxKhE3Y/S1dyBN56ZyI/AAAAAAAAAD8/MBs_YLuGvpo/s1600-h/chocolateandstrawberrypocky31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eU3FbxKhE3Y/S1dyBN56ZyI/AAAAAAAAAD8/MBs_YLuGvpo/s320/chocolateandstrawberrypocky31.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i> Japanese Chocolate and Strawberry Pocky</i> <br />
</div><div class="blogger-post-footer"><iframe src="http://rcm-uk.amazon.co.uk/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=wherechocolbe-21&o=2&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&md=0M5A6TN3AXP2JHJBWT02&asins=B00005LDBH" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>Natali Lekkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08341592484654866179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429605846405787715.post-71325444422838310242010-01-17T16:41:00.002+02:002010-01-17T17:00:13.727+02:00Bigger, Better, Best Chocolate World Records!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eU3FbxKhE3Y/S1MiCR81BMI/AAAAAAAAADk/I8DkZ1ggZsw/s1600-h/biggestegg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eU3FbxKhE3Y/S1MiCR81BMI/AAAAAAAAADk/I8DkZ1ggZsw/s640/biggestegg.jpg" /></a><br />
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There is a reason why we like World Records so much. It’s because it’s always all about the biggest, best, largest, most… something. So, here’s what the World Records Academy can tell us about chocolate:<br />
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-<b>The Biggest Chocolate Crepe Cake World Record</b> was set by Gus Kazakos in New Jersey by building a 300 pounds, 40 inches tall French crepe. The crepe was made from 120 pounds of flour, 140 eggs, 80 liters of milk, 80 pounds of chocolate, 40 pounds of bananas and 40 pounds of strawberries.<br />
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-<b>The Biggest Chocolate Castle World Record</b> was set by Krunoslav Budiselic in Zagreb, Croatia. The castle measured 3m (10ft.) high and was made with more than 100,000 chocolate bars, from a local producer Kras. It weighed 10 tonnes. <br />
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-<b>The Biggest Chocolate Éclair World Record</b> was set by The Swallow Bakery in Chichester, UK which created an 11 ft 10 inches long chocolate éclair with 8 pints of double cream and a kilo of chocolate.<br />
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-<b>The Largest Box of Chocolates World Record</b> was set by Thorntons Moments in London who broke the World Record by building a 16.5 ft (5m) tall and 11.5 ft (3.5m) wide box containing over 220,000 chocolates. The box weighed over 2 tonnes.<br />
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-<b>The Largest Cup of Hot Chocolate World Record</b> was set by the Serendipity Three Restaurant in New York, which made a 4-gallons hot chocolate for its 55th birthday: 12 pounds of cocoa powder blended with 14 different cocoas, 8 quarts of heavy cream and 1 pound of fine shaved French chocolate. <br />
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-<b>The Largest Slab of Chocolate Fudge World Record</b> was set by the Lansing Community in Michigan, who made a slab of fudge that weighed 5,500 pounds : 705 pounds of butter, 2,800 pounds of chocolate and 305 gallons of sweetened condensed milk. <br />
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-<b>The World’s Largest Hershey Kiss</b> was made in 2007 and weighed 30,540 pounds. It took 152 people and 9 days to make it and it stands 12-feet tall, 10.5 feet wide and is covered in 16,460 ft of foil. <br />
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-<b>The World’s Biggest Chocolate Easter Egg</b> was made by Belgian chocolate producer Guylian and it took 50,000 bars of chocolate (1950 kg of chocolate), 26 men and 525 hours in total to make it. It measured 8.32 m. high. <br />
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-There is also the <b>World’s Largest Chocolate Fountain</b> in Las Vegas. <br />
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-As for the <b>World’s Largest Chocolate Bar</b>…well, there seem to be a lot of people claiming first prize but according to the Guinness World Records, in 2007, Elah Dufour Novi in Liguria, Italy made a chocolate bar that weighed 3,580 kg. <br />
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<i>My question is …what do they do with all this chocolate, once it starts melting??? </i><div class="blogger-post-footer"><iframe src="http://rcm-uk.amazon.co.uk/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=wherechocolbe-21&o=2&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&md=0M5A6TN3AXP2JHJBWT02&asins=B00005LDBH" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>Natali Lekkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08341592484654866179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429605846405787715.post-72587826238189891262010-01-14T20:49:00.004+02:002010-01-14T20:58:35.461+02:00Make your own m&m character!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eU3FbxKhE3Y/S09odhV2OAI/AAAAAAAAADU/zjAahpgoz_I/s1600-h/mnm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eU3FbxKhE3Y/S09odhV2OAI/AAAAAAAAADU/zjAahpgoz_I/s320/mnm.jpg" /></a><br />
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Hello boys! Meet Natali and Natali...<br />
<i></i><br />
<i> If you want to make your own m&m characters, visit</i><br />
<a href="http://www.mms.com/us/becomeanmm/create/"><b>Make your own m&m characters</b></a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><iframe src="http://rcm-uk.amazon.co.uk/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=wherechocolbe-21&o=2&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&md=0M5A6TN3AXP2JHJBWT02&asins=B00005LDBH" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>Natali Lekkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08341592484654866179noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429605846405787715.post-12938090402499879092010-01-13T23:27:00.014+02:002010-01-17T15:37:51.342+02:00Some trivia, statistics & curiosities<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eU3FbxKhE3Y/S05FsePKW5I/AAAAAAAAAC8/l7RhwkfnZ8s/s1600-h/like-chocolate.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_eU3FbxKhE3Y/S05FsePKW5I/AAAAAAAAAC8/l7RhwkfnZ8s/s320/like-chocolate.png" /></a><br />
<i>Well, 61% of Japanese seem to like chocolate. That’s good but it could be better. :-) </i><br />
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<b>Did you know…?</b><br />
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1. The average American eats 10-12 pounds (4.5 kg) of chocolate a year. The average Swiss eats 21 pounds a year, making <b>Switzerland</b> the biggest country of chocolate consumers.<br />
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2. Chocolates can absorb other flavors and scents, and should be kept away from other household chemicals.<br />
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3. Children are more likely to prefer chocolate when they reach 10-11 years old than when they are younger.<br />
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4. Cocoa is a misspelling of cacao.<br />
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5. In the Pre-Colombian Mesoamerica, you could buy a rabbit with 4 cocoa beans, a prostitute for 10 beans and a wife for a 100.<br />
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6. During WWII, American soldiers were given 3 chocolate bars, each one containing 600 Kcal, as part of their daily diet. Hershey was the first company to make chocolates resistant to the hot sun, up to a temperature of 60 C (140 F) . <br />
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7. In 1624, chocolate was condemned by Johan Franciscus Rauch in Vienna. It was considered an inflamer of passions and Rauch wanted to ban it among monks. <br />
<br />
8. <b>Casanova</b> considered it to be an excellent aphrodisiac and drank it often at Café Florian in Venice. <br />
<br />
9. A chocolate bar contains more protein and B2 vitamin than a banana or an orange.<br />
<br />
10.Chocolate contains calcium which is good for your teeth!<br />
<br />
11. <b>Fiji and Ghana</b> display cacao on their national coat of arms. <br />
<br />
12. Annual world consumption of cocoa beans averages about <b>600,000 tons.</b> <br />
<br />
13. It takes about <b>400 cocoa beans</b> to make a pound of chocolate. <br />
<br />
14. <b>Hawaii</b> is the only US state that grows cocoa to produce chocolate.<br />
<br />
15. In the 1800s, the Swiss were the first to invent methods to turn cocoa into solid chocolate candy.<br />
<br />
<i>The above 15 trivia were compiled with the help of: a) Loedahus Chokladkult at www.chokladkultur.se, b) Criss White at ezinearticles.com , c) A Guide to Chocolate at www.wholefoodsmarket.com</i><div class="blogger-post-footer"><iframe src="http://rcm-uk.amazon.co.uk/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=wherechocolbe-21&o=2&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&md=0M5A6TN3AXP2JHJBWT02&asins=B00005LDBH" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>Natali Lekkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08341592484654866179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429605846405787715.post-11792549265772144202010-01-08T23:54:00.006+02:002010-01-09T00:13:44.869+02:00Je suis fou du chocolat Lanvin!Happy New Year peeps! Wishes for a successful New Year with lots and lots of chocolate !!!<br />
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<object height="285" width="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/bKeLX1AztZg&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b&border=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/bKeLX1AztZg&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x5d1719&color2=0xcd311b&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="340" height="285"></embed></object><div class="blogger-post-footer"><iframe src="http://rcm-uk.amazon.co.uk/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=wherechocolbe-21&o=2&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&md=0M5A6TN3AXP2JHJBWT02&asins=B00005LDBH" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>Natali Lekkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08341592484654866179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429605846405787715.post-47811340889605076552009-12-23T21:55:00.019+02:002010-01-10T12:29:46.946+02:00A Dark Chocolate a Day, Keeps the Doctor Away!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eU3FbxKhE3Y/S0Y05r2rrBI/AAAAAAAAACE/1SxuLcHY4pE/s1600-h/healthychocolate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eU3FbxKhE3Y/S0Y05r2rrBI/AAAAAAAAACE/1SxuLcHY4pE/s320/healthychocolate.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><br />
The Aztecs and the Mayas were wise. Chocolate, the <b>food of the gods</b>, as they called it, became something of a god-sent gift for them. And for a very good reason too. It was believed to <b>fight fatigue</b>, an element that today’s scientists believe is most probably attributed to its theobromine content.<br />
<br />
Chocolate contains theobromine and phenethylamine , two elements that have physiological effects on the body and have been found to be linked with the serotonin levels in the brain. Chocolate and especially dark chocolate has a number of positive effects, it can <b>lower blood pressure</b> and has a substantial amount of antioxidants that reduce the formation of free radicals which control the <b>aging process</b>. Dark chocolate also benefits the circulatory system and may <b>reduce arterial hardening</b>, it is a good brain stimulator and cough preventer, it has <b>anticancer and antidiarrhoeal effects</b>. <br />
<br />
- Dark chocolate is good for pregnant women because it protects them from high blood pressure problems and secures them against the chance of contracting preeclampsia, which is a major pregnancy complication that involves hypertension in 8 out of a 100 pregnancies.<br />
- Dark chocolate is good for athletes because it speeds up their muscle recovery after rigorous training and <b>prevents muscle damage</b>. <br />
- It can delay brain function decline especially among aged people <br />
- Cocoa-based prescription drugs can potentially solve a host of other diseases like diabetes and dementia. <br />
- Chocolate can also act as a stimulant. While it is a mild stimulant for humans, it is a lot more potent for horses and its use is prohibited in horse races. <br />
- Cornell University food scientists have discovered that cocoa powder has nearly <b>twice</b> the antioxidants of red wine, and up to <b>three times</b> the antioxidants of green tea. Raw cocoa on the other hand has the <b>highest antioxidant value</b> than all the natural fruits in the world.<b> </b><br />
<b><br />
What is it with women and chocolate? <br />
<br />
58% of women crave chocolate when they want something to boost them. 53% of adult women in the UK have confessed they would rather have chocolate than sex! One in 5 admitted they couldn't go a day without chocolate. </b><br />
<br />
Cocoa is a good medicine against depression. Isn’t that, after all, the reason we reach for a delicious bar of chocolate every time we feel down? <br />
<br />
<i>But the million dollar question is…</i><br />
<br />
<b>Is chocolate responsible for acne?</b><br />
<br />
Contrary to what we may have heard from various sources, the truly pure dark chocolate is actually good for the health of your skin, hair and nails. Scientists do not point to chocolate for the cause of acne, but rather to the high concentration of sugar, corn syrup and other carbohydrates, chocolate products may contain. Chocolate itself is rich in sulfur, the so-called “beauty” mineral and promotes a <b>healthy and beautiful skin</b>, it helps detoxify the liver and regulates the healthy functioning of the pancreas. Studies have shown that it can also protect your skin from sunburns, premature aging and skin cancer.<br />
<br />
And if you still do not believe me, click on the underlined link to <b>read the following article</b> about:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1160163/A-bar-day-keeps-spots-away-The-chocolate-cure-acne.html"><u>Acne Care Chocolate Bars</u></a> <i>by the Daily Mail</i><br />
<br />
<b>Slimming chocolate</b><br />
<br />
Dark chocolate has got appetite-suppressant properties which can help you <b>lose weight!</b> <br />
<br />
And if you still worry about keeping fit and slim, you shouldn’t. A great majority of the fats contained in a bar of dark chocolate does not have any negative impact on your cholesterol. As a measure, it is advisable to consume:<br />
<br />
- 100 grams of dark chocolate a day ( a 65% cocoa concentration at least) or<br />
- A cup of hot cocoa (2 ounces of cocoa) <br />
<br />
<i>It seems there isn’t a thing that dark chocolate won’t do!</i> <br />
<br />
Having said that, <b>milk chocolate</b> and <b>white chocolate</b> cannot claim any of the above healthy benefits.<br />
<br />
To give you an example, let at this moment compare two different kinds of chocolate to get an idea : a) quality chocolate and b) mass-produced milk chocolate <br />
<br />
<b>Quality chocolate</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eU3FbxKhE3Y/S0mnE-BjCEI/AAAAAAAAACM/NoSrwrPToOc/s1600-h/dark-chocolate-gallery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eU3FbxKhE3Y/S0mnE-BjCEI/AAAAAAAAACM/NoSrwrPToOc/s320/dark-chocolate-gallery.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="centtext">56-70% cocoa solids, to include 31% cocoa butter<br />
29-43% sugar<br />
1% lecithin and pure vanilla extract<br />
</div><br />
<b>Mass-produced milk chocolate</b><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eU3FbxKhE3Y/S0mn4T5m0rI/AAAAAAAAACU/cgHmoQs0jgw/s1600-h/milk-chocolate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eU3FbxKhE3Y/S0mn4T5m0rI/AAAAAAAAACU/cgHmoQs0jgw/s320/milk-chocolate.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>11% cocoa solids<br />
3% vegetable fat<br />
20% milk solids<br />
65% sugar<br />
1% lecithin and synthetic vanillin<br />
<br />
<b><i>Source:</i></b><i> McFadden, C. 2000. <i>Chocolate - A Celebration of the World's Most Additive Food.</i> London:Hermes House.</i><br />
<br />
<b>Only a teensy weensy problem</b> <br />
<br />
Toxicity in animals, such as cats, dogs, parrots, horses, rodents, etc. can be a problem because their body is unable to metabolize the theobromine contained in chocolate, correctly. This, in turn, can lead to heart attacks, vomiting, epileptic seizures, internal bleeding and eventually death. The good news is that white chocolate (but not milk chocolate) which does not contain theobromine, if given in small amounts, should pose no threat to animals.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><iframe src="http://rcm-uk.amazon.co.uk/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=wherechocolbe-21&o=2&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&md=0M5A6TN3AXP2JHJBWT02&asins=B00005LDBH" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>Natali Lekkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08341592484654866179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429605846405787715.post-2896752492643330912009-12-20T22:50:00.009+02:002009-12-22T00:22:01.997+02:00A cinematic chocolate recipe<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eU3FbxKhE3Y/Sy_y9eqEmEI/AAAAAAAAAB0/WFymGJbFGpw/s1600-h/rosemary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eU3FbxKhE3Y/Sy_y9eqEmEI/AAAAAAAAAB0/WFymGJbFGpw/s320/rosemary.jpg" /></a><br />
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<br />
Do you remember the Woodhouses and the Castavets from “Rosemary’s Baby”? In my last post, I recounted all "chocolate films", since the early age of cinema. Now, I want to share a chocolate recipe with you. A famous cinematic chocolate recipe from Roman Polanski’s masterpiece “Rosemary’s Baby”. <br />
<br />
<b>Scene:</b> Guy and Rosemary Woodhouse are enjoying a quiet meal at home with desserts provided by the friendly old couple next door, the Castavets. Do you remember the strange “chalky undertaste” in Rosemary’s “mouse” chocolate?<br />
<br />
The recipe actually comes from Fergus O’ Sullivan’s book <b>Pulp Kitchen</b>, a book about the writer’s two greatest passions in life, food and cinema. If you are a foodie and want to make your own cinematic recipe at home from one of the 65 films and food recipes, included in this book, then I cannot think of a better gift to give yourself. This one of course is a chocolate recipe. <br />
<br />
<b>Chalky Mint Chocolate Mousse</b><br />
<i>120 g best quality bitter <br />
chocolate (such as Valrhona)<br />
2 tablespoons crème de menthe<br />
2 tablespoons double cream<br />
4 eggs<br />
80 g icing sugar<br />
2 spearmint Rennies (for that chalky undertaste, optional)<br />
Pinch of salt<br />
Fresh mint leaves to garnish</i><br />
<br />
<b>Execution</b><br />
Break up the chocolate and put into a bowl. Rest this bowl over a pan of gently boiling water and melt. Stir in the crème de menthe and cream and leave to cool. Separate the eggs. Sieve the icing sugar into the yolks, beat this in firmly and then add to the chocolate. If using them, crush the Rennies in a mortar, then stir into the chocolate. Add the salt to the egg whites and whisk them until they are stiff. Fold the whites gently into the chocolate mixture, taking care not to deflate the mousse by stirring too hard.<br />
<br />
Turn the mixture into four china ramekins (or similar small straight-sided china bowls) and leave in the fridge for a at least four hours before serving, garnished with the mint.<br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm-uk.amazon.co.uk/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=4E0505&fc1=F5F1F1&lc1=2727D1&t=wherechocolbe-21&o=2&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&md=0M5A6TN3AXP2JHJBWT02&asins=0752226479" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><div class="blogger-post-footer"><iframe src="http://rcm-uk.amazon.co.uk/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=wherechocolbe-21&o=2&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&md=0M5A6TN3AXP2JHJBWT02&asins=B00005LDBH" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>Natali Lekkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08341592484654866179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429605846405787715.post-41964298434391972612009-12-13T18:07:00.016+02:002009-12-20T02:24:14.488+02:00A little bit of cinema<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eU3FbxKhE3Y/SyUR-bWiXGI/AAAAAAAAAAs/DDl-dqXPh7k/s1600-h/chocolat.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414753891174734946" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eU3FbxKhE3Y/SyUR-bWiXGI/AAAAAAAAAAs/DDl-dqXPh7k/s400/chocolat.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 246px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 370px;" /></a><br />
<br />
Of course, chocolate could not leave the masters of the 7th art indifferent. Here's a list I got from imdb of all the TV and film work that has ever been made worldwide, according to the site, on the subject of chocolate. Or just films that have the word chocolate in their title. <br />
<br />
Who doesn't know...<br />
<br />
-<b>Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory(1971)</b> with Gene Wilder; a musical film adaptation of Roald Dahl's book "Charlie & the Chocolate Factory", a childhood favourite.<br />
-<b>Like Water for Chocolate (1992)</b>; an adaption of Mexican writer Laura Esquivel's book "Come agua para chocolate" <br />
-<b>Chocolat(2000)</b> with Johnny Depp and Juliette Binoche, based on a novel by Joanne Harris<br />
-<b>Charlie and the Chocolate Factory(2005)</b> with Johnny Depp; a new adaptation of Roald Dahl's book.<br />
<br />
And that's not all. Here's a long list from the early years of cinema until 2010.<br />
<br />
<b>The early years - Silent movies</b><br />
<br />
(1912) Lem's Hot Chocolate (USA) <br />
(1912) The Chocolate Revolver (USA) <br />
(1912) The Fatal Chocolate (USA) <br />
(1913) La Petite Chocolatiere (France) <br />
(1914) Chocolate Dynamite (USA) <br />
(1914) The Chocolate Soldier (USA) <br />
(1918) The Chocolate of the Gang (USA) <br />
<br />
<b>The 20's - Silent movies</b><br />
<br />
(1923) O Castelo de Chocolate (Portugal)<br />
(1925) A Chocolate Cowboy (USA)<br />
(1927) La petite chocolatiere (France)<br />
<br />
<b>The 30's</b><br />
<br />
(1932) Chokoreito Garu aka Chocolate Girl (Japan) <br />
(1932) La petite chocolatiere (France) <br />
(1938) Chocolate to hetai "Chocolate & Soldier (Japan)<br />
<br />
<b>The 40's</b><br />
<br />
(1941) The Chocolate Soldier (USA)<br />
<br />
<b>The 50's</b><br />
<br />
(1950) La petite chocolatiere (France) - <i>These Frenchmen don't give up, do they?</i><br />
(1955) The Chocolate Soldier (TV) (USA)<br />
<br />
<b>The 60's</b><br />
<br />
(1967) A Metafisica do Chocolate (Portugal)<br />
(1967) The Chocolate Covered Diamond (TV) (USA)<br />
(1968) 5 de chocolate y 1 de fresa (Mexico)<br />
<br />
<b>The 70's</b><br />
<br />
(1973) Pane e cioccolata (Italy) <br />
(1977) Herowork "The Life and Times of the Chocolate Killer" (USA) <br />
(1978) Ciocolata cu alune "Hazelnut Chocolate" (Romania) <br />
(1979) Chokoi Boko- Avtomat za shokolad "Choko and Boko: Chocolate Machine" (Bulgaria)<br />
(1979) Cola, Candy, Chocolate (West Germany) <br />
(1979) Éclair au chocolat (Canada) <br />
<br />
<b>The 80's</b><br />
<br />
(1980) The Chocolate Chase (TV) (USA) <br />
(1983) A 20th Century Chocolate Cake (Canada) <br />
(1984) Operacion chocolate (Venezuela) <br />
(1986) Shen tan zhu gu li "Inspector Chocolate" (Hong Kong) <br />
(1987) Kid Chocolate (Cuba) <br />
(1988) The Chocolate war (USA)<br />
(1988) Mousse de chocolate (Argentina)<br />
<br />
<b>The 90's</b><br />
<br />
(1991) Max's Chocolate Chicken (USA)<br />
(1992) Amour et Chocolat (France/Belgium/USA) <br />
(1992) Butterscotch and Chocolate (USA) <br />
(1993) Chocolat amer "Bitter chocolate" (France) <br />
(1993) Zefir v shokolade "Zephyr in Chocolate" (Ukraine)<br />
(1994) Fresa y chocolate (Cuba/Mexico/Spain/USA) <br />
(1994) Bosque chocolate (Argentina) <br />
(1994) Chocolate City (USA) <br />
(1995) Chinese Chocolate (Canada) <br />
(1997) Chocolate Babies (USA) <br />
(1997) Sex & Chocolate (UK) <br />
(1998) Chocolate for Breakfast (USA) <br />
(1998) GWAR: Surprising Burst of Chocolate Fudge (USA)<br />
(1998) Pain au Chocolat "Plain or Chocolate" (France) <br />
(1999) Pain au chocolat - Chocolate Pain (Germany) <br />
(1999) Better than chocolate (Canada)<br />
<br />
<b>The 00's</b><br />
<br />
(2000) Chocolate con Mostarda (Brazil)<br />
(2000) Merci pour le chocolat (France/Switzerland)<br />
(2000) Heather Locklear Chocolate (Australia)<br />
(2001) Chocolate Sperm (France)<br />
(2001) Covered with Chocolate (Germany)<br />
(2001) Creme glacee, chocolat et autres consolations (Canada)<br />
(2001) Pure Imagination: The Story of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (USA)<br />
(2002) Mothers and Daughters "The Chocolate Fairy" (USA)<br />
(2002) Rocks and Chocolate (USA)<br />
(2003) Chocolate con Marilusa (TV series) (Argentina)<br />
(2003) Chocolate con pimenta (TV series) (Brazil)<br />
(2003) Menta y chocolate (TV series) (Spain)<br />
(2003) Sex, Toys and Chocolate (TV series) (Canada)<br />
(2004) Atun y chocolate (Spain)<br />
(2004) Chocolate Girls (USA)<br />
(2004) El chocolate del loro (Spain)<br />
(2004) From Chameleons to Chocolate (USA)<br />
(2004) Hot Chocolate (USA)<br />
(2004) The Chocolate Fetish (USA)<br />
(2005) Bigotes de chocolate (Argentina)<br />
(2005) Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (USA)<br />
(2005) Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: Designer Chocolate (USA)<br />
(2005) Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: Different Facts, Different Flavours (USA)<br />
(2005) Chocolate con churros (Spain)<br />
(2005) Helados de chocolate (Spain)<br />
(2005) Lo amargo del chocolate (Mexico)<br />
(2005) Ten most excellent things: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (TV) (USA)<br />
(2005) The making of 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' (TV) (USA)<br />
(2006) Chocolate Girl (Austria)<br />
(2006) Doce fugitiva "Coracao de Chocolate) (TV series) (Portugal)<br />
(2006) Qiao ke li zhong li "Chocolate Rap" (Taiwan)<br />
(2007) Beer, Chocolate or You (USA)<br />
(2007) Blood and Chocolate (USA/UK/Romania/Germany)<br />
(2007) Chocolate Cake (Australia)<br />
(2007) Chocolate Country (USA)<br />
(2007) Chocolate, Sunshine (Japan)<br />
(2007) Coklat stroberi "Chocolate Strawberry" (Indonesia)<br />
(2007) Dame Chocolate (USA)<br />
(2007) Gumi.Chocolate.Pine (Japan)<br />
(2007) The Chocolate Wars (TV) (USA)<br />
(2007) Tokyo Marble Chocolate (Japan)<br />
(2008) Aunt Fanny's Instructional Video "Aunt Fanny's Chocolate Factory" (USA)<br />
(2008) Chocolate Land (Australia)<br />
(2008) Chocolate News (TV series) (USA)<br />
(2008) Chocolate: Pathway to the Gods (USA)<br />
(2008) Dark Chocolate (USA)<br />
(2008) Death, Taxes and Chocolate (USA)<br />
(2008) The Chocolate, the Shit, the Vomit and the Blood or the Making of "Hank and Mike" (Canada)<br />
(2008) Un poco de chocolate (Spain)<br />
(2008) Willie's Perfect Chocolate Christmas (TV) (UK) <br />
(2008) Willie's Wonky Chocolate Factory (TV series) (UK)<br />
(2009) A Lot of Chocolate (USA)<br />
(2009) Chocolate City Burning (USA)<br />
(2009) Chocolate Death (USA)<br />
(2009) Chokoreto andaguraundo "Chocolate Underground" (Japan)<br />
(2009) Chokoreto derinja "Chocolate Derringer" (Japan)<br />
(2009) The Mayor Elaine Scruggs Chocolate Football Challenge (USA)<br />
(2009) Willie's Chocolate Revolution "Raising the Bar" (TV series) (UK)<br />
(2010) Hard Chocolate <i>(in development)</i><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=2429605846405787715&postID=4196429843439197261"><br />
</a><div class="blogger-post-footer"><iframe src="http://rcm-uk.amazon.co.uk/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=wherechocolbe-21&o=2&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&md=0M5A6TN3AXP2JHJBWT02&asins=B00005LDBH" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>Natali Lekkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08341592484654866179noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429605846405787715.post-39544996909404513972009-12-12T21:32:00.004+02:002009-12-12T23:07:29.608+02:00Types of chocolate<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eU3FbxKhE3Y/SyPv3cIQr0I/AAAAAAAAAAk/6lcTg2ZJzf8/s1600-h/whitechoco.htm"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eU3FbxKhE3Y/SyPv3cIQr0I/AAAAAAAAAAk/6lcTg2ZJzf8/s400/whitechoco.htm" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414434912752152386" /></a><br /><br />There are many types of chocolate; white chocolate, dark chocolate and everything in between. <br /><br /><b>White chocolate</b> is based on milk, sugar and cocoa butter or vegetable oils. It doesn’t contain any cocoa solids and there are those who think that white chocolate should not even belong to the chocolate family for this reason. White chocolate tends to be sweet but should not be mistaken for a sweet chocolate which can be dark in color too as there is usually no restriction in milk with the latter. As it can be deduced, the more milk a chocolate contains, the whiter it becomes. <br /><br /><b>Milk chocolate</b> contains milk powder or condensed milk. <br /><br /><b>Semisweet chocolate</b> is usually used for cooking. It is dark with low sugar content. <br /><br /><b>Bittersweet chocolate</b> contains more cocoa and less sugar, (typically a third). Vanilla and sometimes lecithin are also added. The rule goes that the higher the percentage of cocoa, the bitter the chocolate will be. Bittersweet and semisweet chocolate contain at least 35% of cocoa. <br /><br /><b>Dark chocolate</b> does not contain milk as an additive and for this reason it is also called plain chocolate or black chocolate.<br /><br /><b>Unsweetened chocolate</b> also known as bitter, baking or cooking chocolate comes from pure, ground, roasted cocoa beans that can be used for cakes and confections with the addition of sugar. <br /> <br /><b>Couverture</b> is used by professional pastry chefs and is rich in cocoa butter, sometimes 70% and more with a percentage of 30-40% of fat. <br /><br /><b>Cocoa powder</b> is another type of baking cocoa and <b>compound chocolate</b> is used in a lot of candy bars as a replacement for cocoa butter. It translates into poor taste and can cause health problems.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><iframe src="http://rcm-uk.amazon.co.uk/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=wherechocolbe-21&o=2&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&md=0M5A6TN3AXP2JHJBWT02&asins=B00005LDBH" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>Natali Lekkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08341592484654866179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429605846405787715.post-30007339928442501902009-12-12T00:16:00.004+02:002009-12-12T00:39:28.650+02:00A little bit of geography<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eU3FbxKhE3Y/SyLGWJsOheI/AAAAAAAAAAU/tH32zfkUitw/s1600-h/CocoaMap.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 223px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_eU3FbxKhE3Y/SyLGWJsOheI/AAAAAAAAAAU/tH32zfkUitw/s400/CocoaMap.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414107785913599458" /></a><br /><br />This is a map I found on the CocoaPlan website. I wanted to use it here to show where cocoa is produced in the world. Apparently, it is not just in Central America. This amazing trade is practiced in Western Africa and South East Asia too. Two African countries in particular are responsible for over half of the world's cocoa production, Cote d' Ivoire and Ghana. The total number of cocoa producing countries in the world are 33 and they are:<br /><br />1. Mexico<br />2. Costa Rica<br />3. Panama<br />4. Jamaica<br />5. Cuba<br />6. Haiti<br />7. Dominican Republic<br />8. Grenada<br />9. Trinidad & Tobago<br />10.Venezuela<br />11.Colombia<br />12.Ecuador<br />13.Peru<br />14.Brazil <br />15.Sierra Leone<br />16.Ivory Coast<br />17.Ghana<br />18.Toga<br />19.Nigeria<br />20.Cameroon<br />21.Equatorial Guinea<br />22.Gabon<br />23.Fernando Po<br />24.Sao Tome<br />25.Congo<br />26.Sri Lanka<br />27.Malaysia<br />28.Sabah<br />29.Indonesia<br />30.Philippines<br />31.Papua Nea Guinea<br />32.Fiji islands<br />33.West Samoa <br /><br />Hey! What happened to Europe? :-(<div class="blogger-post-footer"><iframe src="http://rcm-uk.amazon.co.uk/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=wherechocolbe-21&o=2&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&md=0M5A6TN3AXP2JHJBWT02&asins=B00005LDBH" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>Natali Lekkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08341592484654866179noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2429605846405787715.post-86504844847675320032009-12-11T23:59:00.005+02:002009-12-12T20:53:58.225+02:00A little bit of history...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eU3FbxKhE3Y/SyPmtiky7-I/AAAAAAAAAAc/G544UlU2ctA/s1600-h/CocoaBean3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_eU3FbxKhE3Y/SyPmtiky7-I/AAAAAAAAAAc/G544UlU2ctA/s400/CocoaBean3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5414424847079108578" /></a><br /><br /><br />What is it about chocolate that we love so much? They say that 9 out of 10 people love chocolate. The other one is probably lying… <br /><br />Chocolate came to Europe through Spain. Until the 16th century, no one in Europe had heard of the magical cocoa beans that were once used as currency among the Aztecs. Cacao, however, has been cultivated for at least 3000 years in Mexico and Central America while in Europe, we started relishing this god-sent gift five centuries ago! How unfair! <br /><br />The word itself is said to derive from the Nahualt “xocolatl”. Many translations have been attributed to this word. Some say it comes from the word “xococ” for bitter and “atl” for water. Apparently, the “ xocolatl” back then tasted completely different from what we know and love today. It was a bitter, spicy concoction that was served as a ceremonial drink with a touch of vanilla and chilli pepper.<br /> <br />After the Spanish conquest of the Aztecs, chocolate was imported for the first time to Europe. It became a very popular drink among Spanish royalty and was generally quite expensive to obtain. <br /><br />It was the Industrial revolution in the 19th century however that made chocolate easily available to everyone. With the advent of machinery and mass production techniques, people started consuming chocolate worldwide. <br /><br />The experience had just begun! Enjoy chocolate!<div class="blogger-post-footer"><iframe src="http://rcm-uk.amazon.co.uk/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=wherechocolbe-21&o=2&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&md=0M5A6TN3AXP2JHJBWT02&asins=B00005LDBH" style="width:120px;height:240px;" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe></div>Natali Lekkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08341592484654866179noreply@blogger.com0