Your Period Doesn't Make You Crave Chocolate

Half of American women experience chocolate cravings. Of those of who do, about half crave it right around "that" time of the month.

And while it's nice to have your menstrual cycle to blame when you find yourself noshing on half a package of chocolate chip cookies, researchers found that menstrual hormones aren't the culprit. They compared the cravings of pre- and post-menopausal women and didn't find any change. They did, however, find a higher prevalence of cravings among women who suffer from PMS.

Why? A chocolate expert says this has a lot to do with the psychology behind comfort foods. Chocolate is sociologically considered a comfort food, and people crave comfort foods when they feel terrible.

Do You Know that Chocolate Can Boost Your Workout?

Skip the expensive sports drinks and protein shakes. Research shows chocolate milk is just as effective a recovery aid.

A study published in the journal Applied Physiology, Nutrition, and Metabolism compared the effects of a recovery drink and chocolate milk on endurance athletes' ability to recover after a series of bike sprints followed by an endurance ride the next day.

They found that chocolate milk was just as effective at relieving muscle soreness after the sprints, and preparing the athletes to perform in the endurance test the next day. Better yet, everyone preferred the taste of chocolate milk.

Chocolate Natural Fixes for Low Energy

Chocolate contains Flavonoids Flavowhats? Flavonoids are a type of phytochemical, or plant chemical, that are found naturally in chocolate. Due to their unique chemical structures, flavonoids can exert antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cell-protective effects, says Giana Angelo, Ph.D., a research associate who specializes in micronutrient research at the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University. Consuming foods rich in flavonoids has also been associated with a reduced risk of heart disease.

To reap the benefits, stick to dark chocolate. The average commercial dark chocolate contains about 60 percent cocao and has been found to contain 536 milligrams of flavonoids per 1.4-ounce serving. Research has shown that as few as 80 milligrams of flavonoids a day can lower blood pressure.

Chocolate: It's Not All Bad for Your Teeth

How could a food that's long been touted as a cavity-causer actually have teeth-protecting properties? It turns out that theobromine, an organic molecule that occurs naturally in cocoa, can help strengthen tooth enamel, according to research from Tulane University.

In fact, it takes 142 times less cocao extract to have about twice the protective benefits of fluoride, according to the American Dental Association. Unfortunately, theobromine isn't too beneficial in chocolate bars, where the sugar and milk counteract the dental benefits. Enter Theodent, a fluoride-free mint toothpaste that packs a punch of theobromine ($10, theodent.com).

Chocolate Orange Sauce

1/3 c Unsweetened cocoa powder
2 tb Orange liqueur
1/3 c Sugar
1/4 c Water
1/4 c Light corn syrup
1 ts Vanilla extract

Combine sugar and cocoa in a saucepan; stir well. Add water, stirring until smooth. Add liqueur and corn syrup; stir well. Place over medium heat; bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Remove from heat; stir in vanilla. Pour into a bowl; cover and chill.

Frothy Hot Chocolate

4 1/2 cups low-fat milk
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup coffee liqueur(optional)
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Whisk together 1/2 cup milk, sugar, coffee liqueur (if using), cocoa, vanilla and cinnamon in a small bowl until a smooth paste forms.

Heat the remaining 4 cups milk in a medium saucepan until steaming. Remove from heat and whisk vigorously.

Whisk the cocoa mixture into the milk and pour into mugs.

Easy Chocolate Nut Bark

2 cups semisweet, bittersweet or milk chocolate chips, melted
2 cups assorted nuts, such as hazelnuts, almonds and cashews, and for garnishing too

Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil. Combine melted chocolate and nuts in a medium bowl.

Scrape the mixture onto the foil and spread it into an approximate 12-by-9-inch rectangle.

Sprinkle with additional finely chopped nuts. Refrigerate until set, about 20 minutes.

Transfer the bark and foil to a cutting board.
Use a sharp knife to cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces.

Whole Wheat and Oat Chocolate Chip Cookies

9 oz / 255 rolled oats (not instant)
4.5 oz / 125 g whole wheat flour
1 1/2 oz / 45 g wheat bran (or germ)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon fine grain sea salt

8 oz / 225 g unsalted butter
6.5 oz / 185 g natural cane sugar or light brown sugar
6 oz / 170 g firmly packed dark brown sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
285 g semi-sweet chocolate bar, chopped and shaved into chunks and splinters

Preheat the oven to 350F / 180 C, with racks placed in the middle. Line two baking sheets with unbleached parchment paper and set aside.

In a medium bowl combine the oats, flour, wheat bran, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.

Either by hand, or using an electric mixer, cream the butter until light and fluffy. Beat in sugar for 3+ minutes, scraping down sides a few times along the way. Incorporate the eggs one at a time, then the vanilla - scraping the sides of the bowl another time or two. Add the dry mixture, and stir until everything barely comes together. Then stir in the chocolate, mixing until it is evenly distributed throughout the dough.

Use a small ice-cream scoop, spoon, or 1/4 cup measuring cup, to make uniform dough balls. I used a metal 1/4-cup measuring cup, filling it about 3/4 full. Arrange each cookie at least 3-inches apart on the prepared baking sheet. They'll flatten out quite a bit. For extra crisp cookies, bake until deeply, deeply golden on the bottom, about 15+ minutes. Rotate the pans once about 2/3 the way through baking - back to front, top to bottom. Like your cookies a little chewier? Bake for less time. Cool on a rack.

Chocolate-Dipped Apricots

24 whole dried apricots
2 ounces (1/2 cup) toasted almonds, finely chopped
6 ounces dark chocolate

Prepare a baking sheet by lining it with aluminum foil. Place the chopped almonds in a small bowl.

Temper or melt the chocolate in a medium bowl.

Holding an apricot by the tip, dip most of the fruit into the melted chocolate, swirling to ensure even coverage. Remove it from the chocolate and drag it along the lip of the bowl, removing excess chocolate.

Pat both sides of the chocolate-dipped apricot on the chopped almonds, covering both sides with nuts.

Place the candy on the prepared baking sheet, and repeat for the remaining apricots.

Place in the refrigerator to set the chocolate for approximately 10 minutes. If the chocolate has been tempered, the candy can be served at room temperature, but if it has not, it should be kept refrigerated until served.

Super Easy Chocolate-Dipped Mango

6 ounces dried mango
9 ounces bittersweet chocolate (approx 1.5 cups chopped)
1-2 tsp cayenne pepper, to taste

Prepare a baking sheet by lining it with aluminum foil or waxed paper. If your dried mango is in large chunks, slice them into thinner "fingers" that will be easier to handle and eat.

Place the chopped chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave until melted, stirring after every 30 seconds to prevent overheating.

Once melted, stir until the chocolate is smooth. Allow it to cool for a few minutes and thicken up slightly.

Hold a piece of dried mango by one end, and dip most of the mango spear into the melted chocolate, leaving only a small portion undipped. Remove the mango from the chocolate, and scrape the bottom against the lip of the bowl to remove the excess chocolate. Place the dipped mango slice on the prepared baking sheet.

Repeat the dipping with the remaining mango slices and melted chocolate. While the chocolate is still wet, sprinkle the tops very lightly with a dusting of cayenne pepper.

Place the baking tray in the refrigerator to set the chocolate, for about 20 minutes. Once set, the chocolate-dipped mango can be served immediately or stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.

How to Make Perfect Brownies

For all their rich, fudgy goodness, brownies are surprisingly easy to make. Follow these simple steps to get them right every time.

Step 1: Choose a brownie recipe

Brownies are usually either fudgy or cakelike. In many brownie recipes, the proportion of flour to sugar, butter, and eggs is significantly less than what is typical for drop cookies, cakes, and several other baked goods. The balance of flour to the other ingredients is what makes brownies dense, fudgy, and rich. If you prefer brownies with a cakelike texture, look for recipes that contain more flour. Some very cakelike brownies contain milk or buttermilk.

Step 2: Chop chocolate

Using a chef's knife, coarsely chop chocolate bars or squares on a cutting board. Chopped chocolate melts smoothly and evenly, and it won't scorch.
Step 3: Melt chocolate and butter
Melting chocolate and butter for brownies
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Place the chopped chocolate in a saucepan.
Cut up the butter and add it to the saucepan with the chocolate.
Heat and stir over low heat until all of the chocolate and butter is melted and the mixture is smooth.
Remove the saucepan from the heat and let the chocolate mixture cool.

Step 4: Stir in sugar

Add the sugar to the melted chocolate and butter. Stir with a wooden spoon until the sugar is completely mixed into the chocolate and butter.
Step 5: Add eggs

Beating eggs into chocolate mixture

Add the eggs one at a time. Stir vigorously with a wooden spoon after each addition until the egg is completely incorporated into the chocolate mixture.
Beat in the vanilla with the wooden spoon.

Step 6: Add the flour

In a separate bowl, stir together the flour and baking soda.
Add the flour mixture all at once to the chocolate mixture.

Step 7: Mix in the flour

Gently stir the chocolate until the flour is moistened.
Use a heavy-duty rubber spatula to scrape the sides and bottom of the saucepan.
If you like, stir in chocolate pieces or chopped nuts.

Step 8: Bake, cool, and frost the brownies

Grease your baking pan or, if desired, line it with foil for easy removal.
Bake brownies as directed in the recipe. Most brownies bake at 350°F for 25 to 35 minutes.
Cool the brownies completely in the pan on a wire rack.

If you wish to frost the brownies, wait at least an hour after baking to be sure the brownies have completely cooled.

Prepare the frosting.
Use an offset metal spatula to frost the brownies while they are still in the pan. Cut them into bars and enjoy!

Vanilla Chocolate Chip Pudding

1/3 cup sugar
2 tbsp corn starch
1 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
2 cups non-fat milk
1 large egg, beaten
2 tbsp chocolate chips
1 tsp vanilla extract

Combine cornstarch, sugar and cocoa powder in a medium-sized saucepan. Gradually whisk in the milk until well-blended.

Cook the pudding over medium-high heat, stirring constantly, until it starts to become thick and small bubbles begin to break the surface, for about 4 minutes.

Have the egg beaten in a medium-sized bowl. Gradually add the pudding mixture into the egg, and whisk until well-blended.

Return pudding to the saucepan, over medium-high heat, and stir in the chocolate chips until they are melted and the pudding is smooth.

Remove the pudding from the heat, and stir in the vanilla extract.

Divide pudding among 4 small pudding bowls, cover with plastic wrap. Refrigerate.

A little chocolate humor to brighten your day

I could give up chocolate but I'm not a quitter.

Put the chocolate in the bag and nobody gets hurt.

A day without chocolate is a day without sunshine.

Life without chocolate is like a beach without water.

I have this theory that chocolate slows down the aging process.... It may not be true, but do I dare take the chance?

I am a serious chocoholic. For the serious chocoholic, chocolate is better than sex.
If you believe that, you REALLY need to meet that special someone who can change your mind.
If you HAVE met that special someone and still believe that, I REALLY NEED to know where you get your chocolate!!!

Chocolate is the best when it melts so creamy and soft in your mouth and it slides down your throat.

Don't wreck a sublime chocolate experience by feeling guilty.
Chocolate isn't like premarital sex. It will not make you pregnant. And it always feels good.

How to Select the Best Dark Chocolate

Does that mean you need to know the difference between Godiva and Hershey's? Nope. Choosing the best chocolate means knowing what's in it. If you pay attention to the ingredients, you will be able to select the best chocolate almost every time.

Dark chocolate should have:

1) Cocoa liquor. Sometimes called cocoa mass, cocoa solids, cocoa, or chocolate. (It is not actually a liquor and does not contain any alcohol.)
2) Sugar. Cane juice, molasses, and other natural sweeteners are acceptable substitutes.
3) Cocoa butter.
4) Vanilla. (optional) Vanillin is a fake vanilla made from pine sap. Avoid it!
5) Soy lecithin. (optional) It's used to make the chocolate bind together better. It is sold as a health food supplement, though some argue that it is not healthy.
6) Any add-ins, such as nuts, fruits, or flavorings. Make sure none are artificial or hydrogenated.

How to Put Movies into Chocolate?

There is no doubt that Chocolate is such a popular item, you can find it everywhere and many major movies are about Chocolate or at least have some Chocolate touch. Some of the best films about Chocolate are:

Chocolat (2000)

This movie, starring Juliette Binoche and Johnny Depp, tells the story of a woman who cannot settle down and travels the world with her six-year-old daughter. The woman, called Vianne Rocher, opens a chocolate shop every time she moves into a new city and the film starts when she arrives in a small conservative town in the South of France. This film is based on the homonyms book, Chocolat, written by Joanne Harris.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)

Starring Johnny Depp, this film is a remake of an old movie, called Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, made in 1971. Both books are based on the novel for children, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, written by British author Roald Dahl.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory tells the story of a child from a poor family, who wins one of the golden tickets to visit the mythical Chocolate factory belonging to Willy Wonka.

Consuming passions (1988)

This film, titled ‘Cioccolato Bollente’ in Italian, was made in the UK and is a grotesque comedy about a young executive who tries to modernise a chocolate factory.

Like Water for Chocolate (1993)

This movie is based on a novel by the Mexican author Laura Esquivel. It tells the story of a strong passion between the youngest of three daughters of a widow in a remote ranch and Pedro. Pedro falls in love with the widow’s youngest daughter, Tita. However, Tita’s father wants to keep to the family tradition that the youngest daughter cannot marry until the oldest has. So, Pedro marries Tita’s oldest sister to remain close to Tita. Pedro and Tita keep having a highly sensual relationship, through the food that Tita prepares for Pedro. The expression ‘like water for chocolate’ (como agua para chocolate in Spanish) in Spanish speaking countries has a double meaning and it is a metaphor for describing a state of passion or sexual arousal.

Benefit of Dark chocolate

Dark chocolate contains a high concentration of stearic acid (a saturated fatty acid with a neutral effect on cholesterol), essential minerals including magnesium, copper, potassium, manganese, and most significant, flavonoids. The latter are phytochemical plant pigments that act as natural antioxidants, neutralizing free radicals that can damage body tissue and cells.

Dark chocolate actually contains more flavonoids per gram than any other food tested so far, including green tea, red wine, and blueberries. The good news doesn't stop there. The high percentage of cocoa in dark chocolate also gives it a low glycemic index, a ranking of carbohydrates according to their effect on our blood glucose levels. This means it produces only small fluctuations in blood glucose and insulin levels.

Melting Chocolate in the Microwave

The microwave is a great tool for melting chocolate. If used properly, it can melt chocolate more quickly than a double boiler with minimal effort and mess. The most critical part of melting chocolate in the microwave is choosing an appropriate container. Ideally, you want to melt your chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl that remains cool or only slightly warm after several minutes of near-continuous microwaving.

If the bowl is too hot for you to handle after it has been microwaved, it is too hot for your chocolate. If you have overheated your chocolate, immediately pour it into a cool bowl add chunks of unmelted chocolate, and stir continuously.

It is preferable to melt your chocolate on a low (50%) power setting, to avoid scorching or burning it. If your microwave does not have this option, heat the chocolate in shorter intervals and stir between each bout of heat. Additionally, if your microwave does not have a turntable that rotates the bowl of chocolate, manually turn the bowl each time you stop and stir the chocolate.

It is very difficult to determine exact microwaving times, as it can vary depending on microwave wattage, quantity of chocolate, and even the cocoa butter content of the chocolate.

However, as a rough guide, estimate about 1 minute for 1 ounce of chocolate, 3 minutes for 8 ounces of chocolate, 3.5 minutes for 1 pound of chocolate, and 4 minutes for 2 pounds. Run the microwave in 30 second-1 minute increments, stirring in between and rotating the bowl if necessary.

Finish heating when most, but not all, of the chocolate is melted. Stir the chocolate continuously until it is smooth, shiny, and completely melted.

How Can I Save Overheated Chocolate?

First, you will want to cool the chocolate, as it is harder to save overheated chocolate that has been at a high temperature for a long time.

To cool the chocolate, remove the bowl from the heat source, transfer the chocolate to a dry, cool bowl, and stir in a handful of solid chocolate chunks. Stir constantly and allow the solid chocolate to bring down the temperature of the melted chocolate.

If the chocolate remains thick or lumpy, try straining it through a sieve first. If this doesn’t solve the problem, add a spoonful of vegetable oil or melted vegetable shortening and stir thoroughly.

You can also try adding some freshly melted chocolate with a few drops of soya liquid lecithin (an emulsifier, available at health food stores), or using a handheld immersion blender to smooth the chocolate. If none of these tricks helps your chocolate, save it for use in baking recipes and begin again with a fresh batch of chocolate.

What is Overheated Chocolate?

Chocolate is very sensitive to high temperatures. Dark chocolate should never be heated above 120 degrees, while milk and white chocolates should never be heated about 110 degrees. It is quite easy to exceed these temperatures if using a double boiler with boiling water, or if microwaving on full power.

Overheated chocolate will lose the silky shine of melted chocolate and become thick and muddy. The best way to melt chocolate is to keep the water in a double boiler hot (but not boiling), and to employ a chocolate or instant-read thermometer while melting the chocolate.

Simple Dark Chocolate Candy Recipe

Dark Chocolate Coconut Clusters

* 1 3/4 cup shredded or flaked coconut (sweetened)
* 7 ounces finely chopped dark chocolate

1. Set your oven to 325 degrees. Spread coconut on a baking sheet and toast for about 3-5 minutes until golden. Stir every minute. Remove from oven and allow to cool to room temperature.

2. Melt and temper the chocolate. Add the toasted coconut to the tempered chocolate, and stir to coat it completely.

Drop by spoonfuls onto waxed paper lined baking sheet. Allow to set at room temperature or chill in refrigerator for 10-15 minutes.

3. Store between layers of waxed paper in an airtight container in the refrigerator. (Clusters can be frozen for about 2 months).

You can also substitute the coconut with nuts, raisins, or a combination of the three.