Tag Archives: chocolate

Barbara’s Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

Barbara Fowles, a dear woman in our church, passed away recently, leaving all of us who knew her in saddened shock. While flipping through my recipe collection, I came upon her instructions for pumpkin chocolate chip cookies. In loving memory, I’d like to share this recipe with you today. 3 c. sugar 1 c. shortening (I use margarine when I make them – Tristi’s note) 3 eggs 1 large can pumpkin 6 c. flour ¾ t. nutmeg 3 t. cinnamon 1 t. salt 12 t. baking powder 1 ½ t. vanilla 1 t. lemon juice 1 ½ bags chocolate chips … Continue reading →

Saying Goodbye to Monet

When I was in the fifth grade, I came running home after stepping off the bus as I usually did, ready to throw my stuff by the front door upon entering the house. On this day my brothers and I happened upon a little white fluffy fur ball running laps around our coffee table. It was love at first sight. Our new addition to the family, a toy poodle puppy named Monet. Monet had the funniest little under-bite. She was so lively and everyone’s best friend. My parents found her at the local animal shelter. She appeared to be pure … Continue reading →

What’s In The Chocolate?

What’s in the chocolate? That’s what I asked after hearing about two incidents involving the sinfully sweet treat. The first… some call a chocolate miracle. No, it’s not an invention that turns broccoli into fudge. Rather, workers at a California chocolate company say they discovered a 2-inch column of chocolate drippings that they believe bears a striking resemblance to the Virgin Mary. (To see a picture click here.) For the past few days workers at Bodega gourmet chocolates have spent their break time hovering over the tiny figure; honoring it as they would any other statute of Jesus’ mother. Some … Continue reading →

Candy-Coated Chocolate War

There’s a candy-coated war of words raging between two major chocolate makers and you stand to benefit… especially if you buy candy in bulk (I’m talking BIG purchases… measured in pounds, not ounces.) and are looking for a new way to advertise a major event. In one corner: the candy that “melts in your mouth, not in your hand.” Mars Inc., the maker of M&Ms, is unveiling a new plan called “My Branding,” which will allow businesses to purchase vast amounts of M&M’s with their corporate logos or other advertisements, such as slogans, seared on to the colorful chocolate treat. … Continue reading →

Healthy Blood Vessels: Eat More Chocolate!

Ladies, this is the best excuse you will get for your chocolate fix: new studies show it can actually help fix aging blood vessels! Photography by Tony Roberts Older individuals benefit the most from it, so next mother’s day give mom that chocolate box. The inner lining of the vessels is called the endothelium. This is the part of the blood vessel that deteriorates with age. Consuming flavonol rich cocoa can actually improve the function of blood vessels in the elderly, who are otherwise healthy. This also includes vessels in the heart! Flavonols are actually a type of antioxidant, and … Continue reading →

Storing Comfort Foods

When you plan your food storage I highly recommend storing comfort food. Comfort food has a wide variety of definitions. I think mostly of the food that people eat in the winter such as meat and potatoes, and heavy chowders and stews. In an emergency or high stress situation comfort foods can be expanded to foods that your family eats to help them feel better. One type of comfort food is food, which you eat when you are sick. I think that chicken noodle soup is a common favorite. I grew up drinking Gatorade when I was sick and so … Continue reading →

Father’s Day Chocolate Fruit

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If your dad likes chocolate dipped strawberries or other fruit, you can easily make them yourself. These delicious delicacies go for big bucks if you buy them at the store, but they are pretty simple to make if you know a few tricks. Good fruit to use: Strawberries Apple slices Orange slices Pineapple slices First, wash and thoroughly dry the fruit you want to dip. If there is any water on the fruit, the chocolate won’t stick and it’ll slide off, making a mess. I wash the fruit, then lay it out on a lint-free towel and carefully roll it … Continue reading →

Black-Bottom Peanut Butter Pie

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I have not tried this one yet, but it sounds incredible! If you try it, please let us know how it is! For this recipe, you will need one can of Pillsbury refrigerated pie crust, Hershey’s Special Dark or semi-sweet chocolate chips, whipping cream, butter, milk, one container of Fat Free French Vanilla yogurt, 1 small box of white chocolate instant pudding mix, peanut butter chips, and a box of Nature Valley peanut butter crunchy granola bars. Preheat your oven to 450 degrees. In a 9-inch glass pie plate, lay out your piecrust and cook it as directed on the … Continue reading →

Cooking With Your Kids

It used to be that the art of cooking was patiently handed down from mother to daughter, but with the prevalence of boxed dinners, take-out, and pizza places the art of cooking is quickly disappearing. As a child and teenager I remember helping my mother roll out piecrust, make dough for rolls, mash potatoes, stir gravy, and of course make cookies. Many girls get married not knowing how to cook the basics, let alone something fancy like apple pie. In order to prevent this, mothers need to spend time with their children in the kitchen. The best way to teach … Continue reading →

Chocolate may make your depression worse!

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If ever there was bad news, surely this is it! Chocolate, that famous mainstay of the sad and depressed, has recently come under suspicion for making depression worse. Chocoholics beware! If this latest research is true we’ll be sobbing all the way to the chocolate counter. Recent studies have indicated that, while chocolate still maintains its known “feel-good” effect on people who are simply having a bad day, for those who are severely stressed or clinically depressed, the effect may be to make the depression and stress worse. These disconcerting results go against all that we have believed about chocolate. … Continue reading →