Tag Archives: chocolate

Valentine’s Day: Show Your Love with Dark Chocolate

I have been saying it for years. I knew chocolate had to be good for people. I didn’t only say it because chocolate happens to be my favorite treat of all time, although that may have played some small role, but I actually believed that chocolate made me feel better. I have been teased for this theory, but now I have validation. I’m not talking about the short-lived “high” many people get from the sugar and caffeine either. I always believed that eating small amounts of chocolate on a regular basis helped me feel better. My favorite is dark chocolate, … Continue reading →

10 Ways to Go From Plain Brownies to Br-WOW-nies

I am not sure it is actually legal to put “boring’ in the same sentence with anything having to do with chocolate. I’m sure there’s a law somewhere. But if you are tired of the same old (dare I say it?) boring brownie recipe. . .here is a list of ways to put the pizazz into a regular brownie recipe or into a mix! 1. Chips Not potato chips but consider adding chocolate chips, white chocolate chips or butter scotch chips to the batter before baking. 2. Frosting Aside from giving your kids a massive sugar rush, frosting on top … Continue reading →

Top 5 “Sweet” Travel Destinations For Families

Just in time for Valentine’s Day here are my picks for some “sweet” travel destinations for families with children of all ages. Each of the following destinations has one thing in common–the chance to sample delectable treats (and in most cases, they’re free). Our family has had a blast at each attraction. Here’s hoping your family will have as much fun spending “Love Day” at one of these yummy destinations. Happy Valentine’s Day! 1. Hershey’s Chocolate World, Hershey, Pennsylvania Gather the family and hop aboard the Great American Chocolate Tour Ride at Hershey’s Chocolate World. It re-opened less than a … Continue reading →

All About Chocolate

Valentine’s Day is not so very far away and in our house, Valentine’s Day is an excuse to eat lots and lots of chocolate! How much do you know about this tasty treat? Read on, and see how much you already knew about chocolate! Origins and History The Mayans were the first recorded people to use chocolate. They mixed it together with chilies and spices to make a drink. The first ‘hot chocolate’ was used as an offering to the gods, as well as in royal ceremonies. It was very bitter and nothing at all like the hot chocolate we’re … Continue reading →

Amazing Chocolate Bites

I saw this recipe today and I have to share it with you. Yes, it takes a little preparation time, but trust me, from the looks of the recipe and the picture I saw, it’s well worth the time. If you’re looking for THE recipe—the one that solidifies you as a bonafied baking goddess, I think this may it… For this recipe you’ll need: 1 tablespoon softened butter Cocoa powder for dusting pan 8 tablespoons (1 stick) butter 8 ounces special dark or semisweet chocolate, chopped 5 (large) egg yolks 3/4 cup sugar 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract 5 (large) … Continue reading →

Fondue Kits

When is the last time you and your family had fondue for dinner? I know fondue was a big thing of the past, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t still enjoy fondue today. Fondue can make a very relaxing meal. Your family can sit around the dining table, cooking their own meats and veggies, then later dip luscious fruits into melted chocolate. Doesn’t that just make you want to get out your grocery shopping list and start writing down ingredients for making fondue? Well, don’t! You can buy already-assembled fondue kits. At least you can at Whole Foods Market. … Continue reading →

What’s all the fuss about dark chocolate?

Well, I’m totally bummed. This afternoon I tucked a small nugget of dark chocolate in my pocket. I like dark chocolate much better when it’s warm and soft, and I’d planned it as a treat after I finished my lunch. Lunch was finished and I got caught up in something. Two hours later I stood up and though “What’s in my pocket?” I reached in and mashed the chocolate all over my hand and the inside of my pocket. Dang it! That was perfectly good chocolate gone to waste! In honor of my lost chocolate I thought it was a … Continue reading →

My Chocolate Raspberry Cake

This is a mellow chocolate cake your whole family will love. You can make it fancy by cooking it in round cake pans and decorating it, or keep it simple by baking it in a 13×9 inch rectangular pan. Put some icing on the top and you’re good to go. This cake is delicious room temperature or cold (I like my cake frosted and straight from the fridge). Any way you like it, cake is comfort food at its finest—and hey, this one’s homemade! Oh, and if you’re watching your waistline, consider ditching the frosting all together–sprinkle some powdered sugar … Continue reading →

Staying on Track While Working From Home

In yesterday’s blog, I wrote how difficult it was for me to focus when I was at home all day long. When I first decided to stay home and study full-time so I could graduate and get a job as a medical transcriptionist (MT) I thought I was studying incredibly long hours. It was only after a couple of months of making very little progress in my studies that I realized that I was wiling away most of my day in forums or e-mailing people or cleaning the house or whatever else sidetracked me that day. I did several things … Continue reading →

Making Healthy Choices At Parties

New Year’s Eve! Time to celebrate! And that usually means time to eat, too. Believe it or not, there are party foods out there that have great health benefits. Applesauce and apples are a great source of fiber. Eat the skin if you can — it’s a great source of quercetin, which can help prevent heart disease. Cheese is full of calcium and protein. Get the most health benefit from hard cheeses, rather than soft ones. Cranberry sauce, just like cranberry juice, can be great for fighting bacteria that cause urinary tract infections. Dark chocolate is all the rage these … Continue reading →