Grab Your Chocolate!

Great news as of February 17, 2010 if you are reading it here ... according to the American Academy of Neurology, recommends eating a bar a chocolate each week to help reduce chances of strokes!  The study also suggests that eating chocolate may lower the risk of death after a stroke.  Now hurry and eat your chocolate before a new study counters that claim! 

*Here are the findings:

• One study they looked at found that 44,489 people who ate one serving of chocolate per week were 22% less likely to have a stroke than people who ate no chocolate.
• Another study found that 1,169 people who ate 50 grams of chocolate once a week were 46% less likely to die following a stroke than people who didn’t eat chocolate.

Dark chocolate (usually described as containing at least 70 percent cocoa solids) contains plant pigments called flavonoids, which have been linked to health benefits. These include reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease (such as heart attacks and strokes) or cancer. Chocolate is not the only source of flavonoids. Most plants contain some flavonoids, and good sources are tea, citrus fruit, and red wine.

The research appears in this week’s Neurology and will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology’s 62nd annual meeting in Toronto in April.

I've been using that excuse to eat a piece of dark chocolate every day.  Enjoy!

*Taken from the Health Freedom Alliance Organization.  To read the full article, go here:  http://blogs.healthfreedomalliance.org/blog/2010/02/16/chocolate-reduces-risk-of-stroke/

Ghirardelli Milk Chocolate with Peanut Butter Review

Over 4,000 years ago, the Mayas in Central and South America used chocolate.  It was later introduced to Europe in the 1500's and was reinvented into a creamy, sweet delicacy.  It was in 1852, Domingo Ghirardelli opened his first chocolate factory and the rest is history.  Ghirardelli Chocolate ... need I say more? 

They make some of the best chocolate around and being a self-proclaimed chocoholic, you can trust me on that one if you have never had the delight.  My husband is not a chocolate lover, I have no idea how that is even possible, but even he loves Ghirardelli Chocolate.  I was more than happy to participate in the new campaign from Shespeaks.com when they offered the delicious chance to try out Ghirardelli Milk Chocolate with Peanut Butter.

Shespeaks provided a nice little gift pack of their ever classy and elegantly wrapped chocolates along with six $1.50 off coupons that I'm wanting to share with anyone who wants them (until I run out).  Interested?  Just send me an e-mail at staying_younger@yahoo.com.  I'm not a huge peanut butter chocolate fan and was going to give this to my daughter who is an avid chocolate/peanut butter lover but I succumbed to the late night cravings and noisely unwrapped one.  I was trying to be quiet but I couldn't.  I was pleasantly surprised by the typical indulgance of the creamy milk chocolate but not only was there peanut butter but a delightful surprise crunchy roasted peanuts perfected each bite.  To me, the crunchy peanut pieces was the icing on the cake that made me craving for more.  I did stop at one as I am trying to get in shape but I do not regret it. 

A nice thing about Ghirardelli Chocolate us the pieces are individually wrapped which makes it a nice snack size without overindulging. Ghirardelli lives up to the usual reputation we have grown accustomed to which is creating this incredibly tasting amazing product.  If you like or love peanut butter, you will love this!

Click HERE to shop online as it's not too late to order for Christmas!  Don't forget to sign up for the Chocomail to receive the latest on news and events, promotions, recipes and entertaining essentials.

Here is a great recipe made with Ghirardelli Chocolate compliments of their site:

Chocolate and Peanut Butter Cheesecake Bars

• 2 ounce(s) Milk Chocolate Baking Bar
• 1/2 cup(s) Sweet Ground Chocolate and Cocoa
• 2 cup(s) crushed graham crackers for crust
• 1/2 cup(s) melted butter for crust
• 2 tablespoon(s) granulated white sugar for crust
• 16 ounce(s) cream cheese, at room temperature, for cheesecake layer
• 1 cup(s) granulated white sugar for cheesecake layer
• 1/2 cup(s) creamy peanut butter for cheesecake layer
• 3 tablespoon(s) all-purpose flour for cheesecake layer
• 4 large eggs for cheesecake layer
• 1/2 cup(s) whole milk for cheesecake layer
• 1 teaspoon(s) pure vanilla extract for cheesecake layer
• 1/2 teaspoon(s) solid vegetable shortening for cheesecake layer

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350ºF. To make the crust, combine the crushed graham crackers, ground chocolate, butter, and sugar in a large bowl until well blended. Press the mixture onto the bottom of an ungreased 9 by 13-inch baking pan. Bake for 8 minutes, and then transfer to a wire rack and let cool.


While the crust cools, make the cheesecake layer. In a large bowl, beat the cream cheese, sugar, peanut butter, and flour with an electric mixer at low speed until well blended. Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition. Mix in the milk and vanilla. Pour the filling into the crust. Bake for 40 minutes, or until just set. Place the pan on a wire rack and let cool completely. Melt the milk chocolate and vegetable shortening in the top of a double boiler, or in a heatproof bowl, over barely simmering water, stirring occasionally until smooth. Spread the melted chocolate evenly over the cooled bars. Chill for approximately 10 minutes, just until the chocolate layer is partially set. Score the chocolate layer with a sharp knife, forming 2-inch squares (approximately), and return the pan to the refrigerator. Chill for 30 minutes, or until firm. Cut through the bars and serve. Store tightly covered in the refrigerator.



Disclaimer:  I received a sample pack of Ghirardelli Milk Chocolate with Peanut Butter from Shespeaks.  The review is based solely on my opinions and I was not financially compensated or compensated in any other way other than the free sample pack and six $1.50 coupons.

HauteLook Great Sale on Toys, Chocolate & More But You Have to Hurry!

HauteLook has great sales going on but only for a limited time with a flat $4.95 shipping rate.  Here are some of the brands on sale.  I just indulged on the chocolate!

Chocolate: A Love Story: 65 Chocolate Dessert Recipes from Max Brenner's Private Collection (Hardcover) Review

Product Details:

• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Little, Brown and Company (November 2, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316056626
• ISBN-13: 978-0316056625
• Product Dimensions: 12 x 9.1 x 0.8 inches

Chocolate A Love Story is a collection of 65 chocolate dessert recipes from Max Brenner's private collection.  Max Brenner, at an early age of 10, read Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and decided from that point forward, he was going to find a river of chocolate.

Max has locations in Philadelphia, New York City, Australia, Phillipines, Singapore and Israel and there are many products available at his online shop HERE.  One product that Max is known for is the "Hug Mug" which is a coffee mug shaped to keep your hands warm.  In NYC and Philadelphia, this is a great idea!  If you are looking for a great gift with a chocolate or indulgence theme, this is your spot.

What I enjoyed the most about Chocolate A Love Story was Max's inclusion of himself into the various pages of this creative book.  The artist, Yontan Factor, provides an interesting and unique perspective to introducing art into this clever display of mouthwatering chocolate creations.  I have to admit, my first impression was one of confusion as I couldn't understand how this was a recipe book but after opening my mind, reading personally about Max and the artist, finally each recipe, I quickly fell in love with the concept of the book.  I feel this would be a great gift to any chocolate lover, a chef, a novice or even as a romantic gift.  This is not your run of the mill cookbooks as it's a piece of art on many levels from this chocolate genius.

I believe by reading Max's path towards his reality of bringing his chocolate to life, one can understand the passion behind the book, the recipes and the man himself. 

"On the one hand, it is the most romantic gift; on the other hand, a commodity that is traded in the bourse. It is sold like precious jewelry that is picked carefully from a crystal glass, but also is an addictive snack in every corner kiosk. It is tasted like a fine wine and licked straight from the bowl...These diverse aspects of chocolate and of life are the inspiration for our book."

This is a sample of recipes:

• The Belgian Street Waffle <-- My Favorite
• Spy Thriller Chocolate Black Forest Cake
• Military Porridge
• Pretentious White Chocolate Panna Cotta
• Overwhelming Oriental White Chocolate Malabi
• Meaningless Sweet Spaghetti
• Home Industry Chocolate Cheese Pockets

The entire book if filled with mouth watering enticements which made me want to try nearly all of them.  One thing to note, they are not all easy recipes and are involving with a variety of ingredients and a few steps but well worth it! This is a great way to either indulge yourself or someone else.

I tried the Belgian Street Waffles and loved them!  I had to buy a few extra ingredients that I don't normally have on hand but most recipes are like that unless you are already a master chef.  The bonus I like about Chocolate A Love Story is that Max describes how to display your own masterpiece on the plate for the final touch. 

I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes to cook and who likes chocolate.  This makes a great table book or an addition to the recipe book collection.  It's a beautiful display of creativity coupled with delicious recipes.

Special thanks to Hachette Book Group and The Product Review Place for providing this opportunity to review Chocolate A Love Story.

          

Note:  Hachette Book Group provided this opportunity to review Chocolate A Love Story.  I was provided the book and received no financial compensation to provide my independent review.