Cocoa French Toast

Ingredients
2 large eggs
2 tablespoons milk
4 large slices challah or Italian bread, (cut 3/4 inch thick)
4 3 teaspoons chocolate cocoa powder
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
Confectioners' sugar

1. In a large, shallow dish, whisk together eggs, cocoa and milk; set aside.
2. Dip bread in egg mixture to coat.
3. Heat butter in a large skillet over medium heat.
4. Add dipped bread to skillet.
Cook until golden, 1 to 2 minutes per side. Dust with confectioners' sugar before serving.

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Pink Champagne truffles in time for the Rose Bowl

Ingredients

9 oz. dark chocolate finely chopped

7 oz. milk chocolate, finely chopped

31/2 fl oz. double cream

21/4 oz. unsalted butter

31/2 fl oz. pink champagne

4 teaspoons brandy

1 lb. 2 oz. sugar icing

1 lb. 10 oz., tempered dark chocolate

Put the chopped dark and milk chocolate in a bowl.

Bring cream and butter to a boil in a pan.
Pour the cream and butter mixture over the chocolate.
Add the champagne and brandy.
Whisk gently .
Pour mixture into a large bowl.
Leave to cool at room temperature until it is firm enough to pipe.
Using a piping bag (fitted with a 1/2-inch plain nozzle) pipe blobs 1 inch in diameter on to a tray lined with parchment paper.
Refrigerate until they are firm.
Remove the truffles from the fridge and roll into balls.
Return to the fridge to firm up again.
Sprinkle with suger.

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Hot Chocolate from Powdered Mixes

1 2/3 cups nonfat dry milk
1 cup chocolate drink mix
3/4 cup classic powdered coffee creamer
1 cup powdered sugar
Miniature marshmallows (optional)
1 cup water

Directions:
1. Mix all ingredients in a large bowl.
2. Mix 5 teaspoons of mix with 1 cup water.
3. Warm liquid for 1 minute in the microwave, then stir in mix and microwave for one more minute.
4. Top with a few marshmallows.

This is a great idea for prepared mix gifts.

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The British Lancet about Flavanols

According to an editorial published in renowned British medical journal Lancet, chocolate may not offer you health benefits. As we all know, studies in the past have suggested that dark chocolate is good for the heart. These studies state that flavanols which are in chocolate are considered to protect the heart and lower blood pressure.


But the editorial stats that fat, sugar and calories in chocolate trigger illness instead. The journal believes that many manufacturers remove the flavanols while producing chocolate because of its bitter taste.

The online edition of the BBC News quotes Lancet;
'When chocolate manufacturers make confectionery, the natural cocoa solids can be darkened and the flavanols, which are bitter, removed, so even a dark-looking chocolate can have no flavanol,'
'Consumers are also kept in the dark about the flavanol content of chocolate because manufacturers rarely label their products with this information,' the editorial noted.

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Chocolate Festivals

2008 Festivals will be posted here.
Submit yours to chocoholicsdiary@gmail.com

Long Grove, Il
9th Annual Chocolate Festival
May 2-3-4, 2008

This festival celebrates the beginning of the outdoor special events season in Long Grove. The business district, home to 80 shops and restaurants, including the well-known Long Grove Confectionery, becomes a chocolate lover's paradise. Hours are Friday–Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.


Austin Chocolate Festival
Participating vendors will offer samples to festival guests and they can compete in up to 12 categories of the chocolate competition. Each vendor can enter as many categories as they wish and are automatically entered into the most popular sample and best booth contests. The public and industry professionals will judge the competitions and the winners are based on their votes. Plaques and ribbons will be given to the winners directly after the competition or delivered by mail.

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CHOCOLATE CHIP MUFFINS

1 c. sugar
1 egg
1/2 c. butter, room temperature
3 tbsp. milk
1 c. whole wheat flour
1 c. unbleached flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1 c. chocolate chips
1 c. chopped walnuts

1.Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2.Grease and flour muffin pans or line with papers.

3.Combine butter and sugar in the bowl and beat until thoroughly blended.
4.Add the rest of the ingredients except walnuts mix at low until dry ingredients are moistened.
5. Turn to high and beat until smooth.
6.Blend in walnuts by hand.

Fill muffin cups 2/3. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 . Allow to cool in pan for 10 minutes before serving.

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Your Diet Can Give You A Headache

A glass of red wine or a piece of chocolate can trigger headaches.
Certain foods are known to be associated with headaches including:

* Caffeine
* Alcohol
* Tyramine, which is found in red wine, beer, aged cheese, nuts and chocolate, among other foods
* Tannins, which are found in foods like apple juice, blackberries, coffee, tea, chocolate and red wine.

If you suspect a particular food is the cause of your headaches, don’t eat it for two weeks. If the headaches come and go with the elimination and reintroduction, you may want to check with a dietetics professional.

Source: The American Dietetic Association

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Cocoa Brownies

Ingredients
¾ cup butter
1+½ cup sugar
2 teaspoon vanilla
3 eggs
¾ cup all-purpose flour
½ cup cocoa powder
1 teaspoon baking powder
a pinch of salt
chopped pecans



1. Preheat oven to 350
2. Spray a 13 x 9 cake tin with non stick spray
3. Melt the butter.
4. Beat eggs with sugar.
5. 5dd vanilla, flour, cocoa, baking powder, salt and melted butter.
4. Add chopped nuts.
5. Bake at 350 , approximately 20-30 minutes.

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