Throughout history, chocolate has captured the hearts of men and women the world over. Chocolate is produced from the seed of cacao, a tropical tree that is native to South America. Cocoa seed has an intensely bitter taste, and thus needs to be fermented first for its flavor to mature. After fermentation, the seeds are dried, then cleaned, and finally roasted. The shells of the seeds are removed, producing what is called cacao nibs, which are then ground and made into liquid. The result is chocolate in liquid form, also called chocolate liquor. The liquor can then be processed further into either cocoa butter or cocoa solids.
Chocolate in Ancient Times
The earliest documented form of chocolate was a beverage known as xocolātl, a Nahuatl (Aztecan dialect) word which means “bitter water,” often flavored with pepper, chile, vanilla, and achiote (or annatto). Xocolātl or xocoatl, was believed to have anti-fatigue properties, probably because of its theobromine content, an alkaloid with mood-elevating effects. In as early as 400 AD, the Mesoamerican peoples including the Aztecs and Maya made chocolate beverages from the seeds of the cacao tree. For the Maya peoples, chocolate was also used in performing ceremonies. The earliest evidence of cacao cultivation dates back to prehistoric times, around 1100 to 1400 BC, in a site somewhere in Puerto Escondido, Honduras. A vessel dating to that era was found by archeologists sometime in November 2007 containing traces of white pulp around the beans of cacao, which was likely fermented for making an alcoholic beverage.
Chocolate as Luxury
Chocolate has also been considered a luxury good and was once used for trading goods. The Aztecs, for instance, used to trade one hundred cacao beans for one turkey and three cacao beans for one piece of fresh avocado. In Europe and South America, cocoa has been used for treating diarrhea. When the Spanish conquered the Aztecs sometime in the late 15th century, it became a favorite of the Spanish Kings and Queens, and soon the demand for chocolate rose. Spanish armies enslaved the Mesoamericans to produce high volumes of cacao. Because of its high cost of importation, only those of royalty and those who were highly connected could afford to buy the expensive chocolate drink. The Spanish soon expanded production and used African workforce. In England during that period, anyone with money could buy chocolate. In 1657, the first chocolate house was opened in London. In 1657 a milk chocolate drink was developed in Jamaica by the physician Hans Sloane and was later sold to the Cadbury brothers.
Chocolate as we Know Today
The chocolate making process remained pretty much the same for hundreds of years from the time it was discovered. During the 1700s, mechanical mills were invented and were used to create hard form chocolates. By the time of the Industrial Revolution, chocolate candy bars today as we know today, were developed. Today, most of the chocolates sold and distributed worldwide combine chocolate with sugar. The three most common types of chocolate candy bars include dark chocolate, milk chocolate, and white chocolate. Still, there are also unsweetened chocolates available in the market, called diabetic chocolate, equally enjoyable and more importantly, healthier.
Submitted By: Chris Alleny
Thursday, 4 December 2008
Friday, 29 August 2008
Giving Decadant Chocolate Fudge For Gifts Submitted By: Michelle Parks
Believe me; nobody is going to turn down the chance to have chocolate fudge as a gift for a special occasion. Opening that package of delicious chocolate fudge and smelling the rich aroma is always a special treat Christmas memories are made of. Seeing the smooth pieces of cut fudge on a silver platter on the desert table at Thanksgiving really makes the day more special. The family traditions o fresh fudge in decorative tins still lives on today. Why not make your holiday gifts special and give each one on your list a container of wonderful fudge. You can purchase it from a store online or make it yourself, the choice is yours. Ordering from a confectioner online is more convenient but homemade is more special.
Tins To Remember
No matter where you choose to purchase your chocolate fudge from, the great part of the gift is in the decorative tins you choose. You can really be elaborate with the designs. Each person on your list can receive their own special personalized tin matching their individual taste. Tins are the best way to store your chocolate fudge even if you choose to put it in the freezer, fridge, or cabinet. Make sure to wrap it with wax paper or parchment paper so the pieces do not stick to each other.
Bag It
You can find some of the cutest bags to give your chocolate fudge away as gifts. The online craft stores can provide you with some of the most unique designs. You can also find some of the most interesting things to add to your decorative gift bags at your local craft store. Get a group together and have an afternoon of fun and creativity. Not to mention, you can have friends over to help make the fudge. They do not have to know that the gifts they are helping you make are just for them. The fun you have in one afternoon will be remembered each time they open the bag to take a piece of chocolate fudge out to enjoy.
Boxes Of All Kinds
For those who have a little extra money to spend on gifts, you might consider using a wooden box or some other sort of special treasure keepsake to add the chocolate fudge to. This is especially romantic for the husband to give his wife for an anniversary or birthday. It also works great for Valentine’s Day. Find that special keepsake and line it with wax paper. This will protect the inside of the box but will also help to keep the fudge pieces apart if layered between them. Make sure to only add one layer or two in the box. You do not want it to overflow. Your loved one will not only appreciate the chocolate fudge, they will be reminded of your love every time the box is opened and the remnants of the chocolate linger through the air.
Gifts Are Special
Any gift you decide to give someone else is a special thing. Chocolate fudge is a perfect gift to give for any occasion and you really can not go wrong with it. Do not be surprised if, one of these days, you find yourself the recipient of the best chocolate fudge around. You might even get it in one of your special packages just as you gave it away.
Tins To Remember
No matter where you choose to purchase your chocolate fudge from, the great part of the gift is in the decorative tins you choose. You can really be elaborate with the designs. Each person on your list can receive their own special personalized tin matching their individual taste. Tins are the best way to store your chocolate fudge even if you choose to put it in the freezer, fridge, or cabinet. Make sure to wrap it with wax paper or parchment paper so the pieces do not stick to each other.
Bag It
You can find some of the cutest bags to give your chocolate fudge away as gifts. The online craft stores can provide you with some of the most unique designs. You can also find some of the most interesting things to add to your decorative gift bags at your local craft store. Get a group together and have an afternoon of fun and creativity. Not to mention, you can have friends over to help make the fudge. They do not have to know that the gifts they are helping you make are just for them. The fun you have in one afternoon will be remembered each time they open the bag to take a piece of chocolate fudge out to enjoy.
Boxes Of All Kinds
For those who have a little extra money to spend on gifts, you might consider using a wooden box or some other sort of special treasure keepsake to add the chocolate fudge to. This is especially romantic for the husband to give his wife for an anniversary or birthday. It also works great for Valentine’s Day. Find that special keepsake and line it with wax paper. This will protect the inside of the box but will also help to keep the fudge pieces apart if layered between them. Make sure to only add one layer or two in the box. You do not want it to overflow. Your loved one will not only appreciate the chocolate fudge, they will be reminded of your love every time the box is opened and the remnants of the chocolate linger through the air.
Gifts Are Special
Any gift you decide to give someone else is a special thing. Chocolate fudge is a perfect gift to give for any occasion and you really can not go wrong with it. Do not be surprised if, one of these days, you find yourself the recipient of the best chocolate fudge around. You might even get it in one of your special packages just as you gave it away.
Tuesday, 19 August 2008
All About Pizza by: Sean Lannin
The term pizza covers a lot of territory. If you want to learn all about pizzas, then you should have a bit of a background on pizzas: specifically the history of pizza, pizza origin, pizza facts, and even pizza trivia such as who invented pizza. The subject also delves into the different types and styles of pizzas. The varieties currently existing defy any attempts at enumeration. Thus, most people who attempt such a task stop at a broad categorization of pizza types according to certain attributes such as crust thickness, crust elasticity, crust baking and cooking procedures, toppings, etc. Aside from general, historical or trivial information, other things are of interest to the pizza lovers. For instance, homemade pizza enthusiasts would like to know certain tips and tricks for making pizza. This includes pizza making techniques, the best pizza crust recipes, pizza toppings, homemade pizza sauce, etc. Some other interesting topics will be frozen pizza dough and where best to attain them, what are the criteria for choosing the, what are the methods for preparing them, etc.
It must be obvious that this article is a mite ambitious for wishing to tackle something entitled "all about pizza." However, an attempt is definitely warranted, so here goes.
Some pizza facts and trivia
Accounts of pizza history always begin with the origin of pizza. This one might as well follow the same tack. We have to thank any civilization or race that baked flat bread on hot stones or stone ovens for pizza, for almost certainly, bread like the focaccia was the "mother of the pizza crust." However, the invention of the pizza is more properly attributed to the Neapolitans - the people of Naples, Italy who were baking and making pizza crust topped with tomatoes, oil, and Italian herbs, and spices. This rudimentary and traditional Italian pizza was common peasant fare in Naples. If you want an individual originator and inventor of pizzas, however, then you won't be wrong if you cite Rafaelle Esposito - a native of Naples; he modified the basic Neapolitan pizza recipe and came up with three variants that added mozzarella cheese to the rudimentary Italian pizza toppings.
Now, if you are looking for some topics for small conversation, then you must remember the following trivia. One note of caution, though; you shouldn't blurt these out just to anybody or you'll sound decidedly corny and geeky. Make sure you're talking to someone interested in pizzas before you use the following trivia as conversational gambits.
" Most people in the United States love pepperoni; the least liked toppings are anchovies.
" Pizza was called (and is still called) tomato pie and pizza pie in certain parts of the States.
" The first pizzeria in the United States was opened in New York.
" The pizza industry is worth more than 30 billion dollars in the United States alone and Americans consume around three billion units of pizza every year.
" New York pizza is traditionally plain. Supposedly, New York pizza is unique because of the acidity and hardness of the water in New York. New Yorkers therefore claim that only in New York can you make real New York Pizza.
(New Yorkers must admit, however, that if water is the unique characteristic of New York pizzas, one who uses water adjusted for hardness and acidity to reflect New York water conditions, adds all the usual New York pizza ingredients and toppings, follows all the procedures strictly but makes the pizza in New Jersey can conceivably make an authentic, New York style pizza. But such an assertion, some would say, is just plain cheek.)
Pizza types and pizza styles
The first step to a great homemade pizza is determining what type of pizza you wish to make. After all, different types of pizza have different attributes and thus call for different types of pizza base, pizza toppings and cooking techniques. Would you like to make an authentic Italian pizza, a New York style pizza, a California style pizza, or a Chicago style pizza?
Italian pizza is generally lean, although when you add cheese, its fat level generally rises in proportion. There are various kinds of Italian pizza, too. There are Neapolitan pizzas, of which there are two general types: the marinara and the Margherita. There are various combinations of these as well. Authentic Italian pizza, moreover, is supposedly baked on wood-fired or even coal-fired, stone ovens.
New York pizza, as abovementioned, is generally plain. The mainstay of New York pizza is mozzarella cheese - fresh mozzarella cheese to be precise. One can add garlic, different types of cheeses, anchovies, shrimp, etc but these are usually optional. The pizza dough recipe for traditional New York pizza, on the other hand, calls for high-gluten flour. The result is firm, usually thin, chewy pizza.
The California style pizza is generally known for gourmet flavors. You can say the California pizza has countless variations. The pizza crust, in this case, is light, crisp and generally well risen. The toppings can be out of this world - generally California pizza makers experiment a lot with all kinds of meat, sea food, breakfast dishes, and vegetable for the toppings.
The Chicago style pizza, on the other hand, is generally crusty and very filling. They are characterized by their raised edges; imagine a pre-baked apple pie crust where you can place the fillings on top. Chicago pizza is usually meaty (some variants come stuffed with cheeses and meat layers) and it is eaten with a knife and fork.
You can also start by deciding on the flavor you want. Do you want to make a cheese pizza, a vegetarian pizza or a fruit pizza? Perhaps you want to make a low fat pizza, a low carb pizza, a healthy pizza? Sourdough pizza is also another variant.
Take your pick among your many options. Once you have decided, choosing the recipe would be much easier. If you have decided on an Italian pizza, for instance, then find your Italian pizza crust recipe, your Italian pizza sauce recipe and the overall Italian pizza recipe that will give you a list of toppings and pizza preparation procedures for making an authentic Italian pizza. For an easier time of it, you can opt to use Italian-style frozen pizza dough then just follow the Italian pizza recipe that you've found.
Some pizza making tips and techniques
Hand tossing will help you minimize the lumps in your pizza dough. However, this should be done only after sufficient pizza dough kneading. This process lets your pizza dough develop into the right kind of consistency - that which is suitable for stretching and hand tossing. Hand tossing, however, is not advisable for thick pizza crust varieties.
If you want a crisp and firm pizza that retains its structure even when the moist toppings are added, you can bake the pizza crust before you add the toppings and the pizza sauce. However, for thin pizza crusts, baking the crust after the toppings and sauce have been added is sufficient. For uniform baking and crisping of the crust, use a pizza stone or a pizza screen.
Finally, remember that the protein content of your flour will influence the end product. High-gluten flour will lead to a crisp but chewy crust. Gluten-free flour, however, may lead to very soft dough; additives may have to be used to give the pizza dough strength.
Quick pizza crust recipes and easy homemade pizza recipes of all kinds and style are easily available online. There are tips for baking and preparing frozen pizza dough, making your own pizza dough, preparing the ingredients for the best pizza crust recipe, etc. All you need to start making your very own pizza recipe is an internet connection, a good source of basic pizza recipe, great pizza equipment, your imagination, and lots of time and resources for experimentation.
About The Author
Sean Lannin
With more than 10 years experience both working and owning pizza restaurants. When he tried to find information about making pizza at home, he noticed that the information was either non-existent or lacked the information he felt was important. He now shares his passion for making pizza with readers of his website.
http://www.homemade-pizza-made-easy.com/
It must be obvious that this article is a mite ambitious for wishing to tackle something entitled "all about pizza." However, an attempt is definitely warranted, so here goes.
Some pizza facts and trivia
Accounts of pizza history always begin with the origin of pizza. This one might as well follow the same tack. We have to thank any civilization or race that baked flat bread on hot stones or stone ovens for pizza, for almost certainly, bread like the focaccia was the "mother of the pizza crust." However, the invention of the pizza is more properly attributed to the Neapolitans - the people of Naples, Italy who were baking and making pizza crust topped with tomatoes, oil, and Italian herbs, and spices. This rudimentary and traditional Italian pizza was common peasant fare in Naples. If you want an individual originator and inventor of pizzas, however, then you won't be wrong if you cite Rafaelle Esposito - a native of Naples; he modified the basic Neapolitan pizza recipe and came up with three variants that added mozzarella cheese to the rudimentary Italian pizza toppings.
Now, if you are looking for some topics for small conversation, then you must remember the following trivia. One note of caution, though; you shouldn't blurt these out just to anybody or you'll sound decidedly corny and geeky. Make sure you're talking to someone interested in pizzas before you use the following trivia as conversational gambits.
" Most people in the United States love pepperoni; the least liked toppings are anchovies.
" Pizza was called (and is still called) tomato pie and pizza pie in certain parts of the States.
" The first pizzeria in the United States was opened in New York.
" The pizza industry is worth more than 30 billion dollars in the United States alone and Americans consume around three billion units of pizza every year.
" New York pizza is traditionally plain. Supposedly, New York pizza is unique because of the acidity and hardness of the water in New York. New Yorkers therefore claim that only in New York can you make real New York Pizza.
(New Yorkers must admit, however, that if water is the unique characteristic of New York pizzas, one who uses water adjusted for hardness and acidity to reflect New York water conditions, adds all the usual New York pizza ingredients and toppings, follows all the procedures strictly but makes the pizza in New Jersey can conceivably make an authentic, New York style pizza. But such an assertion, some would say, is just plain cheek.)
Pizza types and pizza styles
The first step to a great homemade pizza is determining what type of pizza you wish to make. After all, different types of pizza have different attributes and thus call for different types of pizza base, pizza toppings and cooking techniques. Would you like to make an authentic Italian pizza, a New York style pizza, a California style pizza, or a Chicago style pizza?
Italian pizza is generally lean, although when you add cheese, its fat level generally rises in proportion. There are various kinds of Italian pizza, too. There are Neapolitan pizzas, of which there are two general types: the marinara and the Margherita. There are various combinations of these as well. Authentic Italian pizza, moreover, is supposedly baked on wood-fired or even coal-fired, stone ovens.
New York pizza, as abovementioned, is generally plain. The mainstay of New York pizza is mozzarella cheese - fresh mozzarella cheese to be precise. One can add garlic, different types of cheeses, anchovies, shrimp, etc but these are usually optional. The pizza dough recipe for traditional New York pizza, on the other hand, calls for high-gluten flour. The result is firm, usually thin, chewy pizza.
The California style pizza is generally known for gourmet flavors. You can say the California pizza has countless variations. The pizza crust, in this case, is light, crisp and generally well risen. The toppings can be out of this world - generally California pizza makers experiment a lot with all kinds of meat, sea food, breakfast dishes, and vegetable for the toppings.
The Chicago style pizza, on the other hand, is generally crusty and very filling. They are characterized by their raised edges; imagine a pre-baked apple pie crust where you can place the fillings on top. Chicago pizza is usually meaty (some variants come stuffed with cheeses and meat layers) and it is eaten with a knife and fork.
You can also start by deciding on the flavor you want. Do you want to make a cheese pizza, a vegetarian pizza or a fruit pizza? Perhaps you want to make a low fat pizza, a low carb pizza, a healthy pizza? Sourdough pizza is also another variant.
Take your pick among your many options. Once you have decided, choosing the recipe would be much easier. If you have decided on an Italian pizza, for instance, then find your Italian pizza crust recipe, your Italian pizza sauce recipe and the overall Italian pizza recipe that will give you a list of toppings and pizza preparation procedures for making an authentic Italian pizza. For an easier time of it, you can opt to use Italian-style frozen pizza dough then just follow the Italian pizza recipe that you've found.
Some pizza making tips and techniques
Hand tossing will help you minimize the lumps in your pizza dough. However, this should be done only after sufficient pizza dough kneading. This process lets your pizza dough develop into the right kind of consistency - that which is suitable for stretching and hand tossing. Hand tossing, however, is not advisable for thick pizza crust varieties.
If you want a crisp and firm pizza that retains its structure even when the moist toppings are added, you can bake the pizza crust before you add the toppings and the pizza sauce. However, for thin pizza crusts, baking the crust after the toppings and sauce have been added is sufficient. For uniform baking and crisping of the crust, use a pizza stone or a pizza screen.
Finally, remember that the protein content of your flour will influence the end product. High-gluten flour will lead to a crisp but chewy crust. Gluten-free flour, however, may lead to very soft dough; additives may have to be used to give the pizza dough strength.
Quick pizza crust recipes and easy homemade pizza recipes of all kinds and style are easily available online. There are tips for baking and preparing frozen pizza dough, making your own pizza dough, preparing the ingredients for the best pizza crust recipe, etc. All you need to start making your very own pizza recipe is an internet connection, a good source of basic pizza recipe, great pizza equipment, your imagination, and lots of time and resources for experimentation.
About The Author
Sean Lannin
With more than 10 years experience both working and owning pizza restaurants. When he tried to find information about making pizza at home, he noticed that the information was either non-existent or lacked the information he felt was important. He now shares his passion for making pizza with readers of his website.
http://www.homemade-pizza-made-easy.com/
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