Yappy Carrymore Yorkie Dog Large 12" Stuffed Animal Plush Purse Valentine's Day Gift By Bearington Collection

Yappy Carrymore Yorkie Dog Large 12" Stuffed Animal Plush Purse Valentine's Day Gift
By Bearington Collection

Product Description
The cutest purse in town! Yappy Yorkie helps you Carry-more as you tool around town with this fun fashion accessory. A full 12 inches of cute and cuddly plush animal purse. Zipper along the back leads to a pouch for money, trinkets, lip gloss, cell phone and other girl necessities. Be sure to check out our other fashionable Carrymore stuffed animal purses including various dogs, a kitty, bears and a moose.

Product Details
Brand: Bearington Bears
Dimensions: 7.00" h x 4.00" w x 12.00" l, 1.00 pounds

Features
High Quality Plush Animal Purse
It MUST be a Bearington
Large 12 inch size

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Bandit of Love Bearington Bear - Valentine's Day Gift

Bandit of Love Bearington Bear - Valentine's Day Gift
From Bearington

Product Description

The mysterious Bandit of Love comes dressed in cape and mask, and holding a heart with Love embroidered across the middle. The lining of his cape is printed with little hearts, and Bandit of Love, along with two pairs of hearts, is embroidered on the back of his cape. This adorable 14" Bearington Bear will make an excellent Valentine's Day gift on its own, or as an add-on to flowers and/or chocolates!

Bearington is a family owned and operated business based in Georgia. Bearingtons designs have proven to be both fantastic collectibles and charming decorative accessories for the home. Buyers and collectors have come to rely on the fantastic quality of Bearington pieces. Bearington strives to make their pieces the most detailed collector designs in the industry. For outstanding detail you need outstanding quality, and Bearington refuses to settle for anything less than the best. Its because of this that the end consumer can feel certain that when theyre buying a Bearington, theyre buying the best.

How does one distinguish a Bearington Bear from all of the others? Well, if you find a bear that has enough personality to make you smile and/or laugh, and the bear is fashioned with the highest quality apparel and accessories and is offered at an unbelievable price then, It MUST be a Bearington. In the past few years, Bearington has received recognition from its peers in the plush industry by receiving numerous TOBY (Teddy Bear of the Year) Industry Choice Awards, TOBY Publics Choice Awards, Golden Teddy nominations, Collectible of the Year in Canada and is rated one of the fastest growing plush companies in the industry.

Product Details
Brand: Bearington Bears

Features
- An excellent Valentine's Day gift on its own, or as an add-on to flowers and/or chocolates!
- When you're buying a Bearington, youre buying the best!

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Making The Most Of Valentine’s Gifts For Him

Making The Most Of Valentine’s Gifts For Him
By: Roy Thomsitt

The emphasis on Valentine’s Day remains, in the majority, with a man’s token of love to a woman. The red roses that so symbolize the modern Valentine’s Day are a male love token, a gesture of the man’s heart, a product of romance….. and some quite heavy marketing. The annual love peak is reached on February 14 each year, and marriage proposals hit the news as the more imaginative men think of unique ways to pop the question, while others bring out their engagement rings with confidence on a scale from total, arrogant confidence, down to sheer desperation and extreme wishful thinking.

Love and romance are, of course, a two way combo; at least, we all hope it is two way. While the red roses, and to a lesser extent the heart shaped chocolates, are the domain of the man to woman love token, millions of women still feel the desire to buy a Valentine’s Day gift for him each February. The problem then is, what to buy, and how to make Valentine’s Day as romantic for the husband or boyfriend as a recipient as it can be as a giver?

With Valentine’s Day coming so soon after Christmas, many girls and women will recently have been through the gift searching process for their husband or boyfriend. Maybe, then, there is little more thinking to do about a Valentine’s Day gift for a husband or boyfriend. Or is there?

Any gift should come from the heart, so in that sense Valentine’s Day and Christmas should be no different. However, February 14 is different. It is not just for any gift, but one that somehow encapsulates your love for him and the romance of Valentine’s Day. Plus, it can be how you present the gift that will touch his heart and bring that spark of romance to what might otherwise be an unromantic gift.

When it comes to choosing the actual gift for your Valentine, then there are some possibilities with just that extra touch of romance being applied to the quite normal. The following are just a few ideas.

Men’s Perfumes and Colognes

When it comes to marketing perfumes, romance and attraction are often integral to the image created. Given that perfumes, or men’s colognes, are designed to provoke senses, that is not surprising. Sensuality and romance, sensuality and love, and sensuality and fragrance, are all combinations of the sensual.

Due to the often romantic connotations, men’s cologne can be a good choice as a Valentine gift for him. You will find there are men’s perfume ranges with a heart, love or romance theme that will make appropriate gifts for February 14. Some of the top designer names have their romantic perfumes, such as Romance by Ralph Lauren, Eternal Love by Eternal Love, and Touch of Love by Fred Hayman.

Men’s Jewellery

While many men will not appreciate a piece of jewellery for themselves with a heart shape or rose feature, that does not mean you cannot make a jewellery gift a little bit romantic.

Most pieces of jewellery can be engraved, and that is where your gift can be romanticized. Your love message engraved on a men’s bracelet, chain or even watch can become a lasting memory of your love for him.

Other Gifts for Him On Valentine’s Day

The options for a man’s Valentine’s gift are probably as endless as those for Christmas. Any gift can be romanticized by a little bit of imagination. So, if you know him well, you will know not only what he will appreciate as a gift but also how to present it to him in a romantic way, wrapped with your love and appreciation. It does not have to be a romantic gift in itself, so long as the message from your heart to his comes across.

However, it would be nice to include a little something that has an obvious romantic link, even it is just a heart shaped box of chocolates wrapped up with the beer making kit, box of golf balls, or video on how to catch carp.

No, maybe not. I am sure your imagination can do much better than that. Select your gift or gifts, then make Valentine’s Day 2006 a day to remember for the man you love whatever it is you decide on. The true romance of the day will come not from any gift, but how you both interact at an emotional and sensual level; and that includes how you react to the Valentine’s gifts he has bought for you, and the date you will (hopefully) go on to compete the day.

About the Author:
This Valentines Day gift for him article was written by Roy Thomsitt, owner author of the Romeo Juliet Valentines' web site

A Valentine Gift For Her

A Valentine Gift For Her
By: Keith Jennison

Oh boy! Here comes another Valentine day disaster. If you are anything like me, this is how you feel for about 2 weeks prior to February 14th.At least that’s the way I felt until the internet came around.

Now, shopping on the internet can be as daunting as the mall, especially for the shopping challenged like me.Unless you have a specific idea what you want, roaming malls can actually be easier than browsing an online store. Even with high speed download clicking from page to page looking for gift ideas just doesn’t work.

So what do you do? You need to get a plan and stick to it…

Let’s face is. Our typical problem is the lack of thought and preparation when it comes to Valentines Day. Flowers, chocolate, dinner out at the usual restaurant just doesn’t cut it after the first couple of years. (I will say that jewelry usually does work, but that does get expensive?).

So, the plan… Here’s what I do. Typically, after the holidays my wife and I start talking about where we might be interested in going for our vacation in the summer.We will talk about cruises or getting a beach house, or taking the kids to Disney World. Sometimes, we might even consider a drive to __________ (wherever) to see the sights.The thing I’ve found is that no matter where you plan to visit, you can find hundreds of products and information online pertaining to your trip.

The first stop is Amazon.com.
Just search for your destination or your topic. If you are considering a cruise for the first time, there are several books outlining the do’s and don’ts when booking a cruise. The same is true for air travel, or travel outside the country. You will find paperbacks for under $15.

Second stop is BN.com
Try the same search as you did on Amazon. You’ll find many of the same books and products (like videos), but they may have some others that will work.

No matter where you plan to go, search for your destination in Google. You will find free information on travel to just about ANY state in the union, and travel agents will gladly send you more information on more exotic locations.

Now, bundle your new books, videos and brochures together with the traditional card along with flowers or chocolate and you have a gift that she’ll remember all year. Typically, you can do all this for as little as fifty dollars. It’s a winner.

About the Author:
Keith Jennison. The travel guy at http://www.glorydaysgifts.com. Find that perfect Valentine Gift at Glory Days Gifts

Romantic Valentine’s Day Gifts: Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas To Surprise Any Sweetie

ข้อมูลสรุปนี้ไม่พร้อมใช้งาน โปรด คลิกที่นี่เพื่อดูโพสต์

Be My Valentine.

Be My Valentine.
By: Martin Avis

Before there was a Saint Valentine to bring romance into the equation, mid-February was an important date for lovers. From 400 years BC, the Romans held an annual lottery in the name of their god Lupercus. The names of teenage women were put into a box and drawn at random by adolescent men. The 'winners' were legally paired for a year.

Meanwhile, the mad emperor Claudius banned marriage for young men - he believed that single men made better soldiers.

A Christian bishop, Valentine, disagreed with his Emperor and secretly performed marriage ceremonies until Claudius found out and first imprisoned him, and finally had him clubbed, stoned and beheaded on February 24th, 270.

While he was imprisoned, Valentine fell in love with the daughter of his jailer and when he was taken to be executed, he left her a note signed, 'From your Valentine.'

Taking Valentine's name in vain, the Church, in AD 496, decided to finally abolish the annual pairing off lottery held in honor of the god Lupercus and so decreed a small change in the rules:

From then on, both the young men and the young women would pick a name out of the hat, but instead of getting a year of companionship (and often lust), they drew the name of a Saint whose life they had to spend the next year emulating.

Must have been quite a disappointment for the hot- bloodied young Romans!

They named the day after Saint Valentine whose involvement, 226 years after his death, was more to usurp the pagan god than to signify love.

Thankfully, public memory was more powerful that political will and Saint Valentine remained associated with lovers. Young Roman men, deprived of their lottery, took instead to handing hand-written notes to the women they admired on February 14th.

The tradition of the Valentine card was thus started over 1500 years ago!

The earliest known card that still exists is currently in the British Museum. It was sent by Charles, Duke of Orleans to his wife. He was a prisoner in the Tower of London at the time and so his feelings of love were probably more acute than most!

In the sixteenth century the Bishop of Geneva tried to reinstate the annual Saint's name lottery, but his efforts were short-lived. February 14th was by then too firmly associated with lovers for the Church to successfully interfere.

In 1797 a British publisher, who would have done very well in modern Internet times, published 'The Young Man's Valentine Writer' which offered scores of suggestions of sentimental verses for the creatively challenged.

The practice of sending cards anonymously began with the Victorians, who secretly loved anything of a racy nature, but publicly needed to maintain a show of respectful purity. Hence, the verses in the cards became more and more obscene, but the authors remained hidden behind a respectful anonymity.

The first publisher of Valentine's cards in America, Esther Holland charged up to $35 for each card. And this was in 1870!

Finally, kisses are written as 'x' because in days of illiteracy, your signature was a cross. To convey the effect of an oath, people would draw their cross and kiss it - in the same way that they would kiss the Bible. So the x and the kiss became one and the same.

Have a lovely Valentine's day!

About the Author:
Martin Avis is the publisher of Kickstart Today, a free online newsletter that talks about business, the Internet - and even Valentine's Day. If you like writing with personality, subscribe today at http://www.kickstartdaily.com

Who Was Valentine?

Who Was Valentine?
By: Peter Toner

You have to return to February 14th in the year 269 AD to understand how Valentines day came about.

269 AD was a bad year for Christians because the Romans didn’t have much in the way of regard for followers of Christ.

The reason was because the Romans were Pantheists and so they believed in several Gods, while Christians believed in only one God.

The notion that there might only be one God made the Romans feel very uneasy because a 'One God' idea undermined the very existence of the Roman Empire.

So the Romans reacted to Christians with their strongest weapon - Persecution.

For years to come the local amphitheatres had plenty in the way of stock. Your average Roman could spend Sunday afternoon watching pesky Christians being mauled by lions or dismembered by burly gladiators as the Roman leaders sought to be done with them.

Emerging from this persecution was a man that every card manufacturer and rose grower should be grateful for - a pig headed individual called Valentine.

Valentine was a devout Christian and even the threat of death from the Romans wouldn’t deter him from practicing his religion.

He flaunted his beliefs in front of the Romans - even carrying out secret Christian Marriages in the dead of night - a practice forbidden by Claudius II, the Roman Emperor.

Such blatant disregard for authority had to be stamped out and so as was the custom of the day, the decision was made to put an end to Valentines life.

The date of his execution was set for February 14th.

Concidentially, February 14th was also the day that Romans honoured Juno, the Goddess of women and marriage and queen of all Gods. And Juno day was something of an event in early Rome...

Back then, chaps and lasses led very separate lives - no mixed schools or kissing behind the bicycle sheds.

However, each year in celebration of Juno, young people participated in a game where the names of Roman girls were written on slips of paper and placed into jars.

The young bucks of the time drew a girls name from the jar and this became their partner for the Juno festival. It was commonplace for these couples to eventually get married.

The date of Valentines execution coincided with this Roman lottery.

To further add to the mystery surrounding Valentine, legend has it that while Valentine sat in prison awaiting execution he befriended the jailers daughter. How that came about is anyones guess - a jailers daughter befriending a man about to be executed...hmm...

Anyway St. Val and the jailers daughter became bosom pals, and the story goes that on the eve of his execution he sent her a farewell note that he signed 'From Your Valentine'.

Little did he know that these three little words would be immortalised as an indication of love for centuries to come.

About the Author:
Once described by The Sunday Times as the "finest luxury portal in the world", we’d like to think we’ve earned that reputation. http://www.toffsworld.com

Creative Valentine Ideas: Red Roses Vs. Valentine Flower Arrangements

Creative Valentine Ideas: Red Roses Vs. Valentine Flower Arrangements
By: Aurelia Fleur

As everyone knows Valentine’s Day falls on February 14th of every year. On this day, lovers and often friends give various gifts to express their feelings. The most well known gifts for Valentine’s Day includes chocolates and flowers. While roses are the usual standard for Valentine flowers, there are other bouquets and arrangements you should consider.

Other unique Valentine flowers include carnations, iris, tulips, lilies, daffodils and even daisies. Many people prefer to give carnations as Valentine flowers because of their rich, intoxicating, and spicy scent. The smell of cloves, the many dainty petals, and the carnation's similar appearance to roses make carnations an ideal flowers to symbolize love, friendship, or companionship.

The Iris is also a popular favorite as Valentine's flowers, in lieu of roses. Its elegant long stems open to show graceful and colorful flowers. You can place these flowers next to some fragrant baby’s breath greenery to frame the spectacular coloring of the iris flowers.

Valentine’s Day also marks the beginning of the tulip growing season and tulips are beloved by all. These graceful cup-shaped flowers come in many beautiful shades and symbolize spring, rebirth, and new beginnings. They are perfect for a blossoming relationship or one that needs a breath of fresh air. Some tulips mixed in with roses, daisies, or daffodils will create a wonderful bouquet that shows how you truly feel.

Of course, even with these other unique and various floral arrangements, most people still prefer sending red roses to their beloved Valentine. Red roses are still considered to be the symbol of true romantic love (and many women love the idea of being presented with a bouquet of 18-24 long stem red roses.)

But don't forget that red roses are not the only roses that you can choose. In fact, you could send a bouquet of white, blue, pastel, pink, or yellow roses as a Valentine flower gift. You can also mix and match your rose bouquet. Red and white roses, mixed pastel roses, and lavender designer roses all show your personality while spicing up the occasion.

Besides sending fresh-cut flowers for Valentine’s Day, you might also decide to send silk Valentine flowers instead. Silk flowers are perfect for those with flower allergies or like to do their own interior decorating.

If you want the flowers to last for a lifetime, silk flowers are the way to go, although they are often perceived as less romantic. So be sure to add some nice chocolate truffles, a cuddly teddy bear, or a memorable Valentine gift basket when sending silk flowers.

The next time that you are looking to buy Valentine flowers, keep in mind the many different flowers your special Valentine might appreciate. Golden daffodils, pink carnations, white iris, mixed tulips, sun-kissed daisies and bright lilies all express love and romance in their own special way. Get creative if you gave them roses last year, or send red roses if this is your first Valentine's Day together.

About the Author:
Looking to send fresh-cut red roses, a Valentine's gift basket or stunning mixed tulips? Then check out my favorite online Valentine Day flowers shop.

Chocolate Candy Is Just A Truly Amazing Gift

Chocolate Candy Is Just A Truly Amazing Gift
By: Jack Moore

Chocolate candy is an ideal present or gift to buy someone you love and care about on their birthday. Its a absolute fact that chocolate candy will make a fantastic gift for Mothers day, Valentine's day, Halloween, and Christmas. So if you are looking for a great gift for a special day, then you need look no further than a box of chocolate candy. It seems that the attractive box is almost as important as the candy contained inside. Isn't that an amazing and surprising fact?

Packaging will enhance your chocolate candy:

Many individuals who eat chocolate usually like many different sorts, from the cheapest to the more expensive gourmet ones. This is great when it comes to buying a chocolate gift for them, because as long as the wrapping looks good you can go for a less expensive type. You will not have to spend all your money on the gourmet ones, that is unless you want to. Its amazing to find that an Hershey's Kiss will take some beating for both taste and price.

Chocolate candy is actually quite inexpensive, therefore you could be a little extravagant and a tad crazy about how you present the candy. A fun idea would be to have some sort of theme like buying some chocolate balls and wrapping them to look like basketballs and baseballs is a fantastic way to please the sporting person in your life. Making a plastic baseball helmet, or football helmet and filling them with these sports themed chocolate candy is a super idea for a gift.

If you love dogs or if you have a friend or family member who is a dog lover then a really great idea would be to buy doggy shaped chocolate candy, wrap them and fill a dogs feeding bowl with them. Another equally crazy gift idea would be to also do this with your friendly cat lover too. You could get either fish or mouse shaped chocolate and fill up a fish or feeding bowl with them. Give your imagination freedom to be creative, it will pay off.

Chocolate fruit:

Another creative and possibly crazy idea that would definitely fit into a theme, would be to find some fruit covered chocolates, like chocolate covered fruit peels and marzipan fruit and create a fruit chocolate fruit salad. Chocolates that are orange flavored are sometimes sold in slices, like real oranges, so making sure your fruit salad looks like it was made of real fruit, and not chocolate candy is where your imagination and creativity can come into its own.

Use your imagination when choosing your chocolate candy gift:

Laughing at funny and creative gift baskets is part of the pleasure your friend or loved one gets when receiving a gift of chocolate candy. You could take chocolates left over from Christmas and re-use them for another occasion. For instance, chocolate lips and hearts normally reserved for Valentine's Day would work in a romance themed basket at any time of the year.

All that needs to be remembered when choosing that chocolate candy gift for your loved one or friend is to enjoy the experience and have fun.

About the Author:
www.chocolate-tips.com for information about chocolate. For more about chocolate candy

Use A Special Chocolate Candy Mold To Make Fun Treats For The Family

Use A Special Chocolate Candy Mold To Make Fun Treats For The Family
By: IPRWire Staff Writer

Having a chocolate candy mold may not seem like a big deal, but did you know that it can be the key to having an enjoyable afternoon with your kids? It’s true. With our hurry up lives we often find that we do not spend as much quality time with our children as we would like. In many cases, this simply cannot be avoided. Both parents often have to work these days in order to make ends meet and for some there is only a single parent in the home and time is often a commodity that has to be spent elsewhere.

So if this is the case, why not use your chocolate candy mold and bring the whole family together for a fun-filled afternoon or evening? The making of the treats themselves is easy and requires little or no advanced training in kitchen skills. It is also safe and relatively quick to complete. And best of all, it is something the whole family can participate in, with each family member feeling as if he or she contributed to the overall project.

Children are curious by nature and they love to help out in the kitchen. This is especially true if they are making sweet treats they get to consume when finished. But they also need time with their parents. Just fun time with no pressures and no interferences from work or other daily adult worries. It’s good for the grown ups, too!

Who would think that a simple chocolate candy mold could bring all of this together? Funny, but often the more simple things are the ones that have the most power to impact on our lives. This is a case of where that is especially true.

But before you plan this great time together, make sure you have everything you need to get the project started off on the right foot and completed. There is nothing more disappointing than to have to stop midway because something is missing.

For this particular family project, you will only need a few items, and all of them can be found online if you shop at a reliable vendor. You will need your chocolate candy mold, of course, and these now come in so many different shapes and sizes that you can let your imagination go wild. There is a design to fit just about any interest or event you can think of. Some of these are truly unique, such as complete chess boards and pieces made of the sweet stuff! Or how about a set of dominoes, complete with their little white dots?

You will also need the filling and you may want to consider having some colorful wrapping if you plan to give any away as gifts.

One of the best places to find all of these things and to see a huge selection of designs is at the Candy Plus website at http://www.candyplus.net. Candy Plus features everything you need to pull this off and their prices are incredibly reasonable.

About the Author:
http://www.candyplus.net offers the chocolate expertise of its sister-owners, Kathryn Whitaker and Kim Velez. Candy Plus offers candy making supplies, chocolate candy molds, ice sculpture molds, hard candy molds and candy molds.

You Can't Go Wrong With Chocolate Candy Gifts

You Can't Go Wrong With Chocolate Candy Gifts
By: Julee Mitchelsin

It seems like there are nearly endless occasions for gift giving in today's world. We give gifts for birthdays, anniversaries, graduations and a host of other holidays and celebrations. I can hardly make it through a week or two without having the need to get a gift for some kind of celebration or another. So I like to be prepared and have a few gifts on hand at all times. I've become convinced lately that chocolate candy makes a great gift for almost all occasions.

There are many reasons why a chocolate candy gift is a great choice for almost any gift. First of all, and most obvious, is that who doesn't love chocolate? I'm not sure that I know anyone who doesn't appreciate some good chocolate every once in a while. So who wouldn't appreciate some great chocolate candy for their birthday or to celebrate another special day or holiday? Anyone who loves chocolate will most certainly enjoy chocolate candy.

Another reason why giving chocolate candy is a great gift idea is because most people love eating candy. It is a great gift that may not last long, but it will most certainly be enjoyed while it still lasts. Who really needs another sweater or another book for a special occasion? It seems like everyone has enough of those. But who can really have enough chocolate candy? Exactly my point. No one. Everyone can appreciate something that they won't buy themselves.

I love giving gifts that will be really appreciated. I love having people really treasure and enjoy what they are given, and I have yet to go wrong with giving chocolate candy. I have given a variety of kinds of chocolate candy to different people, and I always try to match the candy with the person. So take a few minutes to really think about the person you are buying for and then pick out chocolate candy accordingly.

When I say that you should buy chocolate candy, I do not by any means mean that you should buy a Hershey bar and wrap it for a gift. Go for something more unique and exquisite. People will appreciate the time and creativity you put into finding the right chocolate gift just for them. Look at specialty food shops and other unique shops. Stray away from grocery stores. And don't be afraid to spend some money on your chocolate candy gift. The price really is a reflection of the taste when it comes to chocolate candy. Don't settle for something less than the best when you are giving it to someone you love.

About the Author:
Julee Mitchelsin is a etiquette advisor that loves to help people find great gifts. You can never go wrong with chocolate candy. See www.funchocolatecandy.info for more details.

Lowering Blood Pressure In A Natural Way - Eating Dark Chocolate

Lowering Blood Pressure In A Natural Way - Eating Dark Chocolate
By: Grojan Fabiola

Of course this is not a joke, a study was made in the US by specialists and published in the Journal of the American Heart Association about eating dark chocolate to lower the blood pressure. One bar of chocolate is enough to lower the blood pressure in a natural and so enjoyable way. It is also helping to improve the insulin resistance.

It was already known that food rich in flavinols are lowering the blood pressure. Flavinols are also called in a medical scientific language as natural antioxidants, and the aliments that are containing these antioxidants are like tea and red wine, but from now on we will put on this list the dark chocolate, too.

The study was pretty simple. It took place at University of L’Aguila in Italy particular for lowering the blood pressure, so it wasn't an accidental discover. At the study participate 20 persons, half men, half women, all suffering from high blood pressure. None of these persons took any medicaments or followed any treatment for lowering the blood pressure. But also they hadn't been suffering from another disease and the won't smoking. For the experiment to be perfect and for the results to be visible regarding lowering their blood pressure, the participants avoid chocolate for 2 weeks.

The experiments begin with dividing the group in two, one of them ate dark chocolate and the other white one. The amount was the same, a bar of 3.5oz daily for 15 days. Another week passed with no flavionoid foods and the groups swapped the type of chocolate. The white chocolate was the perfect control food for this lower blood pressure study as it containing all ingredients in the dark one but no flavinoids at all.

A very significant lowering of the blood pressure was found on the group that consumed the dark chocolate for 15 days, and not any blood pressure lowering in the group eating white chocolate. Another successful treatment, beside lowering blood pressure was the reduction in insulin resistance at the group eating dark chocolate. Also the bad cholesterol level decreased by 10 percent. At the group eating only white chocolate there was no changing regarding lowering blood pressure or cholesterol level; they were the same as the beginning of the experiment.

But the best natural ways to lower blood pressure still remains exercise and diet and a non-natural on medicaments prescriptions. All these can't be replaced with the eating of chocolate. Also it's very recommendable and occasional eating of small bar of dark chocolate rich in flavinoids to lower your blood pressure. It is also good for your taste buds and also it is helping your heart.

About the Author:
Grojan Fabiola is a professional writer, writing many articles from a large domain from agriculture to IT developing, now focusing on medical articles. So if you want more about natural treatments, and especially lowering blood pressure in a natural way, please click this link http://lowerbloodpressure.info

Cranberry Juice And Dark Chocolate: Two Easy Ways To Boost Good Health

Cranberry Juice And Dark Chocolate: Two Easy Ways To Boost Good Health
By: Connie Limon

Recent studies done at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Bloomberg School of Public Health reveal that the chemical in cocoa beans has a biochemical effect similar to aspirin in reducing platelet clumping, which can be fatal if a clot forms and blocks a blood vessel, causing a heart attack. Diane Becker, M.P.H., Sc.D., a professor at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and Bloomberg School of Public Health says that these findings are not intended as a prescription to eat large amounts of chocolate candy.

Large amounts of chocolate candy also contain large amounts of sugar, butter and cream. However, as little as two tablespoons of dark chocolate a day may be beneficial to our health. Dark chocolate is the purest form of the candy and is made from dried extract of roasted coca beans.

Eating a small amount of chocolate or having a drink of hot cocoa as part of a regular diet is probably good for your health. Be wise and do not eat too much chocolate, especially too much of the kind with lots of butter and sugar. Dark chocolate in small amounts is acceptable and beneficial to good health in persons who practice good health habits otherwise.

The body part most benefited by small amounts of dark chocolate, according to these researchers’ findings is the “heart.” The results really point out that a modest dietary practice can have a huge impact on blood and potentially on the health of people at a mildly elevated risk of heart disease. Researchers emphasize the fact that one single healthy dietary practice cannot be done alone. We must balance our small daily amounts of “dark chocolate” with exercise and other healthy lifestyle practices to reap the rewards of a healthier heart.

Another easy way of boosting good health is the daily consumption of cranberries. Cranberries are among the top foods with proven health benefits, according to Amy Howell, a researcher at Rutgers University. Cranberries are full of antioxidants. Antioxidants are instrumental in protecting cells from damage from molecules called “free radicals.”

Research on the cranberry’s effects on heart disease, yeast infections and other conditions such as cancer, stroke and viral infections has so far found that drinking cranberry juice can block urinary infections. A compound called “proanthocyanidine” prevents plaque formation on teeth. As a result of this finding mouthwashes containing the compound proanthocyanidine are being developed to prevent periodontal disease.

Studies have also shown that in some people regular cranberry juice consumption for months can kill the H.pylori bacteria, which can cause stomach cancer and ulcers.

Drinking cranberry juice daily may increase levels of HDL, or good cholesterol and reduce levels of LDL, or bad cholesterol.

Cranberries may prevent tumors from growing rapidly or starting in the first place.

So I guess the moral to this story is add a little dark chocolate to your already healthy diet and lifestyle practices plus drink a glass of cranberry juice daily. I wouldn’t advise to consume those two items at the same time; however, you might eat some dark chocolate in the morning with your morning coffee and several hours later as a snack drink a glass of cranberry juice. That sounds easy enough!

I just wish they would discover peanut butter fudge eaten in LARGE quantities was good for our health because peanut butter fudge is my favorite to drink with morning coffee.

About the Author:
Connie Limon, Trilogy Field Representative. Visit http://nutritionandhealthhub.com and sign up for a weekly nutrition and health tip. The article collection is available as FREE reprints for your newsletters, websites or blog. Visit http://www.healthylife27.com to purchase an array of superior quality, safe and effective products inspired by nature, informed by science and created to improve the health of people, pets and the planet.

Health By Chocolate: Why Dark Chocolate May Be Good For You

Health By Chocolate: Why Dark Chocolate May Be Good For You
By: Jason Flintstone

It's that time of year when giving and indulging in the sweetness of sweets (especially with your sweetie) is seen as perfectly acceptable.

But, new research shows that there are more reasons than ever to NOT avoid or deny your chocolate cravings all year long.

According to some studies done in Italy, dark chocolate has many of the same benefits as vitamin C helping the body use insulin more effectively and lower blood pressure.

The research examined two out of three chocolate varieties, dark chocolate and white chocolate. Dark chocolate is made up of cocoa solids and sugar but no milk solids (prevalent in milk chocolate) and white chocolate, although referred to as chocolate had no cocoa solids, but instead is made of cocoa butter (the fat in chocolate), mil solids and sugar.

According to the study, participants who enjoyed 100 grams of dark chocolate daily for 15 days had reduced blood pressure and become more sensitive to insulin than they were prior to the "experiment".

Researchers believe that the benefits of dark chocolate are because of the flavonoids it contains, which are associated with the ability to lower the risk of heart disease and some cancers. However, white chocolate exhibited no effect on patients since it is free of cocoa solids, where the flavonoids are found.

So what does this mean for you and me? Is it time to replace the celery and carrot platters with chocolate samplers and related goodies? Is it time to switch from "an apple a day" to "a chocolate bar a day"? The answer to this is probably a big "no". Nonetheless, knowing this little tidbit and what other discoveries it may lead to in the future sure won't inhibit a healthy person from treating themselves to the oh-so-desirable rich goodness of a nice piece of dark chocolate on occasion.

About the Author:
LIFamilies.com - Family community for Long Island, NY

For The Chocoholics: All About Chocolate

For The Chocoholics: All About Chocolate
By: Caley Walsh

If you're like many people, chocolate is not a luxury; it's a necessity. Often considered the fifth food group, chocolate has inspired one of the most widespread and passionate of people's love affairs with food. While the taste is nothing short of amazing, our fascination with chocolate since its discovery over 2000 years ago has included other benefits as well. Chocolate has been considered an aphrodisiac, a natural cure for the blues, part of cardiovascular health (more recently), and even a form of currency. With its rich history and particular health and social importance, we at Recipe4Living thought it only right to include a guide to chocolate. Satisfy your curiosity about chocolate's past, how it's made, and how you can select, store, and prepare chocolate in your own home.

A Brief History of Chocolate

Mayan Beginnings
Our chocolate obsession actually began many, many centuries ago with the Mayan civilization of Mexico and Central America (250-900 A.D.). But, the Mayan form of chocolate bore hardly any resemblance to what we enjoy today. Most Mayans grew the cacao tree, the source of chocolate, in their backyards, and harvested the seeds, which they then fermented, roasted, and ground. Combined with water and hot chili spices, the ground paste became an unsweetened frothy beverage regularly enjoyed as part of Mayan life.

Aztec and the Sacred Brew
The Aztecs adapted this bitter drink and even considered it the food of the gods. The word chocolate comes from the Aztec word "xocoatl," meaning bitter drink. While most Mayans could enjoy the drink, chocolate was reserved for royalty, priests, and other members of the highest social class in Aztec culture. Chocolate was such an important part of Aztec society that cacao seeds became a form of currency.

Journey to Europe
When the Spanish, led by Hernando Cortez, conquered Mexico in 1521, they quickly picked up on the importance of chocolate to the Aztecs and started shipping it home. The Spanish added cinnamon, sugar, and other spices to the very expensive import, and kept their chocolate drink a secret enjoyed only by the Spanish nobility for almost 300 years. When Spanish royalty began marrying other Europeans, the word spread quickly and it was soon popular all over Europe, but only for the wealthy. Not until the 18th and 19th century, when sea trade expanded and chocolate began to be mass produced, could most of the middle class afford chocolate. By the late 18th century, chocolate houses were as popular as coffee houses throughout England.

Making Chocolate

Unlike many crops, the pods of the delicate cacao tree must be picked by hand, making the process of creating chocolate a laborious affair. The pods are opened one by one, and the pulp-covered seeds extracted. To reduce bitterness, cacao seeds are fermented for several days (like wine grapes), and then dried. At this point, farmers sell sacks of cacao seeds to corporate buyers, where industrial machines take over. On the factory floor, large machines roast the seeds to release the taste and aroma. The roasted seeds are cracked open to reach the nib or heart, which is then ground into chocolate liquor (not liqueur). This thick liquid, made of cocoa butter and cocoa solids, is manipulated to create the different kinds of chocolate.

Cocoa- This powdered form of chocolate, often used in baking, is made from pulverized cocoa solids with the cocoa butter removed.

Unsweetened Chocolate (Bitter/Baking Chocolate)- This is pure, unaltered chocolate liquor, made of 45% cocoa solids and 55% cocoa butter.

Bittersweet Chocolate (Semi-Sweet)- Sugar, cocoa butter, lecithin, and vanilla are added to chocolate liquor to make this kind of chocolate, which contains at least 35% chocolate liquor. Bittersweet chocolate and sweeter semi-sweet chocolate are used interchangeably in baking.
Couverture- This term is given to bittersweet and semi-sweet chocolate varieties of the highest quality. Couverture chocolates contain a higher percentage of chocolate liquor (even 70%).

Dark Chocolate (Also Called Sweet Chocolate by U.S. Government)- No milk is added in this form of chocolate, which contains between 15% and 35% chocolate liquor. Dark chocolate is actually lighter in chocolate flavor than bittersweet and semi-sweet even though it is dark in color.

Milk Chocolate- This popular form of chocolate contains milk or milk solids and 10% to 25% chocolate liquor. Milk chocolate is smoother, sweeter, and less bitter than darker varieties.

White Chocolate- Since white chocolate contains no cocoa solids, it's not really chocolate at all. White "chocolate" is made from cocoa butter, vanilla, milk, and sugar. It may not be chocolate, but it's still delicious.

Chocolate is Good for You!........Honestly!

* Mood Elevator- Chocolate contains phenylethylamine, which is a mild mood elevator/anti-depressant, and also happens to be the same chemical that our brain produces when we feel love or happiness. Chocolate contains other stimulants to "raise" your mood, such as caffeine, in very small amounts. In fact, one ounce of milk chocolate only has about as much caffeine as a cup of decaffeinated coffee. Because these chemicals are so mild, chocolate is not considered physically addictive (despite how many people feel about it).

o Want to make the ultimate aphrodisiac? Like chocolate, chili peppers are considered an aphrodisiac for their intensity of taste and their ability to raise the heart rate. The Mayans and Aztecs understood this great pairing, and many chocolatiers today are adding different types of chilies to their sweets. Give it a try with your significant other. Try these great recipes:

Chocolate Chili Bites
Chocolate Chili Ice Cream
Spicy Chocolate Cake
Spicy Chocolate Truffles
Mayan Hot Chocolate
One-Bowl Spicy Chocolate Cake

* Cardiovascular Health- Like red wine, tea, fruits, and vegetables, cocoa seeds contain important antioxidants called flavonoids. Antioxidants help to reduce certain damage to the body's cells and tissues over time. In recent studies, the flavonoids in chocolate have been found to regulate certain hormones essential to cardiovascular health and may even have further immunoregulatory effects. Dark chocolate, which contains the highest concentration of cocoa liquor, is considered the best for your health. Dark chocolate contains about twice as many antioxidants as a bar of milk chocolate.

* Cholesterol- Just because it tastes good doesn't mean it has to be bad for you. Unlike many comfort foods, eating chocolate will not raise your cholesterol. Chocolate and cocoa butter contain both saturated and unsaturated fat. But unlike many saturated fats, the stearic acid in chocolate is a neutral fat and does not raise bad cholesterol levels (LDL). The unsaturated fat in chocolate, oleic acid, is the same type of fat as in olive oil, which may actually help raise good cholesterol (HDL).

Chocolate Care

* Storage- Chocolate should be stored in a cool, dry place at approximately 65-70 degrees F. It should not be stored in the refrigerator, because moisture will alter the chocolate's texture and appearance. High temperatures will cause a "bloom" or "cloud" on the surface of the chocolate. This bloom does not affect the taste or freshness of the chocolate, only the appearance. It is caused when the cocoa butter crystals melt and migrate to the surface of the chocolate.

* Isolation- Chocolate has a tendency to absorb the odors of any food around it, which is another reason not to store chocolate in the fridge. Don't store chocolate in the same cabinet as onions, for example, because it will affect the taste of the chocolate. Be careful that the storage container and all preparation utensils are clean and odorless.

* Shelf Life- Most chocolate will keep for about a year if stored properly, and the darker varieties last longer. Filled chocolates should only keep for about one month.

* Moisture- Do not add water to chocolate unless your recipe specifically calls for it. Water will harden the texture and consistency of chocolate. Keep this principle in mind when melting chocolate. Do not cover melting chocolate with a lid because steam will collect on the lid and fall into the chocolate. You can use a light cloth cover if need.

* Melting Chocolate- Because chocolate is very delicate to heat, you have to melt chocolate slowly, well removed from heat. Always heat chocolate over low heat or it will quickly become an unappetizing mass. Use a double boiler, or place the saucepan with chocolate on top another saucepan with boiling water on the stovetop. Keep in mind that chocolate will continue to melt even after removing it from a heat source, so be careful not to overcook.
o Unsweetened chocolate will easily liquefy when melted, but sweetened chocolate must be continually stirred.
o Chocolate flavored coating contains cocoa and vegetable oil, rather than cocoa butter. Coatings are popular because they are easier to use for things like dipping, but the taste and quality are nowhere near real chocolate.

* Cooking with Chocolate- Try to avoid thinning chocolate with butter. Instead, look for chocolate with a higher percentage of cocoa butter to maintain the quality of your product. When blending different kinds of chocolate, such as milk and bittersweet, use the same brand. Ingredients and preparation can vary greatly between companies, making particular tastes that many not blend together smoothly.

More Great Chocolate Recipes:

Chicken in Mole Sauce
Turkey Mole
Chocolate Biscotti
Chocolate & Orange Swirl Muffins
Flourless Chocolate Cake
Diabetic-Friendly Chocolate Cheesecake
The Ritz-Carlton Chocolate Chip Cookie
Chocolate Dream Bars
Best Chocolate Brownies
Chocolate Espresso Torte
Chocolate Mint Dreams
Chocolate Molten Lava Cake

About the Author:
http://Recipe4Living.com features more than 10,000 user submitted recipes, ideas and recipes from Wolfgang Puck, reference guides, healthy living advice, tips for kids, and much more. You can find all recipes mentioned in this article at http://www.recipe4living.com

The Secret To Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies

The Secret To Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies
By: Debi Geroux

Why is that whenever you see a recipe with the finished cookies pictured and then try to duplicate those cookies they never come out "just right"? It's like the fast food commercials that tempt you with a big juicy hamburger perfectly sitting on a fresh bun and when you actually purchase the burger, what you get is a shriveled piece of meat stuck between two flattened pieces of bun!

Do you want your chocolate chip cookies to come out soft and chewy every single time? The secret to perfect chocolate chip cookies is really very simple! And you can make them with any chocolate chip recipe at your disposal.

The problem with most chocolate chip cookie recipes is they have you drop a spoonful on a cookie sheet and bake them for 9 to 12 minutes until the tops are golden brown. That is too long! By the time the tops are golden brown, your bottoms are dark brown, or worse, burnt. After the cookies have baked this long, removing them from the oven in this over-baked condition and having them stand only causes them to harden up like jawbreakers. Instead of soft, chewy cookies that melt in your mouth, you end up with hard, crunchy cookies with burnt bottoms.

Dropping larger amounts on the cookie sheet to make bigger cookies doesn't work. It takes longer for the middle of the cookie to bake and you still end up with burnt bottoms and hard cookies.

Instead of following the recipe instructions to bake 9 to 12 minutes, underbake your cookies by a couple of minutes. The first time you try this, you will have to play around with the time and the size of your cookie drops to get the perfect chocolate chip cookie for your oven. But, as a general rule, after you put your cookie tray in your oven (always on the top rack), set your timer for 6 to 8 minutes. When you pull your cookies out, the entire top should NOT be golden brown. Instead, the peaks of the top of the cookie should just be turning brown. At this time, the entire bottom of your cookie is golden brown and the rest of cookie is the same color as the batter.

Remove the cookie tray from the oven and let them stand for a minute or so since the cookies will be incredibly soft and will fall apart if you try to immediately remove them from the cookie sheet. After they have firmed up a bit, remove them from the cookie sheet to your cooling rack or a piece of wax paper.

With this method, you are guaranteed to bake the perfect chocolate chip cookies and have people asking you what YOUR secret is!

Basic Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

2-1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs
2 cups semi-sweet chocolate morsels
1 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Combine flour, baking soda and salt in small bowl. Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla in large mixer bowl. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Gradually beat in flour mixture. Stir in morsels and nuts. Drop by teaspoon onto ungreased baking sheets.

Bake in preheated 375 degree F oven for 6 to 7 minutes or until peaks in top of cookie are starting to brown. Let stand for 2 minutes. Remove to wire racks or wax paper to cool completely.

About the Author:
Debi Geroux is the President of Purple Kitty LLC, an online retail business, and webmaster of http://www.purplekittyyarns.com and http://www.oursoaringeagle.com which bring you craft ideas, free patterns, recipes and unique gifts.

Everyone Loves Chocolate Chip Cookies

Everyone Loves Chocolate Chip Cookies
Submitted By: Rachael Cleipher

If you are like me, you remember how much you loved visiting grandma's house as a kid. You loved it because you got spoiled there. She let you play any game you wanted, you got to be silly and goofy, and you could even have candy before dinner. Grandma let you do all of the things that your mom said no to. But there is another reason kids love going to grandma's house to visit: her chocolate chip cookies.

Chocolate cookies are loved by most people I know. And most of us discovered our love for them as small children in the comfort of grandma's kitchen. For some reason her cookies were always much better than mom's. Maybe it is because they were always hot and soft or because she probably let you eat as many as you wanted. Whatever the reason, one thing is sure. You loved, and maybe still do love, chocolate chip cookies.

Chocolate chip cookies are the perfect snack. You can eat them when they are warm and right out of the oven or you can save them for a few days and still enjoy them just as much. Some people even love to eat the dough of the chocolate chip cookies before they are baked. Not many other snacks can be eaten in so many fun ways. Perfect with a glass of milk, chocolate cookies can be enjoyed after school, just before bed, and during any season of the year. They are just as good when it is freezing cold outside as they are in the middle of summer.

Chocolate chip cookies are the most famous kind of cookies. Everyone has eaten one and most everyone loves them. You can find them in every grocery store and bakery you enter, and most every cook I know has a special recipe to make the perfect batch. Chocolate chip cookies are great because they are made with a few simple ingredients, most of which you have in the house all the time.

Making chocolate chip cookies is a perfect way to get children started working in a kitchen and learning to cook. All kids love to help mom with mixing and pouring the ingredients together, and there is nothing better to let kids experiment with than chocolate chip cookies. Kids can get involved and have a special job to do and they can see and taste the results of their hard work. Baking chocolate chip cookies is a great family building activity that can fill any Saturday afternoon with fun.

So the next time you remember how great grandma's chocolate chip cookies really were, get out your own secret recipe and get your whole family to make the special memory of making and baking the perfect chocolate chip cookie.

About the Author:
Rachael Cleipher has always loved chocolate chip cookies and has developed a secret recipe of her own. You can too by checking out www.chocolatechipcookieshub.info

Amazing Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

Amazing Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe
By: Jeff Dorrian

This is our families secret chocolate chip recipe. We have a large family so this one makes over 4 dozen chocolate chip cookies. You can experiment with most cookie recipes to adjust to your own taste. Remenmber the more brown sugar you use the more chewy type cookie you create. I don't think this one needs much adjusting. First we will start with ingredients.

INGREDIENTS:

4 cups (1 ounce) squares unsweetened chocolate
1cup butter
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups yellow cake mix
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups white sugar
1 cup brown sugar
4 eggs
2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/4cup sour cream
3 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

Directions to cookie recipe.

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Melt butter and unsweetened chocolate together.
3. Sift cake mix, flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt together.
4. In a large bowl, beat sugar, eggs, and vanilla.
5. Stir the chocolate mixture into the eggs.
6. Stir in the sifted ingredients with sour cream.
7. Mix in chocolate chips.
8. Drop rounded tablespoonfuls cookie sheets.
9. Bake for until edges are starting to turn dark brown.

Enjoy these wonderful cookies at any occasion. They disappear very quickly at family events. You might notice my secret ingredient. It is the boxed yellow cake mix. Cake flour gives the cookie a little more body than the regular unbleached flour.You may use any of your favorite brands. If you are making smaller cookies don't forget that the baking time goes down. Many ovens produce heat from the bottom of the oven, so as not burn the bottom of the cookies many times I will double pan the cookies before I bake them. Baking is similar to a gigantic chemistry experiment. The best way to get the experiment right is to keep experimenting. Once you have found the best combinations of ingredients and procedures, stick with it. Enjoy!

About the Author:
Jeffrey Dorrian is the owner and publisher of American-Recipes.com. He has been a professional baker for more than 17 years and now shares his best recipes with us. Free Recipes

This Is The Best Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe Ever

This Is The Best Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe Ever
By: Michael Haydon

I know it’s a big call but I think I’ve got this right. You want to know it don’t you? If your answer is yes then you can classify yourself as a self confessed chocolate chip cookie addict. A real life cookie monster. OK here it is:

The Recipe

1/4 cup brown sugar
1/8 cup honey
1/8 cup butter
1/8 cup natural peanut butter
1/2 banana, mashed
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
5/8 cup whole wheat flour
1/8 cup oat bran
1/2 cup rolled oats
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 pinch pumpkin pie spice
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
2 tablespoons sunflower seeds

DIRECTIONS:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

In a medium bowl, mix together the brown sugar, honey, butter and peanut butter until smooth. Stir in the banana and vanilla. Combine the whole wheat flour, oat bran, oats, baking soda, salt and pumpkin pie spice in a separate bowl. Stir the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients until it forms a smooth dough. Mix in the cranberries, chocolate chips and sunflower seeds. Drop by spoonfuls onto an ungreased baking sheet.

Bake for 10 to 12 minutes in the preheated oven, until cookies are lightly browned at the edges.

Servings Per Recipe: 12

Although this chocolate chip cookie recipe is not the most basic, I have tried an awful lot before I settled on this one as my favorite. Try it I know you’ll agree. Drop me a line if you want to let me know how you found it. I’m always ready to consider improvements! You will note that I have used dark chocolate chips because I really have a preference for dark chocolate. My kids prefer a sweeter version but I reserve the above recipe as a secret adult one! Once I even made my own dark chocolate by using the very best ingredients I could find. I took a special chocolate making class where I learned the basics. (Yes I’m a real freak!), and then concocted the most exquisite chocolate imaginable then promptly ate most of them just keeping a few pieces which I used in the cookie mix above. It really complemented the cranberries. I have left out the chocolate making part as I think you will find equally good chips in the right stores.

Good luck and I hope you will join the ever increasing crowds of fans of this soon to be famous recipe.

About the Author:
Michael writes for a number of sites sharing information and insight across a broad range of topics.As far as chocolate goes, he is an expert. You can see more at http://chocolatemad.com a site for true chocolate lovers.

The Birth Of The Chocolate Chip Cookie

The Birth Of The Chocolate Chip Cookie
By: Michelle Bery

Adrift in our memory banks are the smells and tastes of the food of our childhoods. One whiff of something familiar coming from the kitchen and we are instantly kids again. And no food is more closely aligned with that of childhood than the chocolate chip cookie. Warm and gooey, hard and crunchy, filled with nuts or deliciously plain, the chocolate chip cookie embodies all that is sweet and wonderful about childhood.

As owners and operators of the Toll House Inn in 1930’s Massachusetts, Ruth Wakefield and her husband tended to all of their guests’ needs in an effort to give them a unique experience. Ruth herself worked in the kitchen, quickly gaining popularity with her scrumptious desserts. One favorite, the Butter Drop Do cookie called for baker’s chocolate. Having run out of baker’s chocolate during one of her weekly cookie bakes, Ruth instead substituted semi-sweet chocolate from a bar given to her by one of her guests – Andrew Nestle of Nestle Chocolate Company. Needless to say, the new chocolate chip cookie became quite a hit, as tasters enjoyed the softened chocolate nestled inside the cookie – a far cry from the baker’s chocolate, which melted entirely.

The chocolate chip cookie rocketed to stardom taking Nestle’s semi-sweet chocolate along with it. Eager to align his company further with this popular treat, Andrew Nestle traded Ruth Wakefield a lifetime supply of chocolate for the rights to print her chocolate chip cookie recipe on all of his chocolate packaging.

That famous recipe stands today delighting generation after generation with its simple goodness. Of course, as the years have gone by, those trying to elevate the chocolate chip cookie to the next level have added all manner of different ingredients. Contests are held all over the world in search of the best chocolate chip cookie. But most cookie enthusiasts will tell you that the very best chocolate chip cookie is the one that is simple in its creation. As the saying goes, sometimes less is more.

For the baking challenged among us, the chance to make the chocolate chip cookie is still within our grasp. Advancements in packaging have given way to pre-made chocolate chip cookie dough – ready to slice and bake; no mixing of ingredients, no mess of any kind – and in 10 minutes you have fresh baked cookies right out of the oven.

But if you want to give chocolate chip cookie making from scratch a try, you can always find the sweetest recipe of all – right on the back of Nestle’s Chocolate Chips!

About the Author:
For easy to understand, in depth information about chocolate visit our ezGuide 2 Chocolate

Chocolate Truffles

Chocolate Truffles
By: Catherine King

Note: Makes as many pieces as you cut it into! The better quality chocolate has a smoother texture than the more commonly available Baker’s chocolate due to its high cocoa butter content. Callebaut, Valrhona and Scharffen Berger are all good choices. Total Carbohydrates with nuts: 33, Total Carbohydrates without nuts: 22

Ingredients:
2 oz. unsweetened chocolate
4 Tbsp. Splenda
4 Tbsp. butter, at room temperature
4Tbsp. whipping cream, at room temperature
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 oz. crushed macadamia nuts (optional)

The success of this recipe depends upon the melted chocolate and butter being at the same temperature. If not, the chocolate and butter will separate.

Melt the chocolate either in the microwave or in a bowl over a pot of simmering water. Stir in the Splenda and cool to room temperature. Combine the chocolate and butter until smooth. Stir in cream and vanilla, then the nuts if using.

Spread evenly into a small, parchment lined loaf pan-I use one that was 4-by 7-inches. Chill until firm. Cut into pieces and store in the freezer.

About the Author:

For More FREE Yummy Recipes Go To http://www.momthecook.com TODAY

Dream In Chocolate: How Much People Love Natural Chocolate

Dream In Chocolate: How Much People Love Natural Chocolate
By: Fred Goldman

Take away a woman’s chocolate and some say you take away her soul. People throughout the ages have loved healthy bites of divine chocolate.

Queen Isabella first learned about chocolate when Columbus returned from America. He bestowed the magical brown beans known today as cocoa beans.

Often called the food of the Gods, natural chocolate was used by the Aztec Indians who made their own hot chocolate as a sort of royal drink. Emperor Montezuma served bitter chocolate in golden goblets, but Spaniards later decided to sweeten it with cane sugar.

Sugar-free options for chocolate

Today we have the option of sugarless candy and chocolates that do not contain cane sugar. We understand better that sugar is not ideal for our health.

One of the first hints that a woman might be getting her period soon is the fact she begins to crave chocolate. Women love natural chocolate because it eases her moodiness and helps her feel more in balance. Experts say that is because chocolate contains magnesium, which is important for our health. But instead of indulging in sugar, which can make PMS symptoms worse, it’s wise to try sugarless candies and chocolates that are natural and healthy.

What does chocolate taste like?

Why is it people crave chocolate whether they have a deficiency in magnesium or not? Chocolate teases the senses with its aroma and luscious taste and texture.

Experts say chocolate actually contains more than 300 distinct chemicals. Caffeine is surprisingly found in small quantities in chocolate so, if you want a caffeine high, it’s better to select coffee. Experts say the combination of caffeine and Theobromine, another weak stimulant, does provide a lift for chocolate lovers.

Finally, chocolate contains Phenylethylamine, which is related to amphetamines. They are stronger stimulants. When you dive into a box of chocolate or visit the chocolate store, your body and brain is probably going crazy with desire. Just be smart and select the sugarless candy and natural chocolates for better health.

About the Author:
Fred Goldman owner of http://D-lectable.com. Love chocolate? Hate the synthetic ingredients that make you fat? http://D-lectable.com has natural chocolate, sugarless and low-carb. You'll never know the difference, but your scale will! http://www.d-lectable.com

Valentines Day Candy Celebration

Valentines Day Candy Celebration
By: Christopher Pratt

In the United States, St. Valentine's Day is the second largest card giving holiday celebrated. Somewhere in the vicinity of 190 million lover's and friend's greeting cards are sent each year. The holiday is said to come to us from ancient Roman Empire times when a priest who was forbidden to perform marriages for the young strapping, healthy Roman soldiers defied Roman law and performed the marriages anyway. He was eventually caught and imprisoned and executed. Now that's romantic.

Ever since the early 1700's, Americans have been sending expression of friendship, gratitude, and love to those around them. In the early 1800's, Esther A. Howland produced the first commercial Valentine greeting cards. And even though receiving a beautiful card is wonderful, Americans have demonstrated, by their purchases during this winter holiday, that candy is still our sentiment of preference.

Of all of the gifts and love notes exchanged on Valentine's Day the most popular item is candy, and for good reason. Each year on the same day in mid February (the 14th) candy is given to loved ones as a symbol of our love and commitment. There are thousands of candymakers across the country that hit high gear in the early weeks of the year to meet the incredible demands of candy lovers.

Shops and stores offer big red hearts filled with a variety of sugar filled delicacies, nuts and sweets nesting in tiny little organdy bags, or just plain old candy bars; it doesn't matter as it is given with love. That's right the holiday is all about love. It is the lover's holiday.

This is the time of year for sweethearts to enthrall their honeys with words of devotion and gifts of sweets. The supplies of goodies are unlimited, and the candies nestled in elaborate beribboned boxes are like gold. For some reason, perhaps the value of the cocoa and chocolate products in previous centuries made the gift of candy a real prize. So, when a young suitor showed up to his girl's house with candy under his arm, the object of his affections knew she was highly prized.

Much like the past it is still exciting to be given some of your favorite candy and chocolates on Valentine's Day. Some enjoy the dark chocolate, others light. Some are even switching to sugarless chocolate to suit their latest dieting needs. Don't forget caramel and nougat or any other candy that suits your palate. Whatever it is honor a loved one or friend with their favorites wrapped up in a big red bow this Valentine's Day!

About the Author:
Christopher Pratt is President of Candy Warehouse, http://www.candywarehouse.com, the leading online Candy Store for bulk candy discounts and specialty candy for specific occasions.

The History Of Chocolate

The History Of Chocolate
By: Jane Roseen

A journey through the history of chocolate reveals that this mysterious food has woven its story throughout multiple cultures and continents impacting civilizations culturally, socially, economically and spiritually. A study of the history of chocolate begins by going back in time to the realm of the Maya Indians and the Olmec Civilizations of Central America.

The word cacao was found in the Olmec vocabulary nearly 3,000 years ago. The hot, humid, but shady climate of the tropical rain forests of this region was perfect for growing cacao plants. The Maya felt the cacao tree was owned by the gods and the pods were offered as a gift from the gods to man. The cacao pod became the symbol of fertility and life in the Mayan culture.

Later, in the 18th century, a Swedish botanist named Linnaeus, called the cacao tree theobroma cacao, which means "drink of the gods". It was the Mayan people that did indeed make a drink from the cacao pods. This drink was considered a "royal" brew enjoyed by the noblemen and kings and was often used in sacred rituals. Hot chili peppers were added to flavor it or maize was often added to change its texture.

In 1502, Columbus, on his 4th and final voyage to the Caribbean, was given a sack of cacao seeds as a form of payment. He was unsure of the worth of the seeds, so the Aztecs made him a drink from the pods to show him its potential. They felt this drink was a source of energy, spiritual wisdom, and enhanced sexual powers. They used it to fortify their warriors when in battle. Although Columbus did not personally care for it, he accepted the seeds in payment, being curious as to its value upon returning to Spain.

Years later, when Cortes arrived in the New World, he noted that the Aztecs used the cacao beans as their treasury and kept huge storehouses of the seeds. Cortes was offered a cacao plantation and a royal welcome from the Aztec ruler Montezuma, when he mistakenly thought Cortes was the reincarnation of a former god and king. This was the beginning of the downfall of the Aztec Empire, but helped Cortes realize that this crop had tremendous potential led him to establish cacao plantations throughout the Caribbean.

When Columbus and Cortes returned to Spain the bitter cacao drink of the Aztec culture was introduced to Europe and there it was sweetened to make it more in tune to the European tastes. It became a drink of the elite and wealthy. Within ten years, chocolate was enjoyed throughout the courts in the French aristocracy. Chocolate became known throughout the countries of Europe and in the middle of the 17th century chocolate appeared in England. There it was highly taxed continuing its reputation as a luxury to be enjoyed only by those privileged enough to afford it.

Cacao was primarily only for drinking until 1828. Chocolate was prepared as a drink by grinding up the beans into a thin paste and adding spices and sweetening and then adding something to soak up the cocoa butter, which would float to the surface.

Coenraad J. Van Houten, a Dutch chemist in that year invented a press which would release the cocoa butter from the bean, leaving the dryer cake that could be ground up into a powder similar to the fat-free cocoa powder we enjoy today.

Twenty years later European companies used the presses made by Van Houten to produce the first eating chocolate. By taking what was left after separating the cocoa powder from the butter, the industry saw that they could melt the cocoa butter and combine it with a blend of ground cacao beans and sugar, mix this into a paste and mold it. Edible chocolate was the final product. Chocolate appeared on the market in the United States around the turn of the twentieth century and now nearly one hundred years later is still in harmony with all who love it's unique, rich taste.

About the Author:
Jane S. Roseen is the Owner and President of Harmony Sweets. Harmony Sweets’ mission focuses on individual consumers purchasing gourmet chocolates from around the world for their friends and relatives and corporate gifting. Website: http://www.harmonysweets.com

What Is Chocolate

What Is Chocolate
By: Simon Pendering

Ah, chocolate, the universal food that calms anxiety, helps women through relationship breakups, creates romance, and downright tastes magnificent. While millions of people enjoy chocolate every day, some for baking and some for snacking, most are not sure, where it comes from or how it is made. The truth is that creating chocolate takes time and some attention to detail but the results are worth all the effort.

With chocolate, the results can be sweet, semi-sweet, and even bitter. For starters, ripe cacao bean pods that come from the cacao tree are harvested. Once picked, the pods are split open, the pulp on the inside is scraped out, and then the pulp is allowed to ferment for several days. This process requires the pulp to be spread out in the sun to dry at which time the seeds are extracted from the pulp. From there, the seeds are packaged and ready to be shipped to the manufacturer.

The manufacturer takes the cacao seeds, cleaning them to get rid of any dirt or other foreign materials. From there, the seeds are roasted, which helps to loose the outside husks. The inner kernel of the seed is then broken down into small pieces known as nips. When the manufacturing process reaches the "nip" phase, the final product is determined by the process used.

For starters, if the nips are ground, oil is released, which transforms the mass into chocolate liquor. When this substance becomes hard, it turns into bitter chocolate most commonly used for making candy and baking. Now, if the manufacturer wants to make semi-sweet or sweet chocolate, the nips would also be ground to extract the oil but in this case, other substances would be added to include cocoa butter. For dry cocoa, which can be used in baking, cooking, or for making hot chocolate, the mass left over is again ground down and dried.

The fascinating thing about chocolate, especially cocoa is that it dates back to the Aztec Indians who would crush the cacao beans, boil them with water, and then add various spices to include pepper for creating a magnificent drink that was consumed cold. Even the Spanish explorers fell in love with cocoa. Finding the Aztec recipe, they eliminated the pepper, added sugar, and found the drink quite refreshing both cold and hot. As you can see, chocolate making is a detailed process but thankfully, it means one of the favorite foods in the world being created for all of us to enjoy.

About the Author:
Simpon Pendering loves chocolate. His web site at: http://www.chocolatechest.com is a chocolate lovers delight. If chocolate is your 'thing', then hop over to http://www.chocolatechest.com and enjoy!

Chocolate Is Good For You!

Chocolate Is Good For You!
By: Janette Blackwell

Great news on the chocolate front! Chocolate is good for you. Under certain circumstances.

Katherine Tallmadge, spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association, says, in the February 9, 2005, WASHINGTON POST, that “cacao, or cocoa beans, contain ‘flavanols,’ naturally occurring plant compounds also found in tea, red wine, and apples. Their properties have been studied as heart disease inhibitors.”

Carl L. Keen, chair of the department of nutrition at University of California, Davis, states in the same article that “the flavanols in cocoa help maintain a healthy vascular system. They reduce blood clotting -- an aspirin like effect -- reduce oxidative damage and improve blood flow.”

Unfortunately the flavanols in chocolate are bitter and are mostly removed from processed chocolate. The level decreases with each step, from the bean to the cocoa powder, and ultimately to a finished product. But big manufacturers like Nestle and Mars Inc.(producers of M&Ms) are working on chocolate items that are -- what else? -- good for you. We can soon expect chocolate bars and candies that advertise their high level of flavanols. In the meantime, the only product that states its flavanol level is Mars’ Dove Dark Chocolate, which has 150 mg. in 1.3 oz., a high level. It also has 200 calories. We live in an imperfect world.

While we’re waiting for more high-flavanol products, Ms. Tallmadge recommends unsweetened cocoa powder, but not the alkalized “Dutch processed” kind, which has had its flavanols reduced. Next in desirability is semisweet or bittersweet chocolate with a high cocoa percentage. Some chocolates contain as much as 70 percent cocoa, but they can have as little as 35 percent. The percent of cocoa in milk chocolate can be even lower, and she does not recommend it. She says, “I recommend cocoa or an ounce per day of dark chocolate, which may be about 110 to 150 calories, depending on the chocolate. Any more than that and you’re probably going to take in too many calories for weight control.”

Do you have any idea of what you just read? A highly qualified nutrition professional is RECOMMENDING that you eat chocolate! Maybe not large quantities of chocolate, but chocolate. If you have suffered much in the area of chocolate, you may want to enlarge that statement and post it on your bathroom mirror, where it can cheer you on rainy mornings.

Now comes the chocolate frosting on the cake. Deanna K. reports: “The Diabetic Educator told me about CARBOLITE, a 1.1 oz. low carb chocolate bar made with Splenda, containing 0 sugar carbs, 15-18g carbohydrates, depending on flavor. On Google type in ‘Carbolite’for more information.”

Deanna continues, “The other chocolate bar that I think is acceptable is Amber Lyn Chocolates (fine imported Belgian chocolate), sugar free and carb conscious. A little higher in calories than Carbolite, the 1.2 oz bar has 15-16g carbs. For nutrition information visit www.amberlynchocolates.com.” The dark chocolate bars have 157 calories.

Flavanols are not listed, but these dark chocolates are a good bet for that HEALTHFUL piece of chocolate it is your DUTY to eat regularly. And soon, no doubt, manufacturers will begin to formulate their candies to be high in flavanols -- and say so.

About the Author:
Go STEAMIN’ DOWN THE TRACKS WITH VIOLA HOCKENBERRY, a storytelling cookbook -- and find Montana country cooking, nostalgic stories, and gift ideas -- at Janette Blackwell’s Food and Fiction, http://foodandfiction.com/Entrance.html -- or visit her Delightful Food Directory, http://delightfulfood.com/main.html