Posted on 07/07/2020 10:03:46 AM PDT by Harmless Teddy Bear
There are a number of dates throughout the year promoting variations of local, national or international Chocolate Day – our research leads us to believe that this is the true, definitive, purist ‘Chocolate Day‘, so celebrate with some of the high cocoa, rich, dark chocolate that makes you go tingly inside.
Chocolate Day is nothing short of a special tribute to mankind’s greatest culinary invention. (Sorry Bread or even Pizza!) Chocolate can enhance and help to create the most luxurious desserts and can even be enjoyed and indulged on its own. Some of the most popular chocolate bars are plain and simple. If this is the one for you, try going for a high cocoa percentage with low added sugar.
The History Of Chocolate Day
The history of chocolate goes back around 2,500 years. The Aztecs loved their newly discovered liquid chocolate to the extent that they believed the god of wisdom, Quetzalcoatl, literally bestowed it upon them. Cocoa seeds even acted as a form of currency. Could you imagine going shopping or buying a house will a huge pile of Cocoa seeds? It would be wonderful, no? These days, the chocolate was bitter, as it was long before sugar was added. Once chocolate took a turn and went sweet in a 16th Century Europe, chocolate caught on to the masses and became one of many households favorite treats.
Many present-day chocolate companies began operations in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Cadbury began in England by 1868. And then 25 years later Milton S. Hershey, purchased chocolate processing equipment at the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago, he is now one of the biggest and world-known chocolate creators in the world. He began the company by producing chocolate-coated caramels. Nestlé began back in the 1860s and has grown into one of the largest food conglomerates in the world. You’re bound to of heard of one of these if not all of them. Perhaps you even enjoy a bar or two or their fine chocolate creations at home.
How Is Chocolate Made?
Many people are unaware that chocolate is a fermented food. You heard that right, once the cacao pods are picked, and then cleaned of pithy white material from the fruit, they are dried and then the cacao beans are fermented. The cacao nibs are revealed once the papery shell is removed. This is where the fun and creativity come in.
Chocolatiers then grind the nibs into cocoa mass, separating them into cocoa solids and cocoa butter, they then combine them with milk and sugar. If they’re creating white chocolate then it’s just the chocolate butter with milk and sugar. It’s definitely worth celebrating this process, especially considering how much thought goes into getting it just right. Every Chocolatier has different methods and ideas that are all popular across the world.
As time has gone on, we have moved towards the indulgence of dark chocolate. It contains far less sugar and holds a higher percentage of cocoa. If you’re looking for the best dark chocolate it’s worth checking out the ones you find from the Ivory Coast, Ghana, and Ecuador. They have ideal climates for cocoa trees and they are known for producing some of the best chocolate. It certainly sounds good! When you purchase chocolate from these regions it’s always best to make sure it’s “fair trade chocolate,” this means you are helping to help make cocoa farming more sustainable. It’s certainly something to keep in mind!
How to celebrate Chocolate Day
Although some would love to celebrate this day every day, the chocolate day gives you the perfect opportunity to eat your favorites in ample portions. Do you really need any more of an excuse to over indulge? It’s definite harmless once in a while.
The chocolate flavor is most definitely a favorite right throughout the world. It flavors cakes, breakfast cereal, toppings, desserts, candies, ice creams, and much more. Considering its popularity, it certainly deserves a day of honor.
We don’t need to tell you what to do to celebrate this day, do we? Eat Chocolate! Some ways you can incorporate chocolate into this chocolate day include:
Breakfast: How about your favorite chocolate cereal along with a few chocolate filled donuts and wash it down with a little hot chocolate or chocolate milkshake. Or maybe chocolate chip pancakes are more to your taste?
Mid-morning snack: A chocolate candy bar with your filled with your favorite goodies. There are certainly a lot of options to choose from now!
Lunch: If you skipped on the shake fro breakfast then a big tall glass of chocolate milk is a must at lunch! Oh, and don’t forget your dessert, how about a pie of chocolate pie or cheesecake?
Mid-Afternoon: Maybe try to be a little healthier with chocolate-covered strawberries or raisins? Ok, maybe not that healthy but at least it contains fruit!
Dinner: Adults this is your time to sip on that chocolate liqueur before you sit down for dinner. You could have a chocolate flavored coffee with a piece of chocolate cake for afters.
Nighttime snack: If you’re not already chocolate out, why not opt for a few chocolate mints or biscuits with a glass of ice-cold milk?
So, Why Do We Love Chocolate So Much?
Chocolate is certainly of the world’s favorite flavors, if not the most loved taste across 7 continents. Often referred to as the magic bean, it definitely deserves to be celebrated. Everyone loves it, and the recipes that come with it are nothing less than amazing!
You don’t need to be told to indulge in this treat, as and when you want, however, the chocolate day most definitely gives us a special day to indulge in the rich, creamy glory that is chocolate. You will find many bakeries, individuals, and candy stores joining in on the celebrations and you can expect to find some delicious recipes, from meringue pies, milk chocolate pudding through to giant decorative cakes in shop windows you are sure to find something to tickle your fancy.
Why not get the cookbook out of the cupboard, scour the internet for some ideas and get yourself in the chocolate day spirit, baking and creating some wonderful chocolatey creations?
Or failing that, stock up on chocolate biscuits, ice-cream, and enjoy a day of secret treats and indulgence…
“This reminds me of the time I made puff pastry from scratch”
I did it once....never again
Being on a Keto Diet, thank God for 100% Cacao Powder and Erythitol.
.......once the cacao pods are picked, and then cleaned of pithy white material from the fruit, they are dried ....uncovered......in the hot tropical sun.......
This is the allergenic dimension of chocolate——all those dust mites settling on the beans are then processed into the chocolate.
There is one brand that does not process them that way....cant remember it offhand.
Godiva?................
That could be it.
Just had some mini Milky Way dark bites...
Found a good combo recently too. Got a food dehydrator to replace one I didn’t like much and dried some mandarin orange segments. Nobody had tangerines, which are better. On a whim, grabbed 2 or 3 orange pieces and a couple of M’s...
I have a new addiction...
This is probably my all time favorite -
Oatmeal Brownie Bars
3 sq baking chocolate (3 TBSP cocoa powder substitutes for 1 sq)
1 stick butter (NO, no margarine, just don’t do it.)
1/2 tsp salt (optional)
1 c brown sugar (can be reduced to 3/4c if too sweet)
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 egg (well beaten)
2 2/3 c oatmeal
melt chocolate & butter over very low heat, stir constantly. (double boiler preferred, I don’t have one)
Allow to cool some, mix in egg, then all but oatmeal, mix well, then mix in oatmeal. (too stiff to mix much after oatmeal goes in)
Spread butter on sheet of aluminum foil big enough to line 8 or 9 inch brownie pan. Line pan, pour in and smooth out mix. Sheet of foil makes it easy to pull iut of pan, easy cleanup.
Bake at 425F for 15-20 minutes.
Cool, cut into brownie size squares.
Try to eat just one...I dare ya...
What isn't?
Have a nice chocolate malt and be happy.
I have some Lindt at home for when the work day finally ends.
I did that, too
Once
I missed chocolate day?!!!!!!! NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!
Black people, according to black people.
Funny how their current on going generational enslavement does not seem to bother any of the Burn, Loot and Murder supporters.
Thank You for the Recipe.
Eat just one.That’s easy, just don’t cut the Brownie.;)
DOH!
LOL
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