Showing posts with label Chocolate. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chocolate. Show all posts

Monday, December 20, 2010

Why Do People Love Chocolate Cake?

Do you know the difference between a chocolate cake made from chocolate and the one made from cocoa? If you do it's either you are a good baker or a chocolate cake lover. But what really makes it an all-time favorite by people from all walks of life? Unless you are allergic to chocolate you will definitely desire to have one on your plate right there where you are at this very moment. So read on and give yourself the information that explains your undying love for chocolate cakes.

? Chocolate cake is addictive. It does not men that you need to see a therapist just to cure your desire to eat.This type of addiction is something that you can let go of once you decide to. If you are curious how a chocolate cake can bring you happiness and a light feeling, well here's the explanation. Chocolate has a chemical called "caffeine" that is responsible for this. Once you ingested the chocolate its chemical component will drive your brain to give you a happy sensation. Because of such sensation, your brain will normally prod you to take eat another slice again. You see, at least now you have a reason to consume the whole plate without leftovers.

? Sweetness will make you feel energetic. Sugar is known to energize you. If you are so stressed in your workplace and you think you need sugar to keep you going then have a slice of the delicious chocolate cake. Order one online and in minutes or hours depending on your location, your favorite chocolate cake will be delivered right on your table. Those who are busy in their studies can also benefit from this since sugar will keep your mind alert. If you feel sleepy in the middle of your review, have a slice of this cake and you will surely memorize those lessons that your teacher will ask during the examination.

? Chocolate cake is used to express affection. Have you seen movies that talked about love and courtship? Perhaps you also viewed some parts of the story that shows the man giving cakes to women or the scene where the two of them were eating the cake. You should not wonder about this since chocolate is used to symbolize courtship. Some men even propose marriage to women they adore using the cake as a hiding place for the surprise engagement ring.

? It makes the birthday party complete. Some people don't have much in life but they still manage to give their children a reason to be happy on their birthdays. A simple menu with cake are enough to complete a perfect birthday party. You don't have to spend much in order to see the beautiful smile on your child's face. Just buy a chocolate cake from your favorite online bake shop and you'll surely see that happy face.

So, go on and indulge in eating your favorite chocolate cake and forget all your everyday stress.

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Chocolate Cake Bakery

There's truly nothing more tempting and so heavenly than being able to enjoy a rich and luscious serving of chocolate cake. When it comes to cake decorations, chocolate is king. There is great value in learning how to properly master the art of using chocolate for cake decorations and it will certainly go a very long way in terms of presentation. But before you start delving into the various methods and recipes available let's start with the basics first. It would be a great injustice to take chocolate very lightly.

First, you need to learn how to melt chocolate. The problem that most beginners have is that they tend to melt the chocolate a bit too quickly. In order to melt it properly, the chocolate must first be broken down methodically. Whether the piece or chunk is sliced or shaved, the heat must be made to work on the entire surface area of the chocolate being melted in order for it to be of uniform smoothness. The best way of doing so is to place the pieces into a small container and putting it inside a pot of warm or hot water. Note that boiling water is not advised at all. The chocolate will begin to melt evenly but do not forget to stir. Keep at it until the chocolate becomes completely melted and without any lumps or chunks. Once the chocolate has been properly melted, you can now begin the process of shaping and forming the chocolate into any desired shape or purpose.

Making curls and cutouts from the chocolate is made possible once the chocolate has reached a certain velvety smoothness. In order to do so, the chocolate should be spread evenly onto a flat surface like a metal baking pan or cookie sheet. It should be left to cool by itself at room temperature.

Chocolate curls are made by scraping the chocolate with a metal spatula. If done properly, the chocolate will start forming curls as it is being scraped. Place the scraped chocolate onto some parchment in order to allow it to cool and harden further.

Chocolate cutouts, on the other hand, are just as easy to make as the chocolate curls. All it takes is to simply use a sharp knife or other tool available to make the desired shape or design. Depending on the situation, even a cookie cutter will work just as well for the job.

Besides melting the chocolate, there's also another important method of using chocolate for making simple yet very stunning effects on any cake. This is with the use of sifted cocoa powder. The process involves topping the cake with a stenciled paper design and slowly sprinkling the cocoa powder onto the cake. Once the design is removed, what results is a very nice design with a powdered accent.

Now that the basics have been covered, more advanced steps or techniques can now be started. Feel free to get the basics right first and then build on that foundation. Everyone loves a delicious chocolate cake so taking the time to properly prepare one will certainly reap a lot of satisfaction in the long run.

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Tired of Chocolate Fudge? Vanilla Fudge Is a Great Alternative!

Chocolate fudge is great! But, there are many people who prefer vanilla fudge over chocolate. Vanilla fudge is a simple delicious alternative to chocolate fudge. If you are like me you probably looked all over the web and found that there are many chocolate fudge recipes, but there are not as many vanilla fudge recipes. Not only does it taste great, it is quick and easy to make! This is the perfect fudge recipe. Next time you host an event and it calls for you to make dessert make vanilla fudge. This will give your guest a sweet surprise that they will remember.

Ingredients:
- 3 ? cups of confectioner's sugar
- 6 table spoons of butter
- 3 table spoons of milk
- 1 table spoon of vanilla extract
- 1 pinch of salt
- nonstick cooking spray

Tools:
- 9x5 inch pan
- Wooden spoon
- 3 Quart sauce pan

Take the 9X5 pan and coat it completely with one coat of the nonstick cooking spray. Set the pan aside. Put the 3-quart saucepan on low heat. Mix in vanilla, butter, confectioner's sugar, milk, and salt with your wooden spoon. Stir the mixture until everything is blended and creamy. Quickly pour the contents in to the greased pan. Refrigerate this scrumptious dessert until it is firm. Once the fudge is firm cut it into square sized pieces and serve. Store the rest in an air tight container. These treats are just as delicious as chocolate fudge. Sometimes variety is just what we need.

Friday, November 19, 2010

Peanut And Chocolate Dessert

If you like creamy desserts, you will like this peanut pudding recipe. Just imaging a creamy peanut butter cup and you are in the right neighborhood. This is a terrific recipe to make for your family; the kids will especially find it delicious. You may even get them to eat their vegetables if they know this is coming. How about that for an incentive?

You can make this dessert the night before or earlier in the day. It is very simple to whip together. Make it for potlucks, family gatherings, birthdays, parties or any time you want a simple dessert that will win the hearts of your guests. Combining the flavors of peanut butter and chocolate is not new, but with this dessert, everyone will act like you are the genius who thought of doing so. You may find yourself making this dessert just because you have a craving for all that creamy goodness. You really do not need a special occasion to indulge in some peanuts and chocolate.

One word of caution when you make this recipe. Peanuts can and do cause allergic reactions in some people. If you plan to serve this at a potluck or party, label it clearly, so they know the dessert contains peanuts. This allows people who suffer from these allergies to avoid foods that may cause trouble. For the rest of your guests, this dessert is a great choice. The recipe feeds enough people that you will not need to worry about making extra batches unless you are bringing some to a very large gathering.

Recipe for Peanut Pudding Dessert

This dessert combines the delicious flavors of peanut butter and chocolate.

What You Need

1/2 cup cold butter1 cup all purpose flour2/3 cup salted or dry roasted peanuts, chopped8 ounces cream cheese, softened1 cup powdered sugar1/3 cup peanut butter8 ounces Cool Whip, thawed and divided2-3/4 cups cold milk1 package (3.9 ounces) instant chocolate pudding1 package (3.9 ounces instant vanilla puddingChocolate curls or additional peanuts for garnish (optional)

How to Make It

Cut the butter into the flour until the mixture feels crumbly. Stir in the peanuts. Press this mixture into an ungreased 13x9 inch baking dish. Bake at 350 degrees F for 16 to 20 minutes, or until lightly browned. Let cool on a wire rack.

In a mixing bowl, beat the powdered sugar and cream cheese together. Add the peanut butter and mix until smooth. Fold in 1-1/2 cups of Cool Whip. Spread this mixture over the crust carefully.

In another bowl, whisk the milk and the two pudding mixes together for two minutes. Let the mixture stand for two minutes, or until soft set.

Carefully spread the pudding mixture over the top of the peanut butter mixture. Top with the remaining whipped topping.

Garnish with chopped peanuts or chocolate curls if you wish.

Chill the dessert for a minimum of 2 hours before serving.

Serves 16.

Monday, November 8, 2010

Vegan Chocolate Cupcakes

Chocolate cupcakes are a quintessential part of every diet, or at least they should be. When I decided to stay vegan, I knew there were certain things I could never live without, and chocolate cupcakes is on the top of that list. Vegan baked goods get a bad rap. This is because many vegan treats try to be healthy on top of cruelty-free. This means cutting out fat, sugar, and, let's face it, taste, along with all the animal products. This is totally unnecessary. I don't eat baked goods to get fiber and protein. I eat them for fun! I promise that these cupcakes are both compassionate, and delicious. There have been so many accomplishments in developing vegan friendly foods, that there is no reason to sacrifice flavor anymore. So the next time you're making chocolate cupcakes, give these a try. You won't be disappointed!


Chocolate Cupcakes


1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour sifted
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder sifted
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
1/3 cup canola oil
1 tablespoon white distilled vinegar
1 cup cold water


Heat oven to 350?. Prepare cupcake pans with canola oil spray, or cupcake liners. Combine the dry ingredients in a large bowl. Make a hole in the center of the dry ingredients. Add the vanilla, oil, vinegar and water, and stir until just combined. Scoop batter into prepared pans. Bake for 15 minutes, or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean. Alternatively, this can be made into a cake. Just bake in a 9" round cake pan for 30 minutes. Allow to cool completely before frosting.


Chocolate Frosting


1/3 cup non-dairy butter
2 cups confectioners sugar sifted
1/4 cup cocoa powder sifted
2/3 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 to 3 tablespoons water or non-dairy milk (add more as needed)


In a stand mixer, whip the butter until smooth. Add alternately 1 cup sugar and 1 tablespoon water or milk while mixing. Add cocoa and vanilla and mix well. If frosting is too dry, add more liquid. If it's too thin, add more sugar. I like to scoop frosting into a freezer bag, snip off one corner, and swirl onto the cupcakes.


Colleen Boucher is the creator and writer of the blog Dinner Peace (http://dinnerpeace.blogspot.com/). She is an evolving vegan eater, and recipe creator, health advocate, and wellness specialist. Dinner Peace is a blog for current vegans, vegetarians, and anyone interested in occasionally trying to go meatless, lose weight, or just get healthy.