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Archive for December, 2015

Let’s Taste the Dark Chocolate

December 17th, 2015

Do you love dark chocolates..? Then you are doing some good for yourself. The dark chocolates are truly delicious. Consuming these chocolates can fetch you a bunch of other assets as well. It is highly nutritious and consists of iron, magnesium, copper, manganese, potassium and phosphorus. Dark chocolate can stimulate the production of nitric acid in our body. NO plays a dominant role in improving blood flow and regulating blood pressure. Minute amounts of dark chocolate are capable enough to minimize the risk of heart attack. It is also a good source of anti oxidants, which helps us to fight diabetes.

Manufacturing of dark chocolate

Ever wondered, why the dark chocolates are so delicious..? Having a closer look at their manufacturing process and ingredients used can let us know the ‘dark’ secrets. The production process is broadly divided into four phases, which are detailed below.

    • Cocoa beans:

Cocoa beans form the major ingredient of dark chocolates. After harvesting the cocoa pods, the beans are extracted by split opening the pods. Large boxes or baskets, which are lined with banana leaves, are used to store the beans and their surrounding fruit pulp. They are left undisturbed for 2 to 8 days. In this fermentation process, the beans absorb the fruity taste of the pulp. Further the beans are sun dried and the dying process is carried out where the pulp gets separated. The beans are packed into sacks and are prepared for shipping.

    • Roasting:

After shipping the beans to the chocolate factory, the cleaning process is carried out. The cleaned beans are roasted for some time period of 30 minutes to 2 hours at an elevated temperature of 250 to 350 degrees F. This entire roasting process is carried out in revolving drums. The range of time period and temperature has to be carefully chosen according to the moisture content in it. The bean shells are removed and resultant product is broken down to form nibs.

    • Chocolate liquor:

The nibs are made into fine powder and heated to form chocolate liquor, which is a thick paste. Cocoa powder is formed by removing the cocoa butter from the liquor. Low quality chocolates can be manufactured by the mixture of cocoa powder, sugar and vegetable fat. A mixture of cocoa butter, chocolate liquor, milk and sugar is used in the preparation of high quality chocolates. It is recommended to maintain at least 35 percent cocoa solids in the dark chocolate.

    • Finishing process:

A smooth texture is obtained by rolling process. Steel rollers are employed for this purpose of smoothing out the chocolate. The conching process is carried out in the last phase. The chocolate loses any traces of bitter ort acidic flavours in this process. Continuous mixing at an elevated temperature followed by grounding process increases the smoothness of the chocolate. The molten chocolate is cooled in a mould, where it takes the required shape.

Are you ready to taste the dark chocolate..? Oh wait..! Don’t you feel like sharing it with your loved ones..? You don’t have to worry if they are not with you right now. Send chocolates by post to them. It sends the gestures of your love and care for them.

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Make Your Celebrations Healthy and Happy With a Cake

December 16th, 2015

Your celebration is incomplete, if you don’t bring a delicious cake. It could be a birthday, marriage, Christmas, anniversary or any other occasion, cake always welcomes you warmly. If you ever rejected a slice of cake, then undoubtedly, that’s a crime..!! Sounds funny..? The advantages fetched by them will let you accept this. Once you get to know about these facts, you will never ever reject a cake again.

  • Antioxidants: Cakes made from chocolate are great anti oxidants. If the oxidation process is not hindered in our body, then our organs are at risk. These cakes aid the production of nitric acid, which is essential for the arteries to get relaxed. This, in turn, results in reduced pressure and improved flow of blood.
  • Energy: Carbohydrates fetch the required energy for our body. Cakes are the rich sources of carbohydrates and their consumption helps in better functioning of our body activities. If you want to gain instant energy, then it is recommended to have the intake of glucose rich foods. Cakes contain appreciable amounts of glucose in them.
  • Improved digestion: Fruits like apples, pineapples and berries are commonly used in the baking of cakes. Such cakes form good sources of fibre and their consumption can avoid constipation, easing the digestion process. Not to forget, cakes made from fruits are heart friendly.
  • Builds your body: While carbohydrates help you to fetch the required energy for your body, proteins help you to grow the muscle mass and build your body. Include the cakes made from eggs and milk in your diet to have a high protein intake. Milk is also a rich source of calcium, which helps you to strengthen your skeletal system.
  • Feel relaxed: Studies suggest that cakes can improve the mental health of a person and makes them feel happier. They release chemicals in our body, which can ease of the tension. So, next time, when you feel nervous or tensed, have a piece of cake. That can make you feel better.
  • Low sugar content: Did you give up eating cakes just because you have diabetes..? You don’t have to worry anymore. Of late, low sugar cakes have evolved which are highly beneficial for diabetic patients.
  • Lose your weight: You heard it right..! Cakes can help you to lose your weight. However, the timing of intake plays a dominant role in this context. To achieve satisfactory results, have a slice of cake for your breakfast every day. This calorie rich breakfast brings back diet in your control by killing your hunger. This should be great news for you, if you are a victim of obesity.
  • Strengthens immune system: The immune system of our body helps us in fighting diseases. The cakes, especially baked from fruits can strengthen the immunity in our body.  

Cakes don’t just make your celebrations happy, but also healthy. Before you look out for the ways of cake delivery, make sure that you bring in the perfect cake, which can justify the occasion. Get to know more about the types and decorative aspects of the cake.

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Some easy DIY chocolate recipes to try out

December 15th, 2015

Chocolates are yummy and they are all time favourite of everyone. Various kinds and types of chocolates are readily available in different stores. If you want to order online, there are various sites from where you can order variety of chocolates. When you send chocolates by post to your near and dear ones, you look for the best bars available. But what if you try your hand on making chocolates and send home made chocolates to your loved ones? Sounds much better! It is a great idea and a beautiful gesture.

Sweetness of your hand                                    

To make chocolates at home, the main ingredients that are needed are cocoa butter, icing sugar, unsweetened cocoa powder and full fat milk powder. Firstly, one has to blend icing sugar and cocoa powder very well to see that there is no lump left. Then one has to melt the cocoa butter in a heated pan and then add milk powder to it. After it is stirred well, one has to add the icing sugar and cocoa powder to this mixture. When it is mixed well, it will become a glossy texture. After that, one can easily give it tiny shapes and moulds and then enjoy it. This is the easiest milk chocolate recipe, which one can try anytime at home.

Sauce it up

Chocolate sauce is an easy recipe and is needed as a topping in any dessert. It takes a very little time to make chocolate sauce at home. Things you need to make it are sugar, cocoa powder and water. Heat sugar and water in simmer. When the sugar turns light brown, add cocoa powder to it. Whisk it till it forms a paste. Then cool it and your desired chocolate sauce is ready.

Fudge cake

Why only chocolate? One can even bake a chocolate fudge cake at home. For this, you need white flour, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda, egg, sour cream, vanilla extract and corn oil. This is for baking the cake. For the fudge, you need dark chocolate, unsweetened butter and some more vanilla extract. First you need to make a batter of the ingredients needed for the cake. Then you have to bake it half the way. After that you will have to pull the cake out of the oven to pour the fudge cream inside the cake and then keep it inside the oven and leave it till it is fully baked. You can also add whipped cream on the top of the cake with sliced cherries for a proper decoration. Either you serve it hot with molten chocolates or you can have it frozen after keeping it in a refrigerator for a while.

Thus, making chocolate is not a big deal anymore. One can easily do that at home, and if you need to surprise your loved ones, send them some handmade chocolates mixed with love. They will appreciate it to the core. They will love the gift that you have sent and will be more than happy.

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Baking starter kit every new baker needs!

December 14th, 2015

Are you planning to start a cake delivery business or are you starting to learn baking? If yes, then you must read this article! Since we love baking and eating cakes, we decided to list down some items every new baker needs to know about. Not just this, but we are also listing down some starting tips you must follow to get the perfect cakes! So keep on reading to know what your baking starter kit requires…

Equipment you need: –

1. Baking tins – If you want to learn or start baking properly, then you need tons of different shapes and sizes of baking tins. You must also invest in ramekins, cupcake moulds, baking tray and few other diverse tins required for making cakes or mini cakes.

2. Baking paper/parchment paper – This is an essential item that you always should have handy in the baking area of your kitchen. You can always use baking paper to line the cake tins if you want to avoid using butter.

3. Measuring cups – If you don’t have measuring cups, then go to the market right away and buy them. You cannot bake without the measuring cups. You can buy them in sets and they are everything you will ever need for baking. They are used to measure correctly how much ingredient is needed in the certain cake.

4. Measuring spoons – Like the measuring cups, spoons too are essential. You need to get the right measurement of the baking soda, baking powder, vanilla essence, etc. ingredients. You don’t want to mess up these little things.

There are several other things you require other than these but start purchasing these few items first.

Expert tips to ace baking: –

  1. Measure the ingredients properly – Yes, measuring the ingredients is vital when you are baking. You cannot put anything randomly. You don’t want to end up messing up the cake. This is why measuring cups and spoons are important.
  2. Follow a good recipe – Don’t just pick a recipe from the internet to make a cake. If you want the cake to be perfect then pick a trusted recipe from the internet. Try finding a cake which a big chef has written down on their website or in a magazine. They have years of experience in the field and cannot guide anyone wrong.
  3. Don’t use cold eggs – Don’t just remove the eggs from the fridge and directly use them. Make sure you bring it to room temperature before you use the eggs. If you want to avoid eggs then find a close alternative to it. Don’t just skip the egg because you want to; try finding something that plays the role of the eggs in the recipe.
  4. Use proper equipment – Don’t use random containers or spoons to bake the cake. Invest a little and buy the tools you require to make the cake. You don’t need to buy tons of tins if you are not starting a business. But make sure you have the essential tools.

This guide is everything you need for baking a cake.

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Why black currant should be there in your fruit basket?

December 11th, 2015

There is no one who does not love to have fruits. Some fruit or the other is their favourite. Some like the sweet ones, the other fancy for the juicy ones. Fruits are also mandatory for day to day nutrition in a human body. They are full of good vitamins and minerals, which help to remove all the major impurities present in a body and make it more strong and immune from the polluted world. One can have fruits just like that or can go for juices. Fruit salad is also a good option to have a fruit in a delicious way. Fruit salads can be more beneficial because it is almost as heavy as a meal and one can have it to lose weight also. Gifting fruit baskets to someone is a very good idea. One can put assorted fruits into it before gifting it.

Black currant is one fruit which is not readily available. But, if it is there, one must include it in their diet. There are some major benefits that one can get by having this fruit.

  • This fruit is a major component of some herbal medicines that are used for middle aged woman when they are facing menopause. Sometimes seeds are used as a dietary supplement, which provides protein to a human body.
  • The oil that is extracted from black currant seed contains omega 6 fatty acids. This helps in reducing joint pain and inflammation. It is a natural remedy for rheumatoid arthritis’s patients. One can also use the oil if there is any muscle pull.
  • This fruit helps a lot in improving the immune system of a human body. It keeps the muscles strong and blood vessels healthy. That is why when one faces any injury, it becomes easy for them to cope up. It also helps in preventing viral fever and bacteria affected illness caused due to changing of weather.
  • Every fruit has antioxidants in it. Black currant is also not an exception. The high amount of antioxidants present in it reduces the oxidation process in a body and helps to remove the bad cholesterol. The juice that is extracted from this fruit tastes bitter, but they are beneficial.
  • Vitamin C is the major component in this juicy berry fruit. It helps to metabolize the protein intake in a human body. This helps in easing soared throats, inflammation, cough and cold and seasonal flu. This also helps to reduce heart diseases as it keeps the blood pumping vessels normal. Researchers say that this fruit is also beneficial to prevent lung cancers.
  • Black currant oil has a skin soothing element. People suffering from eczema or other skin allergies are treated with this oil to get favorable results. It also reduces the psoriasis patches present in a skin.

These are the major reasons that you cannot avoid black currant from your regular fruit diet. It is not necessary to have it regularly but taking it more often can help in reducing various health problems.

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