Publisher's Note

Publisher’s Note
by CK May is the month of flowers not just in the Philippines but also here in Calgary. A lot of my neighbors have done their spring cleaning and unfortunately I cannot cope up with them. I remember that during this time of the year my husband, Hank gets busier day by day. He takes care [...]
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Chocolate

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*** THE MAIN INGREDIENT segment aims to inform, educate, share skills and knowledge. It also hopes to satisfy most of our TASTEBUDS (the five elements of taste perception: salty, sour, bitter, sweet, and umami or savoury). Email your request INGREDIENT(s) be featured for its uses, nutrient contents and/or cooking tips, and comments/suggestions. ***The author has had 13 years of experience in the field of Food and Nutrition, Research, Community/Public Health and Food Services combined. Earned the Degree in Nutrition & Dietetics (Philippines.) and Food and Nutrition Technology Program (Canada). Information presented in this segment is based on nutritional books, online searches and personal knowledge of the author. Furthermore, all recipes featured in this segment are personally developed and/or original creations of the author, and are intended solely for personal use of the end users. This article and contents are copyrights and patent pending and therefore, no portion/ parts or whole can be re-produced for any other use other than stated above without the author’s expressed permission. Mbpd

Since December of last year, after one of our tours in a Las Vegas chocolate factory, I decided that chocolate should be the “Main” for February. Of course, for no other reason than February is the month of “Love”.

Valentine’s Day may mean many things to different people- it can remind that special someone how wonderful they really are or a “Hallmark” holiday where they are expected to do something for passionate reasons.Why does chocolate evoke so many feelings and emotions for us? Chocolate has long been associated with passion, romance and love and has long been a favorite gift for lovers.

Valentine’s can also commercially mean receiving a nicely wrapped box of chocolates which causes a sense of anticipation. There is always pleasure when unwrapping the box of chocolate, with the sensual smell and lifting the soft papers. The look of smooth dark, white or milk chocolates provide exquisite pleasure. The taste and smell which flood your senses will send overwhelming ecstasy.

This association may go all the way back to the Aztecs. They believed chocolate was a source of spiritual wisdom, incredible energy and elevated sexual power. Chocolate was widely used as a nuptial aid and was widely served at wedding ceremonies. Even the scientific name for the tree from which chocolate is derived, Theobroma cacao, translated from Greek, means “food of the gods”.

The Aztecs did not know chocolate as we do today; they consumed the cocoa as a drink. The explorer Cortes reported to Carlos I of Spain that chocolate is “… the divine drink which builds up resistance and fights fatigue. A cup of this precious drink enables a man to walk for a whole day without food.” From the earliest times, chocolate was considered a substance of power and a source of vitality which why it is “the” favorite gift for lovers.

Since sugar was unknown to the Aztecs, different spices were used to add flavor, even hot chili peppers and corn meal were used!

Aztecs believed that wisdom and power came from eating the fruit of the cocoa tree, and also that it had nourishing, fortifying, and even aphrodisiac qualities. The Aztec emperor, Montezuma drank thick chocolate dyed red. The drink was so prestigious that it was served in golden goblets that were thrown away after only one use. He liked it so much that he was purported to drink 50 goblets every day!

The cocoa beans were also used for currency… records show that 400 cocoa beans equaled one Zontli, while 8000 beans equaled one Xiquipilli. When the Aztecs conquered tribes, they demanded their payment in cocoa! By subjugating the Chimimeken and the Mayas, the Aztecs strengthened their supremacy in Mexico.

So to all of you lovers and those who want to keep love burning, here’s to you and Happy Valentines Day!

TASTEBUDS

Sweet Appetizer: Chocolate Dipped Strawberries

Ingredients:

* 1 lb semisweet chocolate drops
* 2 lbs white chocolate drops
* 20-24 pcs strawberries with stems, washed and dried very well
* 1 cup almond nuts, toasted, grinded ( optional)
* 1 cup dessecated coconut ( optional)
*

Procedure

1. Fill the bottom of the double boiler with 2 cups of water and bring to simmer medium heat.
2. Put the white chocolates on the top boiler until melts. Turn off the heat Stir until smooth.
3. Remove from the heat once the chocolates are melted and smooth.
4. Line a sheet pan with parchment or waxed paper. Holding the strawberry by the stem, dip the fruit into the white chocolate, lift and twist slightly, letting any excess chocolate fall back into the pan.
5. Set strawberries on the parchment paper. Repeat with the rest of the strawberries.
6. Repeat procedure 1 to 5 for dark chocolate.
7. Dip fork in a the white chocolate and drizzle the white chocolate over dipped strawberries. For variation dipped in desiccated coconut.
8. Dip a fork in the dark chocolate and drizzle the dark chocolate over the dipped strawberries. For variation dipped in ground nuts.
9. Set the strawberries aside until the chocolate sets, about 30 minutes.

Yield: Serves 8

Sweet-Drink: Choco-Banana-Strawberry Smoothie

Ingredients:

1 cup chocolate soya milk

1/2 cup ice

1 banana

1 – 4 ounce strawberry flavoured yougurt

1/2 cup strawberries

2 whole strawberries (garnish)

2 teaspoons brown sugar

Procedure:

1. Pour milk, yougurt, banana and strawberries in the blender and puree.
2. Add ice until finely crushed.
3. Pour in stem glass and garnish.

Yield: Serves 2

Sweet Dessert: Layered Chocolate Pudding au Creme

Ingredients:

2 cups cold skim milk

4 tablespoons low fat whipped creme

Chocolate Shavings

Strawberries for garnish

1. Pour pudding powder in a bowl and make a well. Add milk and mix using electric mixer.Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
2. In a stemmed glass pour 1 1/2 Tbsps of pudding followed by 1 tbsp of whipped creme. Add another layer of pudding and creme
3. Sprinkle the top with chocolate shavings and with strawberries.

Yield: Serves 2

Sweet Snack: Chocolate Brownie

1/3 cup shortening or butter

1 cup brown sugar

1 egg

3/4 cup flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

3 heaping teaspoons cocoa

1/2 cup chopped nuts

1. Melt shortening, add sugar, then egg. Sift flour, salt, baking powder.
2. Add nuts. Mix ingredients well together.
3. Put in greased 8-by-8-inch tin.
4. Bake in 375°F oven for 20 minutes, or until done. Ice while still warm.

Yield: Serves 12-16

Chocolate

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