Chocolate and Dessert and Recipes

Is there anyone who doesn't like chocolate and dessert and recipes? Chocolate is unique. It can be bitter, sweet, foamy, bubbly, and sometimes spicythese were the characteristics of chocolates during the days of yore. According to some research scientists, the Aztecs were the first to discover cocoa. Cacao trees were abundant in the deep jungles of Central America. The Aztecs collected seeds from these trees. After fermenting and drying these seeds, they were roasted and crushed with spices and water, bringing forth the first version of chocolate. The Aztecs also believed that consuming the fruit of the cacao tree imparted a special kind of wisdom.

They also made a special drink with it called xocolatl or "bitter water". Aztec emperor Montezuma is said to have consumed more than fifty goblets per day. Clearly, chocolate was once a ceremonial drink in Central America. Chocolate played a big part in the social and religious practices of the people from this area. Chocolate was further considered a sacred item, earning the favor of the members of royalty. The Aztecs and Mayans worshipped the cacao bean and believed it to be a food of the Gods. The Aztecs used as both nourishment and currency. A slave could be actually be bought with 100 cacao beans.

When the Spaniards found out about this strange item and where it came from, they brought samples of cocoa to Spain, where it became favorite among the illumnati. Eventually the secret leaked out and 1700, hot chocolate was sold all over England. It continued to grow in popularity By 1847, candy makers in England had found a way to make the chocolate drink solid, giving way to the snack food most people relish.

The first milk chocolate bar was created in 1875 in Switzerland by Daniel Peters. Fast forward to the present and we have chocolate bars, chocolate sauce, chocolate chip cookies, chocolate-dipped strawberries, chocolate Easter eggs, chocolate fondue, chocolate truffles, and just about anything else imaginable. Finally, the first chocolate factory in the United States was founded in 1765 in Dorchester, Massachusetts.

Nowadays, chocolates are best known as the sweet candies that both kids and adults enjoy. Not many people can resist this sweet-tasting delicacy that melts in the mouth and makes one crave more. Chocolate and desserts and recipes being passed around at the dinner table or on holidays is commonplace throughout N. America and Europe, not to mention S. America as well. Other popular chocolate dishes include chocolate sea shells grooms cake and even chocolate salad dressing recipes in some parts of the world (although I've never known anyone to actually use that type of recipe). This type of recipe was popularized in the movie Chocolat starring Johnny Depp. In it Juliette Binoche's character Vianne Rocher invites over some of her new found friends and the meal du jour is chicken with chocolate salad dressing. Up until then, I'd never thought of using a chocolate salad dressing recipes.

Fun Fact:

Chocolate can be melted in the oven easily but you will need to be very diligent watching it. It's easy to get caught up in your other baking activities and not realize that you have overheated it. To melt chocolate in the oven, heat the oven to 110 degrees. Chop the chocolate and place in a dish inside the oven. Keep the door open and check regularly. It will take roughly an hour to melt all the way through.

The process of making chocolate is unique because it involves many steps in order to produce a delicious-tasting product. A quality chocolate includes the right amount of cocoa butter. It has no artificial additives for either color or flavor. Furthermore, it includes only natural ingredients and contains 30 percent or more of cocoa.

Indeed, chocolate has come a long way since it was first discovered. It has enjoyed extreme popularity throughout the times. I hope you enjoyed this chocolate and desserts and recipes page. (And don't worry, this website will grow -- it's just getting started. In it I will have Buy Chocolate Covered Cookies info, and cake chocolate decadence recipe -- even chocolate brown canvas tote bags info. Of course, there will be a lot of chocolate recipes as well as other chocolate related information here too!)