Origin Of The Mint

Mint, or Mentha as referred to, is a family of 25 species. Mint leaves are  strong-scented, and exist throughout the year. Leaf colors range from dark green and gray-green to purple, blue and also pale yellow. They can grow to almost 120 cm tall with a potentially wide spread. In the world of food and drink, mint leaves can be used in teas, beverages, jellies, syrups, chocolate candies, and my favorite use - ice creams. I also read it is good to war off mesquitos, pretty cool. It also important to note the wide use of the mint in the arena of fine foods. Mint leaves are used in gourmet entrees for decoration and eating by some of the greatests chefs in the world.

Mint In A Chocolate Bar

Before we talk about it further, here is a great chocolate mint bar recipe from about.com.

Mint is a powerful flavor. It has been used for decades as a soother to the stomach. Adding mint to chocolate, particularly dark chocolate can be even that much better. Chocolate mint bars possess a great flavor that is tolerable to the taste buds. Mint extract, morsels or flavorings are added to many recipes for cookies, candies and drinks. An example of a good mini mint chocolate candy bar is what we have after a meal at Olive Garden Restaurant. What do they give us after we scoff down our pasta meals and bread sticks and salad, chocolate mint Andies candies?

Chocolate mint bars are great for all occasions, holidays, birthdays, social gatherings, and more. Many will appreciate having this particular type of chocolate around because of the health benefits of the mint itself. Many will reach for chocolate mint candies just because it is mint and they are thinking about their bad breath or stomach.

What can you make with mint chocolate? Tons of stuff! You can make mint chocolate chip cookies, mint flavored hot chocolate, mint toppings, mint chocolate fondue, mint chocolate drops, and more. Many sites will also list the nutritional facts for these bars. I have seen some post their recipe at 210 calories or so. This all depends on the ingredients. So, if you are calorie cautious then read up before you buy. There are also many organic recipes that will offer great alternative ingredients that are lower in fat and provide better nutritional value.

Well, I am sure you have your favorite recipes for chocolate mint bars or any other form of it. We would love to have your recipe and post it to our blog. Or, perhaps you have a great place to find chocolate mint bars or other. Let us know. Log on and leave a comment at http://www.chocolatecandylovers.com/

chocolate

A regular diet should consist of antioxidants.  Antioxidants provide an important function within the human body in that they fight free radicals.

Free radicals are harmful substances found within the body.  These harmful substances, if left unrestrained, have been linked to the cause of many diseases within the human body.Diseases may include heart disease, cancer, and early onset of aging within the body.

Antioxidants, as a requirement for healthy living, must be ingested from food sources and through the daily use of supplements.Fruits, beans, teas, and vegetables are major sources of antioxidants.

A big eye opener was the great benefits of dark chocolate.  It is not often that we are encouraged to eat chocolate for health reasons, but, amazingly, dark chocolate antioxidants are beneficial when eaten properly. They even come in the forms of a chocolate phone and chocolate cell.

The Benefits That Dark Chocolate Antioxidant Provide

Recent studies strongly indicate that eating dark chocolate provides essential antioxidants to the bloodstream.  These dark chocolate antioxidants that are provided help to protect and strengthen the heart.  Found in the cocoa bean, these dark chocolate antioxidants have been specifically identified as epicatechin which is a type of flavonoid.Found in the stems, leaves, and seeds of many plants are a ketone flavonoid. 

In fact, test studies revealed that those individuals who ate dark chocolate recipe had an increase of antioxidants in their bloodstream.  The level of increase of antioxidants, in the bloodstream, was measured at a significant increase of 20%.  Therefore, a moderate diet of dark chocolate can be just as healthy and helpful as a diet consisting of leafy vegetables.

Dark Chocolate And The Greatest Benefits

However, there is one precaution when wishing to receive the maximum healthful benefits of dark chocolate antioxidants.  That precaution is not drinking milk when eating dark chocolate or for that matter any other food item that is replete with antioxidants.

Additional studies on those individuals who had eaten dark chocolate antioxidants, revealed that the benefit of eating dark chocolate antioxidants was negated when milk was drank separately or was part of the dark chocolate mixture.  Specifically, when the level of antioxidants in the bloodstream was measured after eating milk chocolate or milk with their dark chocolate there was no increase in the epicatechim level.  The conjecture of this study is that the food molecules of milk adheres to the epicatechins and prevents the assimilation of the flavonoids.

Therefore, the study concluded that when eating  dark chocolate or other richly saturated antioxidant products, it is important not to drink milk.This will provide the best absorption of the antioxidants with these given food products.

There is really nothing more delicious and delectable than milk chocolate fondue. Milk chocolate fondue, especially when used with Belgian chocolate, is perfect for any special occasion, from a birthday to a wedding. Of course one of the biggest problems here is going to be you learning where to go for this milk chocolate fondue, where you will not have to spend a fortune.

Betty Crocker

If you want top of the line fondue, then head to Betty Crocker. One of the best known names in baking of all time, Betty Crocker’s products are all top quality and also very affordable which is important. You can even purchase the chocolate and make the fondue yourself, although there are fondues already made so if you want the easiest route to getting milk chocolate fondue, these are the products you are going to want to go for.

Nestle

Another great option for fondue is Nestle. In particular they feature the Aero fondue, which basically tastes just like the Aero chocolate bar you would buy at a store. It is rich and delicious and oh so delectable, and all your guests are going to be dying to know where you got your fondue from.

Milk chocolate fondue is always delicious and a great treat to serve to guests at a special occasion.

Also keep in mind that by going with dark chocolate fondue over the milk chocolate versions, you will be receiving a plethora of wonderful health benefits. More than anything this is due to the fact that dark chocolate is rich in antioxidants, which are substances that are able to fight off free radicals in the body.

If you are really strapped for cash or want to add a little personality to your fondue, never forget that there is always the option of making yours from scratch. All you need is a bit of chocolate and a warming pot, and you will be able to make as much or as little fondue as you like. Just be careful when you are melting the chocolate and make sure that you never really stop stirring it around, otherwise it will end up sticking to the pot.

This is a fun and easy recipe, one that is super enjoyable to prepare and one that anyone can make, and one that is super quick and perfect for spur of the moment events such as anniversaries, surprise parties, and gatherings of friends and family members.

Where does a person buy the best dark chocolate bar? First let us determine what is the best one to buy. We can talk of the most familiar brands such as Hershey, Godiva, or Dove. Or, we can look into those areas beyond out borders where dark chocolate is more than a side grocery store stock item, but a craft. Examples of such places are in Belgium, South America, and some of the off shore Islands.

In the Belgian Chocolate Factory you can get dark chocolates made fresh everyday. In the Belgian chocolate factories that I have seen show three main chocolate types, Milk, Dark, and White chocolate. Dark chocolate is my favorite. Popular, but exquisite manufacturers are Ghirardelli Chocolate, Almedei, Amore, Prestat, Zchocolat.

Hershey’s Dark Chocolate Bar

You have most likely seen some of the Hershey’s chocolate products when you are shopping in stores, but if you go right to the source you will have the largest, most comprehensive selection available to you. Hershey’s is one of the top names when it comes to chocolate, and whether you are looking for a dark chocolate bar or any other sort, you are going to have some great options if you deal with them.

One of the best things about Hershey’s is that they are always willing to offer nutrition information for each of their products, because whether you are looking for a dark chocolate bar or other candy, they want to make sure that you are aware of both the bad and good in their product.

Ghirardelli Chocolate Bars

With its heart in San Francisco bay, Ghirardelli Chocolate Factory brings over 150 years of the finest quality of manufactured chocolate. It is a huge factory of which my wife and I were privileged to see. They have mastered the art of taking only the finest of the cacoa bean and bringing it to perfection within their various chocolate selections.

The Ghirardelli Dark Chocolate Bar is made of of perfectly roasted cacoa beans blended with cocoa butter and natural vanilla. It is with their pure high quality process and historical integrity that makes them one of the top leaders in the chocolate making industry. Two of their incrediblely intense dark chocolate bars is Espresso Escape and mint Bliss. Another sample of their dark chocolate is the Dark Chocolate Lava Cakes.

Fondue is basically a type of dip, in which foods such as fruit are usually dipped in. It is a quick and easy recipe to make and is perfect for a variety of occasions, everything from birthdays and Christmas parties to weddings and anniversaries. Everyone loves chocolate, and fondue is always a huge hit, no matter where you are or what you are doing it is always going to get a round of applause.

Perhaps you have not heard of the milk free chocolate that is out there, but know that it does exist. This is great news to many people, especially those who are lactose intolerant and who are not able to eat the majority of chocolate because it contains milk.

Milk free chocolate is out there, but there are a limited number of companies and chocolateers that offer it. Here are a few that you will want to check out for the best selections of milk free chocolate.

Goodness Direct

This is a real top of the line store, one that offers an array of different chocolate and chocolate-based items. They specialize in the alternative chocolate products, such as milk free chocolate, to ensure that everyone gets to taste delicious chocolate, no matter what foods they are unable to eat.

Just a few of the many products they offer includes the Cavalier Belgian dark chocolate bar, Cavalier milk chocolate tablet, Cavalier Woodies Belgian orange chocolate, Conscious chocolate best ever chilli hot, Divine Fairtrade milk chocolate bar, and the Divine white chocolate.

Artisanal Organics

Another company offering milk free chocolate products is Artisanal Organics. They ensure that all of their products are organic and made of the best quality, so that consumers can always rest assured knowing that they are getting the best of the best, each and every time.

There is even no milk chocolate fondue that you can purchase as well, so you can experience the delicious, delectable taste of fondue even if you are lactose intolerant.

Dark Chocolate Too?

If you love dark chocolate for the numerous health benefits that it offers, then you should know that there are also milk free options available here as well. Just make sure that you read the ingredients label before eating any chocolate product, dark chocolate or other, to ensure that you know exactly what is contained in the chocolate and whether or not you are going to have an adverse reaction to it.