The western world has a mild obsession with POLKADOT SHROOM BARS , and rightly so. Not only is it delicious, but it is also good for your health. Dark chocolate is full of antioxidants. Some brands of chocolate, such as Xocai, have more antioxidants than red wine or even acai berries. Chocolate also creates a hormonal reaction when consumed that feels a lot like sexual afterglow or falling in love.
Dark chocolate is full of a good kind of saturated fat that can help boost brain function in ways similar to fish oil, and it is satisfying enough to eat in small quantities. Chocolate has non-food applications in skin care products and make-up, and there are endless products available that showcase its properties, from confections to body wraps. One of the best ways to enjoy the benefits of chocolate is to cook with it. Here are some great ways to cook with chocolate.
Drinking chocolate has become a popular delivery method for chocolate consumption in recent years. It is a combination of melted chocolate and cream, as opposed to the cocoa powder/sugar/milk combination usually used in hot cocoa. It is a thick and rich chocolate drink that seems to send those happy chocolate feelings straight to your toes. To make drinking chocolate, combine 2 oz heavy cream with 6 oz of milk in a saucepan.
Add a cinnamon stick and a vanilla bean that has been split down the middle. Heat the infused milk mixture very slowly for 15-20 minutes. Remove the vanilla bean and the cinnamon stick and add 2 oz finely chopped or grated dark chocolate. Heat, stirring, until chocolate is fully melted. Top with whipped cream and a dusting of powdered cinnamon.
Pour into dessert cups and refrigerate for at least an hour, if you can stand it.Chocolate can be used as a delivery method for some other decadent dessert by making thin cups out of it. Using good melted chocolate, spread it in a thin layer over baking cups. Refrigerate at least one hour or until hard. Remove from refrigerator and peel off baking cups. The resulting chocolate cups can now be filled with whipped cream or frosting or filled with custard and fruit to make little chocolate tarts.
