Yeah, it’s right that chocolate is very delicious, some chocolates are more enjoyable than others. A Snickers bar is full of chocolate but it also is jam packed with peanuts and caramel so you have to eat your way around the candy bar to get your dose of pure chocolate. Thankfully, there are gourmet chocolates available to fulfill any chocolate lovers hole.

You should know that, there are many different kinds of gourmet chocolates that are good. Having rich, dark chocolate unpolluted by other flavors is enough to satisfy the craving. Then again, sometimes it is nice to have a good chocolate truffle or something like that. Truffles of all kinds are also available for those with an extra sweet tooth. Whether you love dark, milk or white chocolate it is all available out there for you. There is such a nice, complex balance of different flavors there. They all contribute to the whole experience. Together, the truffle as a whole is more delicious than any of its parts.

Plus, there are also boxes of chocolate to suit anyone’s needs and those contain a wide collection of different gourmet chocolates. Some people really enjoy coffee filled chocolate or cherry filled chocolate. In a box of chocolate, all of these are possible and even things you never thought imaginable will be waiting for you when you open the lid. And likewise, if you want a plain chocolate bar than those are available too, all but everywhere. Dark, milk or white chocolates are available for chocolate bars so you’ll get your chocolate fix. You can break off a piece of the bar and simply let the chocolate melt slowly in your mouth as you let all your worries escape you.

Aside from those chocolates mentioned above, there are also other different cocoa inspired delectable treats out there to please anyone. There are types of chocolate that some people probably never thought possible. As what I have discovered that chocolates now can come in a chocolate-wine combination to serve as a decadent topping to any dessert. Some flavors include a chocolate espresso merlot or a chocolate raspberry cabernet. No one would have thought that wine and chocolate would fit well together but these gourmet chocolates, when paired with ice cream, would be sure to ticket anyone’s taste buds.

Unfortunately, these small luscious treasures make a perfect gift for anyone. If you know a chocolate lover, then they will greatly appreciate the sophisticated taste of these gourmet delights. They will know that you spent your time and money buying them the only gift they really need. Stores that sell these delicious treats also have gift certificates available so if you can’t pick out the perfect gourmet chocolates you can certainly let them do it with your gift for them. After all, it reminds us that we can enjoy our favorite treat knowing it’s good for the body and perhaps also the mind.

Set out to prepare the ingredients for the cooking. You will need three whole pieces of eggs, two cups of sugar, two teaspoons of baking soda, one cup milk, one teaspoon of vanilla essence, two teaspoons of chocolate powder and three cups of flour. You can have these ingredients sourced out from cooking games kitchen. Though you may think that cooking games are only for the sake of playing, you need to follow the cooking instructions as you do when cooking. First, beat the egg and scramble the three eggs in a cake pan. Add the sugar and stir the mixture with a ladle. Then add the baking soda, stir; the milk, stir; and combine the vanilla essence and the chocolate powder to the mixture. Constant stirring is needed to make sure that you evenly mixed the ingredients. After being able to do so, prepare the pan and place it in the oven at 350 degrees temperature. After the cooking time lapsed, remove the tasty stuff from the oven and you can now decorate your chocolate cake with candies or butter cream frost.

Chocolates contain phenylethylamine which is a mild mood elevator and anti-depressant. It happens to be the same chemical that produces the love or happiness feeling in our brains. It also contains a very small amount of caffeine. It is also considered an aphrodisiac. Very much like red wines, fruits, teas and vegetables, cocoa seeds contain important antioxidants called flavonoids, and has been linked to cardiovascular health. Dark chocolates contain about twice as many antioxidants as the milk chocolates do. Not everything that tastes good is bad for you and chocolates is definitely one of them. While chocolates and cocoa butter contain both saturated and unsaturated fat, but unlike many saturated fats the stearic acid in chocolates is a neutral fat and does not raise your bad cholesterol levels. Proper storage and care is important and here is a short but very important list to ensure you will be enjoying every last bite. Store in a cool, dry place at approximately 65-70 degrees F. It can and will absorb aromas and odors of other foods stored around it and should be kept in mind when storing. For the most part the shelf life is around 1 year if stored properly. Do not store in the refrigerator, the moisture from the refrigerator will effect both the appearance and texture. The same is true with storing in high heat, this will cause a “bloom” effect which will not affect the taste but it definitely affects the appearance.

Online sources also now have a wide choice in elaborate decorative gift boxes that contain a variety of European chocolates and there are so many to choose from. Also, you may be surprised to learn that so many of the gourmet chocolate treats such as chocolate liquors that you have been paying top dollar for at your local chocolate shop are in fact copies of the originals that hail from Europe.

* 1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
* 1-1/2 teaspoon baking soda
* 1/4 teaspoon salt
* 1 can (15 oz.) whole or quartered beets, drained (reserve liquid)
* 1-1/4 cups granulated sugar
* 1 cup vegetable oil
* 1/2 cup juice from beets
* 3 large eggs
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 3 squares (1 ounce each) unsweetened chocolate, melted
* 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
* For icing:
* 1 cup white chocolate chips

PREPARATION:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Arrange rack in the center of the oven. Line a 9 x 13-inch baking pan with non-stick foil.

In a medium bowl, measure flour, baking soda, and salt.

Stir to combine. Set aside.

Puree drained beets in a food processor or heavy-duty blender. Scrape into a large bowl. Add sugar, vegetable oil, and 1/2 cup reserved beet juice to the pureed beets and mix on medium speed until combined. Add eggs and vanilla extract, blending until completed incorporated.

Add flour mixture to the beet mixture. Using medium speed, mix until combined, at least two minutes, scraping down sides often. Add melted unsweetened chocolate and mix until combined.

Pour into baking pan. Distribute chocolate chips evenly over the top of the batter. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cool to room temperature.

To make icing:
Melt white chocolate chips in a double-boiler or microwave, being careful not to scorch it. Cool until just warm, but still liquid. Scrape into a ziptop bag, squeeze out the air, and seal the bag. Cut a small piece from the corner of the bag and drizzle white chocolate in a zig-zag pattern evenly over the top of the cake. Let sit to harden.

Optional topping:
Instead of white chocolate icing, you may wish to simply sift powdered sugar over the top of the cake.

Ingredients:

(dry ingredients)
• 1 ½ cups plain flour
• 1 and 1/3 cups sugar
• ½ cup cocoa
• 1 ¼ teaspoons bi-carb
• ¼ teaspoons baking powder

ADD (wet ingredients)
• 125g (4oz) butter
• ¾ cups water
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

Procedure:

Add all the ingredients into a bowl and beat with an electric mixer for about 4 minutes ( be careful to beat too fast at first so u dont spill any of the ingredients)

Cook in a ring tin for 35 – 40 mintutes in a preheated moderate oven (375°F/190°C)

Icing Recipe:
• 2 cups icing mixture
• 1 tablespoon cocoa
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 60g butter (1.9oz)

Procedure – melt butter and add with milk and stir. Put in the fridge for a few secs and bring out to ice the cake once it has cooled