chocolate Archives

Colorful Culinary Gifts For Your Easter Basket

Instead of confetti and candy, why not fill your Easter baskets with these colorful locally-produced culinary gifts? I have picked a few unique foods and kitchen accessories that will remind you of bright spring colors and will come in handy even after the holiday is over! Shop from the small companies that produce them, and ship directly to your home or to your loved ones.

easter gifts — 2oz Easter jams are the perfectly size for little hands

V Smiley Preserves

These are the best tasting fruit preserves I have ever tried, and the flavors are so unconventional, you cannot find them anywhere else. There’s no sugar or preservatives – only honey and fruit in a jar! Try the Pear Lemon Sage White Pepper, Navel Orange Mission Fig Cardamom, Seville Orange and Bergamot Orange, or Raspberry Redcurrant Geranium Jam spread on toast or pair it with your favorite cheese. These jars are made in small batches with locally sourced fruits from farms in Vermont.

What’s more? 25% of this month’s featured flavor – Lavender Blackberry Rhubarb Jam – goes to the Trans Justice Funding Project.

culinary gifts — Bees Wrap is a colorful environment friendly alternative to plastic

Bees’ Wrap

Bee’s Wrap is a reusable and biodegradable alternative to plastic wrap. It is perfect for storing leftovers, wrapping up snacks for on-the-go snacking, and eliminating unnecessary waste at home. And they are so pretty and vibrant! Wrap your unused piece of fruit or cover a bowl of leftover lunch with prints that will also brighten the refrigerator shelves. Bee’s Wrap is made in Vermont by a woman-founded certified B Corp.

colorful kitchen gifts — Opinel tools are handy in the kitchen everyday

Opinel Essentials

Opinel’s Essentials+ collection brings bright colors together in practical everyday workhorses – a peeler, serrated knife, and paring knife. These are available individually or in a three-pack set. Designed for precise handling, these tools make it easier to keep that 2021 resolution to cook joyfully in the new year. Plus, the dishwasher-friendly polymer handles are good for both right and left-handed cooks.

colorful maple syrup — Everyone should have these all-natural spice infused maple syrups in their cocktail bar

Runamok Maple Syrups

The 100% pure Vermont maple syrup is also organic. The collection of Runamok cocktail mixers will sweeten your brunch mimosas and ice teas, without the added sugar. With flavors like Cinnamon+Vanilla-Infused, Ginger Root-Infused, Rum Barrel-Aged, and Pecan Wood-Smoked, the collection of syrups are just as good in baked goods, savory dishes, cocktails, and desserts, as they are on top of breakfast staples like pancakes and waffles. Runamok Maple is a family-run company based in Vermont.

3Bros Stroopwafles

Liven up your Easter basket with Easter egg and butterfly shaped stroopwafels dipped in white or milk chocolate with sugar icing.

Stroopwafels are classic Dutch cookies with a sweet caramel filling, enjoyed as a snack with a cup of hot coffee. But you don’t need to go to Netherlands to buy fresh tasting Stroopwafels. Fayetteville, Georgia-based family-owned and operated 3Bros Stroopwafels uses the original Dutch recipe. The recipe calls for butter and sugar beet molasses, pressed inside a cinnamon wafer.

Lastly, 3Bros supports organization by helping them host Stroopwafel fundraisers.

Chocolate Alternatives That Are Good For You

chocolates — Delysia Easter collection can be served as dessert

Delysia Chocolate Truffles

Obviously, you can’t entirely skip chocolate on Easter Sunday, but you can go gourmet with it! Delysia’s 16 piece Easter truffle collection features the beloved desserts of a pastel party on a warm spring day. The box contains pieces of carrot cake, lemon meringue, hot cross bun and caffe latte turtle chocolate truffles. Additionally, they sell painted chocolate eggs, golden egg molded chocolate, and handcrafted Easter gift baskets on their website.

Chef-owner and chocolatier Nicole Patel of Austin, Texas-based Delysia Chocolatier is a Top 3 chocolatier in the Americas. Patel uses only the finest quality chocolate from sustainable sources and freshest ingredients to create these delectable works of art. She also offers virtual chocolate tastings that you can enjoy with your friends and colleagues!

Easter Candy Soufflé Recipe

Chocolate Alternatives That Are Good For You

Do you have a love and hate relationship with chocolate? You love the sweet indulgent taste of chocolate. It is satisfying in the moment. However, you’re allergic to sugar and dairy. Or do you feel the candy you eat is too addictive and doesn’t help you with your diet goals? Now, there’s good news! Whether you want to indulge in Halloween candy, gourmet chocolates, or bake your own sweet treats, these chocolate alternatives will satisfy your palate in a healthy way. Discover liquid, spreadable, gluten free, dairy free, and sugar free chocolates. Ethical, organic and sustainable chocolates are not just good for you, they are for the planet too.

gluten free chocolate truffles — Sweet Vegan dark chocolate truffles are handmade in New York.

Vegan Chocolate Truffles

New York based chocolatier – Sweet Vegan shows how delicious a truffle can be without using any dairy or other animal products. Sweet Vegan offers “Dreamy Bite” truffles made with organic, sustainable and fair trade ingredients. Most importantly, the chocolate’s full flavor profile is so good, you will not miss the dairy! Get a gift box or order one of these delectable flavors – Luscious Lemon, Energizing Espresso, Spicy Ginger, or Midnight Passion. Moreover, Sweet Vegan is free of soy, gluten and nuts.

Flax Chocolate Brownies

Fresh and healthy brownies out of a packet? Sounds too good to be true, still these passed my taste test! With Flax4Life gluten, nut and dairy free baked goods, you’ll feel like you’re treating yourself to a decadent dessert, minus the guilt. Plus, you get the added bonus of all natural ingredients, and a healthy dose of Omega 3, fiber, lignans and no preservatives, no hydrogenated fat, no cholesterol and no trans fats. The Chocolate Brownie Mini Muffin has 689 mg of Omega 3, 2 grams of fiber, 2 grams of protein per serving and is loaded with rich, decadent chocolate. Now, thats a healthy dessert!

Hydrating Chocolate Water

If you are trying to give up carbs and sugars, drink more water, or have a healthier lifestyle, try Pure Inventions alternative – chocolate water. Sweetened naturally with low-glycemic lohan fruit and stevia extracts, Pure Inventions comes in liquid drops that are free of synthetic colors, flavors, sugar, calories, caffeine, artificial sweeteners, and gluten. Add the Coconut Water Chocolate beverage to your water and sip through it on your working day. You will feel like you are at a luxury spa!

Chocolate Covered Crickets

A bug covered chocolate alternative sounds unconventional, even so the great flavor will change your mind. Bug Out Bar is a chocolate brownie bar made with cricket protein powder. Crickets are sustainable and nutrient-dense food, packed with protein and nutrients, making it a nutritional powerhouse.

Gluten-Free Chocolate Spread

Looking for an alternate to Nutella? Get rid of high sugar, artificially flavored spreads in your pantry and replace them with Broma. The almond dark chocolate spread is made with sustainably sourced dark chocolate, almonds, and a nutrient formula. Broma tastes different from sugar based spreads, but you will feel good about it afterward.

Chocolate Protein Powder

Now here’s an alternate to chocolate and protein powder. PBfit All-Natural Chocolate Peanut Butter Powder uses premium cocoa to give you the chocolate you crave and the protein you need. With less fat and calories than regular peanut butter, PBfit is great in smoothies, mixed into baked goods, added to cereals, or sprinkled on fresh fruit.

Dairy Free Chocolate Milk

Sometimes you can satisfy that chocolate craving with just a glass of milk. The dairy free Oatsome Chocolate Oat Milk from Oatsome will become your favorite milk alternative. Try it straight out of a glass, warmed up like hot cocoa, or in your favorite smoothie. Serve hot or iced. Oatsome Chocolate tastes like the chocolate milk that you drank as a child, without the lactose.

BetterBody Foods Recipes That Are Nutritious and Delicious

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Ten Things I Learned at The Sedona Yoga Festival

Sedona is a magical place, and when I learned that there was going to be a yoga festival taking place in Sedona, I immediately signed up! This was actually the fifth annual Sedona Yoga Festival which generally takes place in February/ March time frame. The festival lasts for 4-days and includes over 200 workshops on a variety of topics, besides yoga, that included spiritism, meditation, communication, sound therapy, healing, nutrition and more.

I have read many books on spirituality, explored different practices, do yoga off and on, and am always open to trying new things. I was excited to be hearing from the 100+ speakers coming to the festival from all over the world and eager to learn more.

Here are my top takeaways from the sessions I attended. Note, a lot of it is my own interpretation of what the speakers might have said.

There’s nobody here or out there who can hurt you more than yourself.

Heather Shereé Titus, Director of the Sedona Yoga Festival advised at the opening ceremony to love yourself, and be the love you want to see in others. It is only your own practices, behaviors and reactions that can cause you the greatest pain. You yourself allow the negative or positive energies to flow into you.

Nourish yourself with asana, meditation and inquiry before helping others.

This applies more to people who teach, help or care for others. Gina Garcia, 500-hour certified Baptiste Power Vinyasa Yoga teacher and founder of Yoga Across America (YAA), a non-profit corporation that teaches yoga and wellness educational programs across the country, conducted this extensive workshop. If the idea of teaching yoga is something that has appealed to you, then it could be worth having a look at https://www.siddhiyoga.com/become-certified-yoga-instructor to see the different ways in which you could train.

Avoid prescription medication and alcohol to protect yourself from fallen angels.

I did not know much about unwanted spirits attaching themselves to human bodies in the time when we are most vulnerable. Professional Energy Cleanser Herman Petrick talked about keeping a clear and balanced energy field, and how it can help with depression, anxiety, sleeping disorders, re-occurring nightmares, chronic headaches, etc. These can all be worsened with alcohol use and so some find that Blessed CBD oil, or medical marijuana can instead help with managing their symptoms. It’s all about finding what method words best for you but you can find natural products like these at local dispensaries or even try growing the plants yourself. There are plenty of online shops if you’re looking to buy marijuana seeds for personal use that also offer tips for helping you get started.

Sound is an important vibration that helps relax and quietens the mind.

“Like a dinner bell, the sound of bowls can alert you for meditation,” said Ashana in her hands-on workshop with quartz crystal singing bowls. Though I did not buy any bowls, I have started playing flute, tabla, gamelan, meditation and yoga music during meditation, before sleeping and while lounging, and it has had profound effects.

Make superfoods part of your daily diet.

Until now, I knew what superfoods generally are and tried to eat them now and then. But Jeff Breaker, who represents Purium Health Products, emphasized that eating real food can make you feel better, help recover faster and enhance the spirit. He recommended eating organic greens, whole grains, soaked nuts, and filtered water. Also, eat as much vegan as possible and add a superfood shake to your diet. I have started making my own granola with organic oats, chia, flax, almonds, dried blueberries, agave, honey and coconut.

Energy flows through the gaze of the eyes.

In the session on Drishti by Sara Elizabeth Ivanhoe (yoga spokesperson for Weight Watchers), I learned how to focus on a still image to improve my yoga postures with fluid transitions. The same can be applied to everyday life by working on the third eye to see beyond time and space. Sara also suggested that using a yoni egg might help some women to achieve a deeper state of mindfulness. In case you are unfamiliar with yoni eggs, a yoni egg is literally a crystal ball that can be used as part of gemstone therapy. Essentially, it is believed that using a yoni egg can tighten and tone your pelvic floor muscles while helping you to reach a relaxed state. You can learn more about yoni eggs by doing some research online

When you want to connect with someone, look into their eyes.

Leah Misty and David Tietje of Thai Love Yoga did an interactive seminar on enhancing communication, which included Sacred Space Ritual, Soul Gazing, Thai Massage, Laughter Yoga, Connection Trio and Affirmation Circle. My husband and I gazed at each other’s eyes, gave each other gentle massages and exchanged words of gratefulness. I found this exercise very useful and repeat it every time I want to convey my message to another person in an assertive yet gentle manner.

Everyone is born with spiritual gifts. Learn to recognize and appreciate them.

I found Sunny Dawn Johnston’s workshop on intuition to be the most interesting as she talked about connecting with the spirit world. Every person has intuition, but sometimes cannot distinguish between mindless chatter and the angelic voice. To exercise receiving guidance we can raise our vibrations (through music, yoga, dance, nature), play intuitive games, and start trusting ourselves.

Chocolate is good for the soul.

Some of you may be delighted to hear that (good quality dark) chocolate heightens your sensations. In Yoga of Chocolate session, instructor Jyl Marie combined yoga poses with 100% organic Chocolate Tree chocolate tastings. Her aim was to use chocolate as a way of encouraging people to slow down and really taste, savor, and enjoy their present moment experiences, whatever they may be.

Hopefully, you have enjoyed reading this post and will come back for more!

Chocolate Bread Pudding with Clear Caramel

Here is the delicious chocolate bread pudding recipe that SOHO American Bistro has generously shared with you readers. It is by far, my favorite dessert in Atlanta! The moist rich bread pudding has a velvety texture and melts in your mouth. It is served warm with a dollop of cold vanilla ice cream and rightly balanced caramel sauce. If you don’t believe me, try it for yourself. Continue reading “Chocolate Bread Pudding with Clear Caramel”

Easter Candy Soufflé Recipe

Ever had a problem with too much candy left over from Easter? I do! Every year, I am left with certain varieties of chocolates that I don’t particularly enjoy and end up with a big stock in my pantry.

Like everything else, chocolate too has a shelf life. If stored properly, they can last as long as a year. But who wants to wait that long?

Use your chocolates to bake your next scrumptious dessert. You don’t always need to buy morsels or baking chocolate, most candy bars work fine. Here is a simple tried and tested chocolate soufflé recipe that takes only 5 few minutes to prepare and 20 minutes to bake. You will find most, if not all ingredients in your kitchen already. It makes a special treat and your guests would think you have spent hours making it.

Easiest Chocolate Soufflé (serves 4)

¾ cup chocolate (chopped up) You can use semi sweet, milk or dark as you prefer.
4 oz butter
2 eggs
¾ cup sugar
6 tablespoon all purpose flour

In a microwave safe bowl, mix the butter and chocolate. Microwave on high for 1 minute. Gently stir and let cool.

In another bowl, combine eggs, sugar and flour. Add the chocolate mixture and mix well.

Spray 4 small ramekins with cooking or baking spray. Fill each ramekin with chocolate mixture dividing evenly. Don’t fill more than 2/3^rd of the way. Bake in oven at 400F for 20 minutes. The soufflé will rise up. Take out of the oven and dust powdered sugar, decorate with berries and serve immediately.

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Chateau du Sucheta

On March 20, my neighbor Daniel Sklar wrote: Sucheta served a lovingly prepared three-course meal for four.

She began the evening with an aperitif of red wine. Her husband, Dipak, served as sommelier. She expertly had on hand a nicely chilled non-alcoholic cold duck (a type of sparkling wine made from Visit SmileyCookie.com! burgundy and champagne) for the non-drinkers. This was a nice touch.

A tasty salad was served as the first course. Fresh baby spinach leaves were mixed with baby carrots, golden raisins, walnuts, almonds, pistachios, dried cranberries, and shredded cheeses. The salad was tossed with a dressing made of apple vinegar and three cheeses. A sliced avocado, ripe and of just the right softness, was added to give a wonderful creaminess to the starter.

The second course was a Sucheta specialty: homemade roasted butternut squash ravioli. A filling of pureed butternut squash, mascarpone cheese, parmesean cheese, and cinnamon was prepared. Next, fresh pasta was made with semolina, rolled out with a pasta maker, and used with the squash filling to make individual ravioli. The ravioli was cooked quickly in boiling water, drained, and immediately served with a light sauce of sage-infused olive oil and toasted walnuts. Scrumptious!

The third course was a homemade chocolate mousse tart served a la mode with homemade dulce de leche gelato. The bittersweet chocolate was a perfect compliment to the flaky crust.

The verdict: elegant, tasty, and fully satisfying. Sucheta has done it again!

Best Friend’s Chocolate Cake

I attended high school in a small town in northern India. It was an all-girls Catholic Convent school, right across the street from where I lived. Our school was considered to produce polished, well-spoken, and smart girls who were quite successful in whatever path they chose after graduation.

From sixth grade until now, I have been best friends with two of my classmates. We use to hang out together all the time, be it sitting in class, having lunch during break, going for movies on the weekends, to spending all festivals and holidays together. All three of us moved to different parts of the world after college, but still managed to remain in touch and keep the friendship alive.

When my friends would come over, my mom would sometimes bake cakes and make noodles (my two favorite eats growing up). Since she could not find bags of chocolate morsels in stores, she would buy bars of Cadburys chocolates and melt them into the cake batter. It would be so delicious and rich!

One of my best friends from high school came to visit me at my home in Atlanta, back in 2005 while she was in New York for an assignment. Needless to say, I showed off my culinary skills by baking a chocolate cake for her. She fell in love with it and asked me to make it every time she visited then on.

It’s a very simple velvety chocolate cake with no layers or icing. I like it because it’s not too sweet and can be had at any time of the day. It serves well at tea or snack time so you don’t have to wait for dessert to enjoy it.

Chocolate Cake Recipe

1 ½ cups semisweet chocolate morsel

½ cup butter, at room temperature

16-oz brown sugar

3 eggs

2 cups all purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon salt

8-oz sour cream

1 cup hot water

2 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 teaspoon powdered sugar

Melt the chocolate in a bowl in the microwave for 1 minute or until smooth. Stir gently.

Beat butter and sugar in an electric mixer at medium speed for 5 minutes, and then add eggs, 1 at a time. Beat until just blended. Add the melted chocolate and beat for another 30 seconds.

Mix together flour, baking soda and salt in a separate bowl. Now, gradually add the flour mixture to the chocolate base, alternating with sour cream. Beat at low speed during this process. Add the hot water in a low steady stream still blending on slow. Stir in the vanilla.

Spoon batter in a prepared (floured and greased) angel cake or a 10-inch round pan. Bake at 350F for 55-65 minutes or until wooden toothpick comes out clean. Cool completely, sift powdered sugar on top and enjoy.