Gift of Chocolate Bars

There are more reasons than one to give a gift to a friend or relative, especially if it is a gift of chocolate bars. We don’t need holidays to do this but they are great excuses to give such things as chocolate candy. Giving a chocolate candy bar is a great idea, especially if it is gourmet chocolate. It adds that certain extra touch put into the gift.

Chocolate bars are not just for Valentine’s Day or Easter. They are an excellent choice for parties of all types, fundraisers, as well as for baking. They can even be used for art. Yes, people sculpture with chocolate as well as with butter and ice. So, there is a lot that can be done with chocoalte bars besides eating. Seeing how chocolate bars are made is another fascinating thing too. Log on to any chocolate factory listing and check for the tour section for details.

Maybe milk chocolate bars are not your thing. Discover the different types of chocolate bars available to you. There dark chocolate candy bars, mint chocolate bars, and chocolate almond candy bars, as well as bakers chocolate bars. Be sure to obtain the right ones as some are lactose intolerant and will require milk free chocolate bars.

Do not forget white chocolate for the non traditional person. I have a friend that when I buy chocolate for them it has to be white chocolate or she will not eat it. Picky huh! Hey, everyone has their preferences. And that is the key to making a gift of chocolate bars that much more special is that they see you have put in the effort to make the gift of chocolate bars tailored just for them.

Finally, everyone loves a gift of chocolate. There are some great manufacturers that make chocolate candies, truffles, bars, out of the finest ingredients that far surpass anything at the local convenient store believe me. Almedei, Amore, Lindt to name a few. Most have order minimums, but hey, it is worth it. If you wanted to impress the sweetheart, would you tie a bow on a hershey bar or on a Ghirardelli bar?

Milk chocolate, as it is called, is simply chocolate from the cacoa bean that has been mixed with sugar, and cacoa butter, and then mixed with condensed milk or milk powder.  There are other additives that a manufacturer may add to give it their signature, but that is the basics of it.

Everyone in the world has been effected by milk chocolate in one way or another since its invention centuries ago. Being taken form South America, constantly perfected in Europe, until it has become a world phenomena. But I have no problem with that, do you? We use it for everything we can use it for. Cookies, cakes, cereals, beverages, toppings, flavorings, decorations, etc., chocolate has its place in history for good.

Is Milk Chocolate Healthy?

It is said in a study that the average American eats 10-12 pounds of chocolate every single year. They have never met me. It is also known that eating chocolate is rich in Phenols(antioxidants) which is good for the heart. Millions of pounds of milk is used every year in the production of milk chocolate.

Yes, to a degree. Ok, so the health benefits of milk chocolate are not as many as dark chocolate, however, there still some to be considered. It is a stimulator, to the brain, to the emotions, thus, increasing your stamina. Of course, moderation, because it is high in fat content and sugar. Point to be taken here is we need fat in our diet, seriously, and milk chocolate can be a great source for that fat percentage, just not all of it should come from eating milk chocolate. Be sure to read the nutritional section of each chocolate substance you obtain so you know what you have to eat or bake with - very important.

There are milk chocolate bars, milk chocolate fondue mixes and hardware, chocolate drinks, like hot chocolate and etc. There are many great recipe books that can teach you what to do with milk chocolate if you are fresh out of ideas and feel a bit overwhelmed. Just start reading and let the imagination roll. Some of the best milk chocolate recipes have come from the laboratory so to speak. Perhaps you will be the next Thomas Edison of milk chocolate.

Shop for Milk Chocolate Fondue

Talk about a child’s dream dessert, milk chocolate fondue is just a kid’s bliss. Minus the alcohol that might go into some recipes of course. I feel like I am in Charlie’s Chocolate Factory looking at that stream of chocolate. Milk chocolate fondue can be made with any type of chocolate really, Belgian chocolate, milk chocolate, or dark chocolate. There are inexpensive ways of making it. You can buy it from a well known vendor or make it yourself with homemade ingredients. And, what’s a chocolate fondue without some fondue dippers, like strawberries, bananas, pineapple, pound cake, and pecan, almonds, and anything else I suppose you could spear with a fondue fork.

They rank number one in the search engine and make one mean milk chocolate fondue, that is, Betty Crocker. When you think of baking and dessert making you think, Betty Crocker right? Their products are top quality and also very affordable. You can take the quick route to getting milk chocolate fondue, by purchasing from Betty Crocker. They have a great recipe for Chocolate Sour Cream Fondue as well.

Another great option for fondue is Nestle. They have such recipes as chocolate peanut butter smores fondue, a spiced chocolate fondue. Many of these brands offer advice on how to prepare such chocolate fondues, especially if you do not have a recipe book for them. 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 many health benefits. Dark chocolate is rich in antioxidants, which are able to fight off free radicals in the body. There is also the absence of milk in pure dark chocolate, which is beneficial to many lactose free individuals.

Remember, if you are making your own milk chocolate fondue, there needs to be a liquid mixed with the morsels or else they will stick to the pan and scortch. Some use half and half, others evaporated milk with other substances, spices, etc. This is key to creating a rich, creamy, chocolate fondue for all your family and guests to enjoy. Make a few weekend tryouts before serving for a special event in order to get the process right and perfected.

Many places have incredible recipes for making chocolate fondue, such as local stores, online stores, and personal websites posting some old-fashioned recipes. If you are in the market for something specific, then do some searching, if elogance is your goal. Remember, chocolate is chocolate, it is all about how it is prepared that elevates it above the norm. Presentation is also another factor. This is as important as preparation. Which you can use a good melting pot, or 2-quart household pot to prepare, add all the right ingredients. Then presentation takes it from there. But, when you are done, it is still chocolate, whatever type you chose. I worked in salad and desserts in an Italian restaurant some years ago, and I remember how big presentation was.

I will prove to you that is a big part of making chocolate fondue. How do you feel everytime you look at a website displaying it? It catches the eye, it has appeal, I want to make that, you say, right? Focus on preparation first, then presentation last. If it is made right, it will taste right, then it can be made to look right. Enjoy!