Showing posts with label chocolate. Show all posts
Showing posts with label chocolate. Show all posts

Wednesday, July 6, 2022

The Best Keto-Friendly Chocolate Hazelnut Spreads With No Added Sugars

The original Nutella is a luscious, thick, milk chocolate hazelnut spread manufactured by Ferrero. It has been beloved by chocolate and hazelnut lovers worldwide since it was introduced in 1964. Unfortunately, it's also packed with refined cane sugar and carbohydrates! That means it's unsuitable for anyone who is trying to avoid added sugars, following a keto diet or embracing a healthy, low carb lifestyle.

After trying many different keto-friendly chocolate hazelnut spreads over the past three years, I can highly recommend my three favorites as excellent Nutella alternatives for chocolate lovers who are watching their carbs, trying to cut back on sugar or just trying to eat healthier without feeling deprived.

Today, I'll be comparing and reviewing these top three product picks, which also fit a variety of other dietary restrictions and special diets, such as gluten-free and soy-free:


Low Carb Keto-Friendly Chocolate Hazelnut Spreads No Added Sugar
These luscious keto-friendly chocolate hazelnut spreads are so good, you'll never miss the sugar!

Before I embarked on a keto diet in 2019 and decided to make the switch to a low carb lifestyle long term, I was a huge fan of the original Nutella chocolate hazelnut spread from Ferrero for many years. Unfortunately, Nutella has 22g of carbohydrates and 21g of net carbs, of which 19g are added sugars (cane sugar), according to the Nutella nutrition information on the manufacturer's website.

My favorite low carb Nutella alternatives with no added sugars are Livlō Zellō Keto-Friendly Chocolate Hazelnut Spread (2g net carbs), ChocZero Cocoa Hazelnut Keto Spread (1g net carbs) and ChocZero Dark Cocoa Hazelnut Keto Spread (1g net carbs). All three of these spreads are delicious, high-quality products. Which one(s) you choose will come down to personal preferences, price and dietary requirements.

For example, Livlō Zellō has the most pronounced hazelnut flavor and a somewhat sweeter taste than the ChocZero spreads. It has a thinner consistency and can be refrigerated to firm it up, if desired. It's also more expensive per ounce. Another difference is that you can purchase Livlō Zellō in a choice of jars or a 10-pack of convenient, portable, single-serving packets that you can pop in your purse, backpack, bag or lunch box to take on the go.

The ChocZero Cocoa Hazelnut Spreads (both regular and dark cocoa) have a more chocolate/cocoa-forward flavor and are a bit less sweet than the Livlō Zellō, especially the dark cocoa hazelnut spread. Both these ChocZero spreads have a thicker consistency that's more similar to Nutella, and refrigeration is not recommended. They are also significantly less expensive per ounce.

Although all three spreads contain no added sugars, the Livlō Zellō contains 1g of sugar, so it isn't considered "sugar-free" based on USDA nutrition information product labeling requirements. The ChocZero Dark Cocoa Hazelnut Keto Spread and the Livlō Zellō are both vegan and dairy free, whereas the regular ChocZero Cocoa Hazelnut Keto Spread contains milk.

Side-by-Side Comparison of Livlō Zellō and ChocZero Keto-Friendly Chocolate Hazelnut Spreads With No Added Sugars

Flavor, Size and Price

 

Livlō Zellō Keto-Friendly Chocolate Hazelnut Spread

ChocZero Cocoa Hazelnut Keto Spread

ChocZero Dark Cocoa Hazelnut Keto Spread

Flavor, Sweetness & Consistency

Milk chocolate hazelnut flavor, hazelnut flavor is stronger than in the two ChocZero spreads, the sweetest of the three, thinner consistency (can refrigerate to thicken, if desired)

Milk chocolate hazelnut, nice balance of cocoa and hazelnut, medium sweetness, medium-thick consistency

Dark chocolate hazelnut, leans more toward cocoa than hazelnut, a bit deeper and less sweet than the other two spreads, thickest consistency

Size

10-ounce jar OR 10 single-serving packets

12-ounce jar

12-ounce jar

Amazon price (at publication date)

$12.55 OR $15.90

$8.49

$8.49

Amazon price per ounce (at publication date)

$1.26 OR $1.41

$0.71

$0.71

Free Amazon Prime delivery

Yes

Yes

Yes


Nutrition Facts

 

Livlō Zellō Keto-Friendly Chocolate Hazelnut Spread

ChocZero Cocoa Hazelnut Keto Spread

ChocZero Dark Cocoa Hazelnut Keto Spread

Serving size

2 Tbsp

2 Tbsp

2 Tbsp

Calories

170

160

190

Total Fat

16g

10g

16g

  Sat. Fat

  2g

  4g

  6g

  Trans Fat

  0g

  0g

  0g

Cholesterol

0mg

<5mg

0mg

Sodium

70mg

35mg

0mg

Total Carbohydrate

8g

17g

17g

  Dietary Fiber

  3g

  16g

  16g

  Total Sugars

  1g

  1g

  0g

    Added Sugars

    0g

    0g

    0g

  Sugar Alcohol (Erythritol)

    3g

  N/A

N/A

Protein

4g

2g

1g

Net Carbs (Total carbs-dietary fiber-sugar alcohols=net carbs)

2g net carbs

1g net carbs

1g net carbs


Ingredients

Livlō Zellō Keto-Friendly Chocolate Hazelnut Spread

ChocZero Cocoa Hazelnut Keto Spread

ChocZero Dark Cocoa Hazelnut Keto Spread

Hazelnuts, Almonds, Erythritol, Cocoa Powder (processed with alkali), Dark Chocolate Chips (unsweetened chocolate, erythritol, cocoa butter, stevia extract, sunflower lecithin), Sunflower Oil, Sunflower Lecithin, Natural Flavors, Sea Salt, Monk Fruit Extract

Fiber Mix (non-GMO resistant dextrin, allulose, fructooligosaccharide), Vegetable Oils and Fats (sustainable palm fruit oil, coconut oil, cocoa butter), Roasted Hazelnuts, Skim Milk Powder, Cocoa Powder, Sunflower Lecithin, Monk Fruit Extract, Natural Vanilla Flavor

Fiber Mix (non-GMO resistant dextrin, fructooligosaccharide), Vegetable Oils and Fats (sustainable palm fruit oil, coconut oil, cocoa butter), Roasted Hazelnut, Cocoa Powder, Sunflower Lecithin, Monk Fruit Extract, Natural Vanilla Flavor


Dietary Restrictions / Special Diets

One of the great things about these three chocolate hazelnut spreads with no added sugars is that they can accommodate a variety of dietary restrictions for people on special diets.

 

Livlō Zellō Keto-Friendly Chocolate Hazelnut Spread

ChocZero Cocoa Hazelnut Keto Spread

ChocZero Dark Cocoa Hazelnut Keto Spread

Keto-Friendly

Low Carb

Gluten-Free

Sugar-Free

𝗫

No Added Sugars

No Sugar Alcohols

Contains erythritol

Uses Only Plant-Based Sweeteners

Erythritol, stevia extract and monk fruit extract

Monk fruit extract, prebiotic fiber and allulose * **

Monk fruit extract and prebiotic fiber *

Soy-Free

Dairy-Free

𝗫

Vegan

𝗫

Food Allergy Awareness Info

Contains hazelnuts, almonds

May contain a trace amount of peanuts and other tree nuts because of processing on shared equipment.

Contains coconut, hazelnut, milk. Produced in a facility that processes peanuts and tree nuts.

Contains coconut, hazelnut. Produced in a facility that processes milk and peanuts.

* Check out ChocZero’s answer to the FAQ, "Is ChocZero keto friendly?" to learn why monk fruit extract and prebiotic fiber can be considered healthy, keto-friendly sweeteners.

** Read the Healthline article “Is Allulose Keto-Friendly?” to understand why allulose can be an excellent sweetener for someone following a low carb or ketogenic diet when used in moderation.


Jars of Livlo Zello and ChocZero regular and dark cacao chocolate hazelnut spreads with swooshes of each
The ChocZero Dark Cocoa Hazelnut Keto Spread (left) is the thickest; the original ChocZero Cocoa Hazelnut Keto Spread (right) is slightly thinner; the Livlō Zellō Keto-Friendly Chocolate Hazelnut Spread (middle) is more fluid and spreads out more (unless you refrigerate it after stirring well).

Additional Considerations

Here are a few other considerations to help inform your product choices.

 

Livlō Zellō Keto-Friendly Chocolate Hazelnut Spread

ChocZero Cocoa Hazelnut Keto Spread

ChocZero Dark Cocoa Hazelnut Keto Spread

Non-GMO

Also Available in Single-Serving Packets

𝗫

𝗫

Small business brand

Recommended Storage

Can be stored at room temperature, May be refrigerated (after stirring well) for a firmer texture, if desired.

Store in a cool, dry place, preferably at 63-68 °F (17-20 °C).

For best results, do not refrigerate or microwave.

Store in a cool, dry place, preferably at 63-68 °F (17-20 °C).

For best results, do not refrigerate or microwave.

Note: In my experience, refrigerating the original or dark cocoa ChocZero Cocoa Hazelnut Keto Spread makes it quite stiff and hard to mix or spread. However, during the cold winter months, I often scoop out a tablespoon or two into a custard cup and microwave it for a few seconds to gently warm it slightly and thin it out, and then drizzle it over keto-friendly berries, ice cream or other low carb desserts.

Comparing the Best Keto-Friendly Chocolate Hazelnut Spreads - No Added Sugars by Margaret Schindel

Posts About My Keto Diet Journey

My First Year on The Keto Diet

Preparing to Succeed on the Keto Diet, Part One

Preparing to Succeed on the Keto Diet, Part Two

Low Carb Muffins & Cupcakes: Treats to Enjoy on a Keto Diet

Low Carb Keto Chocolate Yogurt Granola Chip Pudding Recipe

Good Dee’s Keto Cookie Low Carb Baking Mix Review

Hamama Microgreens Growing Kit Review & Success Tips

My Favorite Hamama Microgreens Seed Quilt Accessories

Keto Cheddar Cheese Biscuits With Chives Recipe

The Ultimate Keto Hot Chocolate Recipe

The Best Low Carb Keto Gift Ideas: Keto Gift Guide

The Best Low Carb Keto Cinnamon Muffins

Wholesome Yum Keto Bread Mix and Yeast Bread Recipe

The Good Chocolate 100% Organic No Sugar Dark Chocolate Review

The Best Advice to Maintain Your Keto Diet Weight Loss

My New Irresistibly Delicious Keto Cheese Crackers Recipe

Luscious Low Carb Keto Triple Peppermint Cheesecake Brownies Recipe

Quick & Easy Livlo Blueberry Scones Keto Baking Mix Review

Snack Better With The Best Healthy Keto Cookie Dough Bites

The Best Quick and Easy Low Carb Keto Pizza Recipe

The Best Quick and Easy Low Carb Keto Shortcake Cupcakes Recipe

Comparing the Best Keto-Friendly Chocolate Hazelnut Spreads - No Added Sugars

The Best Low Carb Keto Sandwich and Burger Buns Mix

Blueberry Biscuit Scones — New, Easy, Low Carb Keto Recipe

The Best Keto Pizza Crust Mix With 0 Net Carbs

An Unusual, Delicious Strawberry Chocolate Tea With 0 Calories

Delicious Sugar-Free Keto Cookies That OREO Fans Will Love

Healthy Pistachio Cherry Chocolate Chip Marshmallow Cereal Treats Recipe

Easy, Decadent, High Protein, Sugar-Free Rocky Road Cottage Cheese Ice Cream

The Best Quick & Easy Low Carb Sausage and Ricotta Calzones

How to Make Refreshing Vanilla Italian Soda (With or Without Cream)


Reviews of the Keto Diet by Barbara C. (aka Brite-Ideas)

My Personal Keto Testimonial

How I Stayed Committed to the Ketogenic Way of Eating

Read More Food Reviews by Our Review This Reviews Contributors

Read More Product Reviews by Our Review This Reviews Contributors

Read More Reviews About Health and Wellness by Our Review This Reviews Contributors




Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”


Sunday, August 19, 2018

How to Make the Best Chocolate Icing

Review By Funkthishouse.com
Photos: Via Pixabay
My parents moved away from their home town in Manitoba, Canada when I was about five years old. We lived in many places throughout our country, but no matter where we lived, my dad would fly his mother out (our Memere) for visits. Oh wait a minute! She would take the train, she was terrified of flying!

I sure hope Memere knew how much I loved it when she would visit.

On one visit, while sitting in the kitchen doing homework, Memere had just finished making a cake. She was about to make the icing, when I decided I had to know how she made such delicious chocolate icing. So being an inquisitive 15 year old, I stood beside her while she explained her secrets.

"What this recipe is about, isn't the ingredients, it's in the mixing, texture and general understanding of what to add and not to add to get the best chocolate icing."

Lets start with the ingredients - They're fairly standard and well known:
Added Note: 

Below 'Sylvestermouse Cynthia' asked what Icing Sugar was. In Canada we (most everyone I know) call Powdered Sugar, 'Icing Sugar'. The only brand I use is Redpath Icing Sugar.

Turns out, Redpath Sugar is a Canadian Company as well. According to it's website it's been a part of Canadian kitchens since 1854.

Being Canadian I admit I should have known that, however in my defense Redpath Sugar and Fry's Cocoa have been a part of my family's kitchen since before I was born. That's a long time ago!

Redpath Sugar carries many sugar products, including Icing Sugar. You can find Redpath Icing Sugar at Amazon.ca (not .com), and of course, learn about their products via their website.

What makes chocolate icing awesome:

To no surprise, Memere never measured any ingredients, and to this day, neither do I. 

I learned to make chocolate icing just the way she taught me; by understanding how to get the right texture.

Here's the most important tip from my Memere:
When you need to thin out the icing, do it by adding more softened butter, not more milk
She explained this further: "Because adding too much milk will quickly make the icing mixture too runny, then to fix it you'll have to add more icing sugar to recover the texture from liquid mud to icing. So to avoid this, add more butter first, not more milk"

Putting the Ingredients Together:

Although I never measure, I'll try to put some measurements to the above ingredients
  • In a deeper mixing bowl, put in about two cups of icing sugar
  • Add about half a cup of Fry's Cocoa (add more for a richer chocolate taste)
  • Butter .. hmmm.. I can't give you a measurement - maybe start with 1/4 cup of softened butter, that's 'softened', not melted, not runny, not too soft either. Ensure it maintains it's thick butter texture.
  • Add a teaspoon of pure Vanilla Extract
  • Add a teaspoon of milk, or two teaspoons if the icing is too thick to mix
  • How to know when you've nailed it - For me, I like it when the Icing is spreadable but can hold swirl peaks on the cake, in other words, not too hard, not too soft, just right. 
With a hand-mixer, mix the ingredients together. It won't be the right texture for spreading yet.

This is where the Grandma touch comes in:

If your mixture is too thin and runny, add more Icing Sugar to correct the texture. Keep mixing it with the hand mixer. If you've had to add more icing sugar, you'll need more Cocoa so add a couple of tablespoons at a time. More icing sugar dilutes the chocolate, that's the reason for adding more cocoa.

However, it's more likely the texture will be too thick.

To thin out the texture, add another heaping tablespoon of butter, a couple of drops of milk, a half teaspoon at the most! Then stop completely with adding milk.

At this point, it should be getting to the right texture. If it happens to become too runny again, then add more icing sugar. Sorry I can't give you a measurement for that, just add a tablespoon at a time.

However if it's too THICK, then keep adding softened butter, one tablespoon at a time.

Thanks to Memere, I've never used store bought icing. I always make it from scratch.

If I had to choose the key ingredient (other than butter) it would be Fry's Cocoa. That's also the cocoa we use to make the chocolate cake recipe passed down from my grandmother on my mother's side.

My kids have grown up on our homemade chocolate cake and homemade icing thanks to our grandmas on both sides - and it's the only birthday cake they want. Store bought is a no-no.

Added Tip: You CANNOT put icing on a cake until the cake is COMPLETELY cooled. I'll usually put the cake in the fridge to fully cool it off if time is an issue.

Happy Baking!



Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”


Monday, October 23, 2017

Reviewing the Many Flavors of M&M's

Chocolate is my guilty pleasure.  M&M's are my favorite chocolate candy.  I love that I can keep a large bag of the little chocolate treats around and sometimes just one or two pieces are enough to satisfy my craving. Other times, I sit down with an entire bag. As Mars began adding different flavors to the M&M's line, I was fearful that they would ruin the original thing. We can all think of examples of when the "new and improved" isn't as good as the original. But that is not the case with M&M's. The original plain and peanut M&M's are as good as always. And the newer flavors are amazing. Are you familiar with all of the flavors? 


What are M&M's?


I can't imagine that there is a single person reading this review that doesn't know what M&M's are. But as a responsible reviewer, I will explain - just in case.

M&M's are delicious, roundish bits of chocolate covered in colorful candy shells.  

M&M's were first manufactured by Mr. Mars in the 1940s. It is thought that the idea for M&M's began in the 1930s when soldiers covered chocolate in a sugary coating to prevent it from melting. Mr. Mars created the shell coating over his small bits of chocolate for a similar reason - to be able to sell chocolate in even the warmer seasons. Thank you Mr. Mars!


Plain M&Ms and Peanut M&M's


Plain milk chocolate covered by the candy coating and peanuts covered by chocolate covered by the candy coating were the original M&M's. At least in my memory. I grew up eating them. They were my favorite thing to find in my bag at Halloween. I loved to find them baked in cookies. 


Peanut Butter M&M's

It is an entire bag of M&Ms day

More recently, Peanut Butter M&M's have been my favorite (as shown in the photo). These little treats are made with real peanut butter and I believe that is why they taste so good to me. I do not enjoy artificial peanut butter flavored candies. 


Caramel M&M's


Oh yes, caramel M&M's! I was so excited to find these on the store shelves. I love caramel treats: caramel squares, Rolos, and caramel apples - just to name a few. Even though I have been an M&M's fan over the years, I wasn't optimistic when I tried this flavor. I half expected the "soft center" to be a yucky, runny, caramel-flavored ooze. That is not at all what Caramel M&M's are like. They are delicious! 


The Many Flavors of M&M's


I guess rather than highlight each flavor, I'll just list them here. And leave it with my thought that there's not a new flavor of M&M that I haven't loved.  

  • M&M's Crispy
  • M&M's Pretzel
  • M&M's Dark Chocolate
  • M&M's Almond
  • M&M's Dark Mint
  • M&M's Dark Chocolate Peanut

Mars also offers seasonal flavors and limited editions. Some examples of those are:

  • M&M's Candy Corn Chocolate
  • M&M's Pecan Pie
  • M&M's Pumpkin Pie
  • M&M's Coffee Nut
  • M&M's Strawberry Nut

Intro photograph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

Related Links:


Amazon is one of the places that you can easily find any limited edition flavors that are still available. Have your chocolate treats delivered right to your door and eat chocolate without leaving that house. Click on one of the items below to search Amazon for M&M treats.

Are you already an M&M's fan? Do you want to design your own M&M's? Choose your own colors? Create candies that match your wedding or celebrate a special occasion. Would like like to give them as personalized gifts? Believe it or not, you can add your own letter, word, clipart, or photo with MyM&M's







Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”


Saturday, July 23, 2016

The Chocolate Days of July in Review

Image of chocolate candy
Source: Pixabay

The month of July is a chocolate lovers paradise. There are two official chocolate-related days to celebrate.

July 7th is the official Chocolate Day. No one knows the origin of this day, but we wouldn't be surprised if it was created by chocolate confectioners! 

It's a day to enjoy your favorite chocolate all day long.


  • Breakfast could be chocolate cereal or chocolate cream-filled donuts washed down with a little hot chocolate. If you would rather be a bit healthier, but still have your chocolate, check out Buckhawk's Chocolate Smoothies
  • Enjoy a mid-morning snack of a chocolate candy bar.
  • How about a glass of chocolate milk with your lunch.
  • Then you could eat healthy (?) and have chocolate covered raisins for your afternoon snack. This contains both vegetable and fruit. Chocolate is a vegetable. It comes from the Cacao tree found in tropical rain forests. True fact! 




Chocolate covered strawberries
Chocolate Covered Fruit (Source: Pixabay)

 
For more fruit and chocolate recipes, check out these delicious looking chocolate covered treats by Sylvestermouse, found on her Cooking for the Holidays Site:



  • Dinner would be delicious with chocolate flavored coffee.  Dessert could be your choice of chocolate cake or pie, or chocolate ice cream if you prefer.
Brenda Little (Treasures By Brenda) brings us a special chocolate cake recipe which includes MY favorite chocolate dessert - chocolate pudding.  Check out her Chocolate Pudding Cake recipe for a mouth-watering dessert.





More Chocolate Days


If you missed Chocolate Day on July 7th, never fear.  Another chocolate holiday happens on July 28 - National Milk Chocolate Day. This is not an official holiday, but it is a favorite chocolate of millions of people and is enjoyed in candies and in baking.

Many more chocolate holidays occur throughout the year, including the whole month of February, which is known as National Chocolate Lovers Month.  For a list of more chocolatey holidays, check out the chocolate section on the blog article by Wednesday Elf about National Candy Month.


                                        Happy Chocolate Days!








Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”


Saturday, November 1, 2014

Reviewing Chocolate Smoothies

chocolate smoothie
Enjoying your chocolate is easy when you make it into a smoothie. Yes, I have gotten into smoothies lately. And since I can't not have chocolate as part of my day, a chocolate smoothie sounded great. So I went searching for the best recipes.

We'll start with the basic, high calorie, indulgent kind. Then move through some of the great options to make your chocolate smoothie healthy and nutritional beneficial.


Basic Chocolate Smoothie, or Dessert Time


It's Food.com that has the easiest and best basic recipe for a chocolate smoothie. Ice, yogurt and chocolate syrup all blended together.

Go even a step further to make the basic recipe into a full chocolate dessert. Instead of yogurt, add in ice cream. This chocoholic made a "Death by Chocolate" smoothie with chocolate ice cream, instant chocolate pudding mix and chocolate syrup. Delicious and high calorie.


Healthy Chocolate Smoothie



sunflower lecithin
Get Lecithin here
The good thing about smoothies is that you can easily convert them from dessert style to nutritious style with just a few ingredients. SmoothieWeb has a yummy recipe for an Almond Joy chocolate smoothie. Not made with those candy bars, but with plenty of coconut and chocolate. The way this recipe is made, you end up with a healthy protein smoothie.

They also feature a great recipe called Help Me Study Smoothie. Besides chocolate, it includes strawberries, peanut butter and lecithin. Lecithin is a brain boosting nutrient that every cell in our body needs.


Power Chocolate Smoothies



almond joy smoothie
So far, we have been talking about simple smoothies with few ingredients. But it's time to go with the power versions of chocolate smoothies. Healthy Smoothie HQ offers up recipes for more elaborate ingredients and more nutrient-rich results. 

One of my favorites is Chocolate Blueberry Spirulina Smoothie. This one is chock full of plenty of those superfoods that we can all benefit from. Not only cacao (which is the chocolate part), blueberries and spirulina (a complete protein with plenty of other nutrients), but also avocado and tahini. 

The good part about healthy smoothies is that you can basically put in any ingredients you want to end up with a powerfully nutritious and filling drink. Even if the name ends up as not truly telling what's in it, like Sexy Chocolate Smoothie, you can still enjoy the great benefits.




Posted by: BuckHawk
Buckhawk

About This Contributor

BuckHawk decribes herself as "Basically a lazy person who prefers the easy things in life." So that's what she writes about. Easy home decorating, easy recipes, easy entertaining. But, she is also a lover of animals, gardening and crafting. You'll find her writing all over the Web, but with Review This Reviews! she has the opportunity to write about all of her loves.




Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”


Saturday, October 11, 2014

National Cookbook Month Continues with Chocolate

chocolate cookbook
As we continue to celebrate National Cookbook Month on Review This, we go on to Chocolate Cookbooks. After all, if we're going to celebrate cookbooks, you just can't leave out the fabulous dessert ones.

It was a joy to review 4 different chocolate cookbooks for the website Completely Chocolate. (www.completely-chocolate.com/)   And of course, I just had to try out some of the marvelous recipes. Well, I had to make sure the cookbooks were as good as promised didn't I?

The featured cookbooks include the latest from the Ghirardelli Chocolate Company and a great one just for vegan chocolate desserts. Since I have a vegan daughter, I couldn't resist trying out those recipes. They did pass the decadent test.

Now, I will give you fair warning. Not all the recipes are easy to make. Some get quite complicated and require better chef skills than I have. These will take just a bit more practice on my part. But, even the failures were enjoyable to eat.

ghirardelli chocolate cookbook
Each of the featured chocolate cookbooks also make great gifts. They each have beautiful
photographs, most that make your mouth water just looking at them. But, each cookbook also includes lots of extras. Things like how to work with chocolate, how to make chocolate gifts and plenty more.

Allow everyone of your family, friends and neighbors to enjoy National Cookbook Month with you. Get a copy of your favorite chocolate cookbook and try out a new recipe. A decadent dessert can work wonders for everyone.

More Chocolate Cookbooks:  www.completely-chocolate.com/wp/chocolate-cookbooks



Posted by: BuckHawk
Buckhawk

About This Contributor

BuckHawk decribes herself as "Basically a lazy person who prefers the easy things in life." So that's what she writes about. Easy home decorating, easy recipes, easy entertaining. But, she is also a lover of animals, gardening and crafting. You'll find her writing all over the Web, but with Review This Reviews! she has the opportunity to write about all of her loves.




Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”


Tuesday, September 23, 2014

Completely Chocolate and Coffee

gift basket full of ghirardelli chocolate
For those of you who don't know, I am passionate about chocolate. In fact, I'm also the chocoholic contributor here on Review This. So it makes perfect sense that I would review a site devoted just to chocolate.

Completely Chocolate Site


Since we can never have too much chocolate, well in my view anyway, Completely Chocolate is an ideal way to share this passion. Of course, we can be talking about just the confection itself. But, there's plenty more.  (www.completely-chocolate.com/)

If you didn't know, there are great health benefits to dark chocolate. Which is covered for all of us to read and learn more. How dark chocolate works to our benefit, some of those numerous benefits, even how much we should be eating. All pulled together on one page. I like that.

Health Benefits of Dark Chocolate:  www.healthline.com/nutrition/7-health-benefits-dark-chocolate

How about a chocolate party? That's covered, too. Don't forget recipes. There just aren't enough ways to use chocolate in desserts. What about putting together your own recipe book? Just for chocolate treats and desserts, of course. That's included as well. Completely Chocolate is just that, completely chocolate!

What Goes Better with Chocolate than Coffee?


coffee beansThere is even a site devoted just to coffee. Now, we are talking about my favorite combination. Koffee Kingdom goes deep into the world of everything coffee. And I do mean everything. From roasting beans and how that affects flavor to the perfect Halloween coffee mugs. You can even find coffee themed home decor.
Coffee and chocolate.

My perfect kitchen is loaded with both chocolate decor and now coffee decor. And, yes, my favorite coffee flavor is chocolate.

So grab a cup of your favorite coffee, add a dash of chocolate and browse around these sites. You might just find the answer to that nagging question - what are the Review This Chocolate Contributor's favorite places on the Web? And we all want the answer to that!
 



Posted by: BuckHawk
Buckhawk

About This Contributor

BuckHawk decribes herself as "Basically a lazy person who prefers the easy things in life." So that's what she writes about. Easy home decorating, easy recipes, easy entertaining. But, she is also a lover of animals, gardening and crafting. You'll find her writing all over the Web, but with Review This Reviews! she has the opportunity to write about all of her loves.




Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”


Saturday, August 2, 2014

Chocolate Covered Strawberries

chocolate covered strawberries with dark and white chocolate
Yummy! We're making chocolate covered strawberries on Review This Reviews. Talk about my kind of food. Covering my favorite fruit with my favorite, well, food, and you have a treat that I just can't pass up. I am always on the look out for great pages about chocolate. Anything chocolate. And I found some.

One Can Never Have Too Many


Yes, I did get tired of seeing the number of pages that were about Chocolate Covered Strawberries. There are plenty. But, don't let that deter you. Every single one is different. Every single one gives us a unique and interesting look at these delectable treats.

Many feature how they make their own, including recipes for adding special touches. Some have recipes for making your own chocolate variations. Some show you how to make interesting and fun decorations with the chocolate covering. Others show you where to buy ready-made chocolate covered strawberries.

Featured Pages to Share


In other words, your own way of making chocolate covered strawberries always has a place on the Web. Here I feature 2 of those pages just to show you some of the variations.

The first page is one of those great "how-to's." How to Make Chocolate Covered Strawberries is by our own Sylvestermouse. She walks you through the basics. And she uses my cooking motto: fast and easy. Her yummy treats are definitely fast and easy. Whether you are dipping strawberries for the very first time, or you are a gourmet chocolate chef, you will enjoy her page.

Kinworm gives us great tips on making unusually decorated strawberries. If you are adventuresome, you might try your hand at here plaid chocolate covered strawberries. It sounds easy to me. In How to Decorate Chocolate Covered Strawberries, she also gives you plenty of ready-made versions that will make great gifts or even inspiration for your own artistic talent.




Posted by: BuckHawk
Buckhawk

About This Contributor

BuckHawk decribes herself as "Basically a lazy person who prefers the easy things in life." So that's what she writes about. Easy home decorating, easy recipes, easy entertaining. But, she is also a lover of animals, gardening and crafting. You'll find her writing all over the Web, but with Review This Reviews! she has the opportunity to write about all of her loves.




Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”


Saturday, July 26, 2014

The History of Chocolate

chocolate squares
You learn the most interesting things on the Web. For me, it's the history of chocolate. OK, what else would it be considering I'm a major chocoholic. It also turns out, I'm a bit of a history buff, too. So lisadh's page, Who Invented Chocolate: The Sweet History of Chocolate was a treat for me.

The Cacao Bean


In case you don't know, chocolate is made from grinding cacao beans into a fine powder. Then that powder is mixed with liquid. Anything from oils to heavy creams will create the various types of chocolate. The more ground cacao bean in the mix, the darker the chocolate.

The cacao bean grows on a bush similar to the coffee bean. So I guess the question should be who discovered that grinding these beans will make something different? And lisadh tells us.

Thank You Christopher Columbus


More that I learned from Who Invented Chocolate was that we have lots to thank Christopher
cocoa
Columbus for, including introducing the cacao bean to Europe. He brought the bean to Spain where the powder was used to make chocolate drinks.

Of course, that are many other people who had their hand in developing the confection that we now enjoy. Lisadh gives us a good overview of the various names that are credited with these developments.

Fun Chocolate Trivia Facts


Besides the amazing history of chocolate, lisadh also gives us some fun trivia facts. If you are a trivia fan, these are for you. My favorite is the last one. In the movie "Psycho" chocolate syrup was used as the blood in the famous shower scene. Can't you just imagine how great that set smelled? Yum.

Along with Who Invented Chocolate, you can find plenty of pages loaded with great trivia facts. I include lots of trivia in my pages as do many others. If you love chocolate like I do, you will certainly enjoy the trivia found by lisadh.

You can share you own favorite trivia facts, your favorite chocolate recipe, or just about anything you consider a favorite through Web pages. If you love it, you will write about it with passion and fun. And that's what makes a great page. So what are you waiting for? 




Posted by: BuckHawk

Buckhawk

About This Contributor

BuckHawk decribes herself as "Basically a lazy person who prefers the easy things in life." So that's what she writes about. Easy home decorating, easy recipes, easy entertaining. But, she is also a lover of animals, gardening and crafting. You'll find her writing all over the Web, but with Review This Reviews! she has the opportunity to write about all of her loves.




Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”


Sunday, June 15, 2014

Release Your Inner Chocolate Story Teller

chocolate cake and coffee
Riddle me this, Batman. What's special about chocolate for you? Well, let go and tell your chocolate story. Allow that child in you to release the joy. In my mind, chocolate is about joy, so you are going to get the benefit of my story.

My story will be part example for you, and part my own release of that inner story teller. As your favorite chocoholic, I get to share my joy with many.

My Chocolate Story


Every summer of my childhood, we traveled to my grandmother's home. For years, she had ready my older sister's favorite, butter pound cake. Then one year, she made a Devil's Chocolate Cake. I remember clearly that first bite. The creamy texture on my tongue, the indulgent flavor on my taste buds, the immediate need to have more. I was hooked.

Oh, yes, Gramma's Devil's Chocolate Cake was one of those highlights of my summer from then on. She even joked that her cake was more important to me than her. Uhhh...no wait, it really was a joke.

But, that memory still joyfully bounds around my brain whenever I see a chocolate cake of any kind. Whether that was my first introduction to chocolate, I don't know. I do know it was my first memory of eating that yummy confection. And I will be forever grateful to Gramma for giving it to me.

Go Ahead, Release Your Own Story


chocolate mousseMy story was about a memory. Yours maybe, also. But it doesn't have to be. It can be about anything
that makes chocolate special for you.

Easy Chocolate Mousse by Jodi_K includes her story. A young girl who could even make dessert for the family. Honestly, this looks like my kind of chocolate dessert.

If you have a great story, share it. It doesn't need to be a dessert recipe, it can be any story about your own inner chocolate... Er, inner chocolate story teller. Anyway, write your own story, with or without recipe and let me know. You may just find yourself featured by this chocoholic!




Posted by: BuckHawk
Buckhawk

About This Contributor

BuckHawk decribes herself as "Basically a lazy person who prefers the easy things in life." So that's what she writes about. Easy home decorating, easy recipes, easy entertaining. But, she is also a lover of animals, gardening and crafting. You'll find her writing all over the Web, but with Review This Reviews! she has the opportunity to write about all of her loves.




Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”


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