Fun Cooking Ideas With Chocolate - By: mishaanatolia

The western world has a mild obsession with chocolate, 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.

1. In drinks
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.

Chocolate makes an excellent smoothie addition. Combine 1/4c hot cocoa mix with 8 oz milk. Add in 1 frozen banana and 1/2 of an avocado. Blend until creamy. If dairy is not an option for you, water or coffee can be exchanged for the milk.

2. In Mousse
Mousse is a fluffy, decadent use for chocolate that doesn't have to be too sweet. Here is a recipe that combines coffee with chocolate for one of the fluffiest mousses out there:
12 oz grated dark chocolate
4 eggs
6 oz hot coffee
Blend together eggs and chocolate for 1 minute. With blender running, add coffee in a smooth stream. Mixture should froth up and fill blender. Pour into dessert cups and refrigerate for at least an hour, if you can stand it.

3. Chocolate cups
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.

4. In savory foods
Chocolate isn't just for dessert anymore. The benefits and rich flavor of chocolate can be had in savory foods, as well. It is a popular secret ingredient in chili recipes. Cocoa, especially when combined with bacon or cinnamon in a chili recipe, adds incredible depth to the flavor of the chili, without ever imparting a specific chocolate flavor. Cocoa can also be added to savory breads and stews in the same way coffee might, to deepen the flavor and enrich the color.

About the Author

Misha Anatolia writes about family, cooking, and bridal topics. To check out some bridal shower recipes and for bridal shower tips and ideas, go to bridal-showers.org. Note: You can reprint this article in your ezine, blog, or website as long as the credits remain intact and hyperlinks remain active and do follow.

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