Special Feature: Products Sally Recommends
Make Mine Chocolate
Bar Brawl 3: 191 protein bars from 69 brands. Are any of them worth the calories?
Stephanie shares more of her favorite protein bars.
Bar Brawl 2: 191 protein bars from 69 brands. Are any of them worth the calories?
Stephanie offers tasting notes and protocol, and her favorite protein bars.
Bar Brawl: 191 protein bars from 69 brands. Are any of them worth the calories?
Stephanie does extensive research on America's love affair with protein and fiber, sodium, sweeteners, and gluten, just to name a few items.
Nature versus Nurture: Cacao Beans and Their Flavor
What is the difference between "fine flavor" versus "bulk"chocolate beans? Stephanie tells all.
It's Crunch Time: The Deliciously Confusing World of Toffee...Or Is That Buttercrunch?
"Who doesn't love English toffee? Crunchy, buttery caramelized sugar with nuts and chocolate---what's not to love?" says Stephanie.
Chocolate, Salt, and Caramel: The Ubiquitous Trio
"I am beginning to wonder if it is still legal to produce a chocolate-covered caramel that does not contain detectable salt within the boundaries of the United States," says Stephanie.
The Old Softies: Pudding and Custard
Stephanie defines both terms, their cooking preparations, dairy-free variations and shares 2 recipes, Dark Mocha Crème Brûlée and Basic Chocolate Pudding.
Dark Longing
"Dark chocolate is big business," says Stephanie. Read on...
Speaking in (Cacao) Tongues: Chocolate Buzzwords
Stephanie shows us that many of these buzzwords are meaningless, some of them have real substance and it's worth being able to separate the wheat from the chaff.
Giving Chocolate Gifts
Stephanie gives us some guidance for giving that perfect chocolate gift.
Get as much up-front information as possible, especially the dark-milk-white preference.
Bar Fight
Stephanie delves into the world of chocolate bars and candy bars as small-scale chocolatiers and chocolate manufacturers have decided that there's money to be made in this realm, and they're correct.
Cake Walk
Classic Chocolate Cake is the subject here. Stephanie gives us Microwave Mini Wacky Cakes for her Recipe and Naturally Nora All-Natural Baking Mixes for her chocolate recommendations.
The Truth about “Raw” Chocolate
I don’t mean that there isn’t any chocolate that’s truly raw (although that may be the case, too); I mean that hard and fast truths about such a product are very difficult to come by.
All About Hot Chocolate
Do you know the differences between hot cocoa and hot chocolate, and are you aware of the great number of these products now available? Stephanie explains.
Knife and Pork: The Chocolate-and-Bacon Craze
At first skeptical Stephanie now agrees that a well-executed mix of chocolate and bacon can be brilliant.
The Chocolatiers’ Roundtable
Stephanie sits down (virtually) with four different chocolatiers, to get their views on everything from trends in the chocolate world to what they do better than anyone else. The chocolatiers are Jeff Shepherd of Lillie Belle Farms (www.lilliebellefarms.com); Antoine Amrani, of Antoine Amrani Chocolates (www.aachocolates.com); Fritz Knipschildt, of Knipschildt Chocolatier (www.knipschildt.com); and Martine Leventer, of Martine’s Chocolates (www.martineschocolates.com).
Chocolate Rises Up
Stephanie covers Chocolate Souffles, a dessert that makes people feel special because there's something almost magical about them.
Milk Chocolate Lovers, Unite!
Stephanie talks about how milk chocolate is made and her Recipe of the Month is Milk Chocolate Mousse. Although Stephanie recommends eight manufacturers, she admits there are many more good ones.
Vegan Desserts with Chocolate
Stephanie questions products that aim to be gluten-free, wheat-free, non-dairy and lactose-free and she gives us Wacky Cake as for her Recipe of the Month.
The Artisan Chocolate Buyer’s Bill of Rights
Here are Stephanie's guidelines for what you can reasonably expect if you follow all the rules for ordering chocolates, as well as suggestions on what to do when something goes wrong.
Beans and Nuts and Grains, Oh, My!: Non-Dairy Chocolate “Milk”
Stephanie says there is a broad selection of non-dairy chocolate “milks” available. But how do they taste? She sampled a baker’s dozen of chocolate and carob non-dairy “milks.”
Drink Up! Chocolate and Coffee Beverages
Stephanie talks about the combination of coffee and chocolate, usually referred to as "mocha." She gives us Mocha Milkshake, Darrell's Cafe Arabe and American Bicerin for her Recipes of the Month and highlights Jeremiah's Pick Coffee for her Chocolate Recommendation of the Month.
Chocolate Chip Nation
Stephanie shares the fact that Nestle produces about 250 million chocolate chips daily. She gives us Chocolate Chocolate Chip Pancakes for her Recipe of the Month and 3 chocolate recommendations.
Brownies---An American Original
Stephanie researched brownies and gives us their history as well as a Brownie Mix for her Recipe of the Month.
Chocolate and Salt: An Inspired Combination
Stephanie talks about the difference salt can make when added to a recipe--even and especially chocolate recipes!
The Mavericks of American Chocolate
Stephanie waxes poetic about chocolate-makers, who manufacture the actual bean-to-bar chocolate. These small-scale producers are solely United States based companies.
Freeze! The Scoop on (Chocolate) Ice Cream
Stephanie fills us in on ice cream, gelato and sorbet and her Chocolate Find of the Month is Bart’s Homemade.
Sugar and Spice: Chocolate Heats Up
Stephanie shares a recipe for Bob Batson's Oaxaca Flats and her Chocolate Finds of the Month are Lillie Belle Farms, Wen Chocolates, Chuao Chocolatier, Cowgirl Chocolates, Diva Chocolates, and Lake Champlain Chocolates.
Crazy from the Heat: The Art of Melting Chocolate
Stephanie shares a recipe for White Chocolate Rum Raisin Ice Cream and her Chocolate Find of the Month is Chocosphere.
The Chocolate Chip Cookie: An American Icon
Stephanie shares a recipe for Orange Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies and her Chocolate Find of the Month is TheBestCookies.com
A Primer on Fine Chocolates
Stephanie shares a recipe for Wrndy's Honey-Chocolate Sauce and her Chocolate Find of the Month is Capogiro Gelato Artisans.
A Crash Course in Chocolate Fountains
Stephanie shares a recipe for Chocolate Cheesecake Minis and her Chocolate Find of the Month is Martine's Chocolates.
So You Want to Become a Chocolatier…
Stephanie's Find of the Month is Christopher Norman Chocolates
Cocoa: The Source of Chocolate Flavor
Stephanie shares a recipe for Hot Cocoa Mix and her Chocolate Find of the Month is 7:3 Chocolates.
Fudge Sauce: The Real "Food of the Gods"
Stephanie shares a recipe for Hot Fudge Sauce and her Chocolate Find of the Month is Fudge is My Life.
Tantalizing Truffles
Stephanie shares a recipe for White Chocolate-Lemon Truffles and her Chocolate Find of the Month is XOX Truffles.
Chococeuticals
Stephanie shares a recipe for Dark Mocha Creme Brulee and her Chocolate Find of the Month is Coco-Luxe Confections.
Conching: Crucial Step in Chocolate’s Flavor and Texture?
Stephanie shares a recipe for Rocky Road Brownies and her Chocolate Find of the Month is Wen Chocolates.
Chocolate Facts and Fictions
Stephanie shares a recipe for Gorp with Chocolate and Drinking Chocolate and her Chocolate Find of the Month is the Omanhene Cocoa Bean Company.
A Cocoa Bean Primer
Stephanie shares a recipe for Coconut-Pecan Bars and her Chocolate Find of the Month is Shaman Chocolates from Mexico's Sierra Madre Mountains.
Chocolate: More Than Just the Numbers
Stephanie shares a recipe for Chocolate Malted and her Chocolate Find of the Month is Bart's Homemade.
Chocolate: Health Food or Health Fad?
Stephanie shares a recipe for Modestly Chocolate Chiffon Cake and her Chocolate Find of the Month is Chocolate Springs Café in Lenox, MA.
Who Makes the Best Chocolate?
Stephanie shares recipes for Brutti ma Buoni al Cacao & Chocolate-Glazed Pumpkin Cake and her Chocolate Find of the Month is Cocoa Puro.
The White (Chocolate) Edition
Stephanie shares a recipe for Cheesecake Bars and her Chocolate Find of the Month is Chocolate Dieties.
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