Savoury Recipe Using Chocolate
January 9, 2009
Chocolate can be used as an ingredient in savoury dishes too – here is a recipe that I found for a meat-free choc-chili dish. It looks delicious!
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 45 minutes
Serves 4-6
2 tbsp. olive oil
2 large onions, coarsely chopped
1 green bell pepper, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
3 large garlic cloves, minced
1/2 fresh jalepeno chili, minced (with the seeds if you like it spicy)
1 tbsp. chile powder
1 tsp. cumin
2 tsp. kosher salt
28 oz. can whole tomatoes, coarsely chopped, with juice
2 zucchinis, cut into 1/2 inch cubes
3 15 oz cans of beans, rinsed (Kidney, Black, Great Northern, Garbanzo)
1 1/2 c. chicken stock, plus more for thinning
1 tbsp. chopped semi-sweet chocolate
1/4 c. fresh cilantro, coarsely chopped
Heat olive oil over medium-heat in a large soup pot. Saute onions, peppers, garlic, and jalepeno, stirring until softened, about 5 minutes.
Add in chili powder, cumin, and salt and cook for 1 minute, stirring to toast the spices. Add in the tomatoes, zucchini, and chicken stock and simmer, partially covered and stirring occasionally, for 15 minutes. Stir in beans and chocolate, and simmer for 10 minutes. Thin out the chili with more chicken stock if you prefer. Stir in cilantro. Let sit 10 minutes, and serve.
The Truth About Chocolate…
December 4, 2008
For anyone who is feeling guilty about the amount of chocolate that have eaten recently.. or will be eating over the next few weeks… here is some good news for you!!!
Chocolate is derived from cocoa beans….
… Beans are a vegetable… and vegetables are good for you!
Sugar is made from sugar beets, or sugar cane….
….Both are vegetables… and vegetables are good for you!
Chocolate also often has milk or cream in it…
… Milk and cream are dairy products which are to be included in a healthy diet.
Therefore, the conclusion MUST be…. Chocolate is good for you!!!
Where is Cocoa Grown?
September 18, 2008
More choccie facts and figures!
West Africa supplies about 70% of the world’s Cocoa production. This is led by the four major producing countries made up of Cote d`Ivoire, Ghana, Nigeria and Cameroon.
The Americas produces about 10% of the annual global cocoa output. This is lead by Brazil and Ecuador.
Asia and Oceania produces about 20% of the annual global cocoa output. Indonesia is the major producer of cocoa in this region followed by Papua New Guinea and Malaysia.