July 25th, 2009 - Barbara Feiner
Drop a scoop of ice cream into a cup of freshly brewed espresso, and you have what baristas call affogato (Italian for “drowned”).
We conclude our celebration of National Ice Cream Month with a mochaholic’s fantasy dessert: a rich, homemade hot chocolate with a shock of cold coffee ice cream.
You can use half and half, heavy cream or milk in our weekend recipe, which allows you to control your fat intake.
Prep time is 10 minutes, cook time is 5 minutes, and all of the ingredients should be available at your local natural and organic food store.
For additional summertime ice cream recipes, check out Coffee Bananas Foster and Tart Lime Breeze.
Hot Chocolate Affogato
Makes 2 servings
3/4 cup low-fat (2%) milk
1/2 cup half and half, heavy cream or milk
1/3 cup semisweet chocolate chips or 2 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped
1 tablespoon sugar
Pinch of salt
1 cup coffee ice cream
Whipped cream (optional)
- Bring milk, half and half, chocolate, sugar and salt just to a boil in 2-quart saucepan over medium-high heat.
- Reduce heat to medium and cook, stirring frequently, 5 minutes or until chocolate is melted.
- Scoop ice cream into two large ice cream bowls. Pour hot chocolate around ice cream and garnish, if desired, with whipped cream.
Recipe and photo courtesy of Starbucks Ice Cream
Tags: chocolate, dessert, ice cream, Organic Food, recipes
Posted in Organic Food Recipes | 4 Comments »
June 3rd, 2009 - Leslie Billera
…it’s a heck of a good start!
When I found out that there were several bitter truths beyond the taste of my favorite dark chocolate, another layer of guilt was added my guilty pleasure.
Not-so-sweet truths about ‘conventional’ chocolate include:
- Pesticides used in ‘conventional’ cocoa farming impact the soil, water, and the health of cocoa farmers
- Unethical practices in the cocoa industry – especially in Africa – include forced child labor, unfair pay, and poor working conditions
That’s why I was pleased as punch to read about the World Cocoa Foundation’s June Partnership meeting in Washington, D.C. June 3-4th. The meeting will be attended by top U.S. foreign agriculture brass and many other key decision makers in the industry. According to the WCF’s President, Bill Gutyon, “Efforts to improve farming practices, incomes and overall wellbeing for the millions of people who grow this unique crop are expanding significantly.”
One great start is the Cocoa Livelihoods Program, a new, $40 million program funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, eleven leading chocolate industry companies, and other partners. The program aims to significantly improve the livelihoods of approximately 200,000 cocoa farmers in West and Central Africa.
Show your support for organic chocolate with this scrumptious cupcake recipe; and let us know what favorite organic, fair trade chocolate brands are in your cupboard. We love hearing from you!
Source
Tags: chocolate, cocoa, food, healthy food, Organic Food
Posted in Green Living, Health, Organic, Organic Food, Organic Food Recipes | No Comments »
December 1st, 2006 - Barbara Feiner
 Chocolate may be the ultimate indulgence, so pamper your friends and family this holiday season with the sweetest gift of all.
Our end-of-the-week recipe comes from Green & Black’s, producers of a full range of organic chocolate bars, gift boxes, hot chocolates, cocoa and baking bars made with 100% organic ingredients.
Delicious as a sauce with ice cream or on toast at breakfast, this Pear and Chocolate Spread makes a wonderful hostess gift. Tie a colorful ribbon around the jar for a sophisticated presentation.
Green & Black’s funds a large fair-trade project in Belize. This means the company pays Mayan farmers a fair and sustainable price for their organic cocoa, allowing them to improve the quality of life for their families and communities.
Pear and Chocolate Spread
Makes: 1¾ lbs.
Preparation time: 20 minutes. Chilling time: overnight.
- 3 lbs. Bartlett pears, ripe but firm
- 3½ cups granulated sugar
- Juice of 1 large orange
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 9 oz. Green & Black’s Organic 72% Bittersweet Baking Bar, chopped
- 2 to 3 1½-cup canning jars and waxed paper circles
- Peel and quarter pears; remove cores. In large, heavy saucepan, mix sugar with orange and lemon juices. Add pears and mix together carefully.
- Heat gently until mixture begins to simmer. Remove from heat and pour into bowl. Add chocolate and mix until chocolate has melted. Cover bowl and let cool before placing in fridge overnight.
- Pour mixture back into heavy saucepan, bring to a boil and let bubble 40 minutes to 1 hour. Mixture is done when small amount dropped onto cold plate becomes thick and gelatinous.
- While mixture is bubbling, wash canning jars, lids and seals in warm, soapy water, rinsing thoroughly. Sterilize jars by immersing fully in boiling water 10 minutes or by washing them in dishwasher.
- Spoon pear and chocolate spread into jars to within 1/2 inch of rim. Cover with circle of waxed paper and secure lid immediately.
Recipe and photo courtesy of Green & Black’s Organic
Tags: chocolate, holiday gifts, Organic Chocolate
Posted in Organic Food Recipes | No Comments »
March 24th, 2006 - Barbara Feiner
Dagoba Organic Chocolate will now distribute its tantalizing Single Origin chocolates nationally, reaching the industry’s “new pinnacle,” according to the Ashland, Oregon-based company.
Single Origin chocolate, as the name implies, originates from a specific geographic region, providing a “multisensory experience of unique aromas, tastes, textures and the people who define a cacao-growing region,” the company notes.
Dagoba’s flavors include:
- Pacuare. A Costa Rican chocolate with a mild flavor, low acidity, upfront golden raisin and hints of caramel. Its name was inspired by the Pacuare River, which cuts through virgin rainforest gorges that shelter threatened bird, animal and insect species.
- Los Rios. This Ecuadorian chocolate features upfront cacao, hints of tangerine and red berry, and a balanced astringency for dark chocolate connoisseurs.
- Milagros. From the Tingo Maria Fair Trade co-op at the edge of the Peruvian Amazon, this chocolate offers nuances of banana and orchid, which grow among the cacao in a biodiverse rainforest.
Dagoba’s commitment to quality is made possible by direct partnerships with cacao growers.
“This line has been years in the making because I had to search intently to find sustainably grown varietals and producer partners that meet our standards of quality, ecology, farmer equity and community—fulfilling the highest industry benchmarks,” says Frederick Schilling, the company’s founding alchemist. “This effort has not been easy, but the rewards we’re seeing for consumers, producers and the environment are more than worth it.”
Tags: chocolate, Organic Chocolate, Organic Food
Posted in Organic, Organic Food | No Comments »
January 11th, 2006 - Laura Klein
I just received a gift of Crummy Brothers Organic Chocolate Chip Cookies in peppermint, orange blossom and lavender. Because I am not a huge fan of cookies I actually let these cookies sit one day on my dining room table before I opened them. As I walked by the cookies today on my way to the kitchen, I thought I better give them a try.
My first bite was of the peppermint chocolate chip cookie. Oh my, this first bite sent me to another planet while my eyes rolled back in my head. No joke. I am not a huge fan of chocolate chip cookies or cookies for that matter, and these are amazing! Their flavor is undeniably fresh and not too sweet. The peppermint flavor reminds me of the homemade fresh chocolate mint ice cream I make every summer. Additionally the light yet, chewy texture of the cookie keeps you coming back for more.
Wow, is all I can say about these lavender chocolate chip cookies. This is what every girl needs to satisfy her sweet tooth at certain times of the month! The lavender flavor is subtle yet definitely there and undecidedly feminine. It doesn’t overpower you with its perfumeries. Again this cookie tastes extremely fresh and kept me coming back for more. Onto the orange blossom…
The orange blossom is equally satisfying as the first two. With its fresh citrus flavor this could easily satisfy a woman’s craving! These cookies are absolutely scrumptious. I think they are some of the best cookies I’ve ever had!
Crummy Brothers cookies are something to be treasured and not to be taken lightly. They are not your typical sweet, dried out chocolate chip cookie that tastes like every other prepackaged bag of cookies on the grocery store shelf that has way too long of a shelf life. These are for the true organic foodie who will appreciate their bright creative flavors and would make an excellent gift!
When I looked at the list of ingredients I was pleasantly surprised to find that these cookies are made with organic wheat flour! You would never know it judging by its flavor. These would also make a great alternative sweet snack food for kids when they deserve something special. However, these cookies may best be reserved for the adults accompanied by a fortified glass of organic red wine like port.
To learn more about Crummy Brothers Organic Chocolate Chip Cookies you can check them out at www.CrummyBrothers.com.
The Chief Organic Foodie
Laura Lynn Klein
Publisher/Editor
www.OrganicAuthority.com
Tags: chocolate, cookies, Crummy Brothers, Organic, Organic Chocolate Chip Cookies, Organic Food, Organic Foodie
Posted in Organic, Organic Food | 1 Comment »
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