The 2008 Election Day is fast approaching and there has been much discussion as to why our individual choice candidate for President should be elected. There are many to choose from, McCain, Barr, McKinney, Nader, Obama, Baldwin and many more! (Click on the following link to view all Presidential Candidates http://www.votesmart.org/election_president_search.php?type=alpha.) To make the best choice you first must know what is inside. Don’t let hype and fancy marketing fool you. Stay with the basics, and you’ll select the best every time.
I cannot tell you which candidate to choose but I can help you learn how to select the best CHOCOLATE. Choosing the best means knowing what's inside the wrapper. You need to pay attention to the ingredients and the processing. If you do that then you will be able to select the best chocolate every time. The first thing I do when selecting a chocolate is check the ingredients, all of which should be recognizable. If you cannot pronounce it then stay away from it.
Dark chocolate should have the following:
1) Cocoa liquor. Sometimes called cocoa mass, cocoa solids, cocoa, or chocolate. It is not actually a liquor and does not contain any alcohol.
2) Sugar. Cane juice, molasses, and other natural sweeteners are acceptable substitutes. AVOID aspartame - it's a killer!
3) Cocoa butter.
4) Vanilla. NOT vanillin!
5) Soy lecithin (optional). It's used to make the chocolate bind together better. It is sold as a health food supplement, although it is controversial.
6) Any add-ins, such as nuts, fruits, or natural flavorings. AVOID hydrogenated and/or partially-hydrogenated!
If the manufacturer sticks to the basics, and pays attention to where their beans come from (different flavors from different beans and growing conditions) it's a pretty good bet that their chocolate will be good. Look for Fair Trade and organic. You will pay a little more, but you'll be helping human-kind and the planet, PLUS you will get a better tasting chocolate!
That’s all there is to it! Simple, uh? Learning what is inside the wrapper is worth it! Check out the link on the sidebar - Healthy Chocolate. Now THAT is good chocolate!
About Me
- A Chocolate Practitioner
- Tampa Bay, Florida, United States
- A bar of chocolate, a soak in the bath, a nap in the afternoon, a leisurely stroll in the park ... these are a few of my favorite things. They make me happy. I am a self-confessed chocoholic ... a chocolate fiend. I need to (make that must) eat chocolate every day. I have strong opinions about chocolate but, of course, I have strong opinions about almost everything. There are some things I have no opinion at all, but if I have an opinion, it's a strong opinion. Grab a piece of chocolate, sit for a spell and be delighted by the taste, aroma and sensation of a way of life.
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Wow! It is simple. I will start looking at the list of ingredients. I will order some of the chocolate you have available.
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