Tag: Chocolate

Why They Say Chocolate Has Health Benefits

Does chocolate have health benefits at all? Few studies and researches made not too long ago suggested it has. In fact, a lot of chemicals containing chocolate were found to be beneficial to the people’s health. So, it does contradict the old myth and half-truths surrounding the saying that anything that looks and tastes good is bad.

The health benefits are particularly true to cocoa, dark chocolate, and minimally-processed chocolate foods. Aside from the copper and magnesium, which aids in regulating blood pressure and heartbeat, they contain flavonoids, the ones that you also found in high-antioxidant green tea. As you probably know it already, antioxidants are good for the health as they accomplish a number of health benefits, such as the following:

-Improve circulation
-Lower blood pressure
-Stimulate kidneys, improve digestion
-Can help patients with poor appetite, kidney stones, and anemia
-Improve endothelial functions
-Guard against free radicals and other destructive molecules, which are known to trigger stroke and heart disease.
-Lower heart disease-related deaths

Flavonoids have two different kinds, the epicatechins and catechin. The catechin has been found to be rich in minimally processed chocolate foods and cocoa. This is known to aid in preventing heart disease illnesses and possibly cancer problems. It is also aid to boosting an individual’s immune system, this one also was recently discovered by the experts. Catechins can be found triple in amount in chocolates as compared to those found in teas.

But despite the discovered health benefits of chocolate, you have to be cautious at what type and amount of chocolate food you consume. As anything excessive can be bad to health, and that applies to chocolate too. Eating high quantities of chocolate can still cause weight and eventually trigger illness especially if you consume the less healthy type of chocolate.

In order to avoid the unpleasant consequences, you have to choose the right type of chocolate when consuming as not all kinds are good. For example, highly-processed chocolate food kind such as those in candy and bar forms have high calories, sugar, and fat contents, therefore, must be avoided at all cost. Healthy kinds are dark chocolate, cocoa, and any other minimally-processed chocolate food.

This is in relation to studies demonstrating possible effects by eating chocolates done by the experts to groups of participants. In a particular study, half of the group ate dark chocolate while the other white chocolate. One ones who ate white chocolate, showed no change in blood pressure, while the other who ate dark chocolate, significantly lowered their systolic blood pressure.

At another conducted Pennsylvania State University study,a different group of participants received low fat diet, except that the half got high-carb snack and the other consumed low fat chocolate bar for a certain length of time. The two split groups didn’t show difference in levels of bad or LDL cholesterol afterwards. However, those that ate chocolate bars did show increase in triglycerides, a type of heart-risk blood fat, and good or HDL cholesterols.

From these studies, it showed how chocolate can actually be a good diet food. However, note that the participants were only fed in minimal quantities of chocolates, therefore it is still not advised to consume this sweet treat more than what is required for you to take. Also, remember to avoid chocolate foods that are high in artificial flavorings, with dairy products, and sugars. Remember this: the less that it is processed, the more that health benefits you will get from chocolate.

Fun Chinese Recipes for Kids

There are a lot of Chinese recipes out there that are not only familiar but very fun to make. From egg rolls to won tons, not only are they delicious but you can get the entire family involved in the cooking process.

Kids love to make egg rolls and won tons and enjoy having the freedom to put their own ingredients inside.

A fun way to change around your typical egg roll recipe is to let your family decide what goes into them. You can use anything from cheddar cheese and ham to peanut butter and jelly.

The fun part is the rolling. Its a great family experience to sit together and create something. Even if it doesnt turn out perfect, its the effort that makes it great.

Won tons are basically smaller and differently shaped egg rolls and are a lot of fun to make too. Even a 4 year old can make a won ton so families of all ages can do this together.

Traditionally, won tons have ground pork, onions, and special Chinese vegetables and seasoning but just like egg rolls, you can mix it up a little.

Some cream cheese or frosting inside and some cinnamon and sugar can make for an interesting treat that everyone will like.

For older kids, you can teach them to make almost anything if they are willing. They can help chop vegetables, learn to cook rice, or even make a stir fry with little help.

It can be very rewarding to have your family help in the kitchen and it might even become a hobby or career for them one day.

Handmade Gifts As Party Favors

Although a certain event is synonymous to present, it doesnt mean that is has to be an expensive.” For those who are tight on budget but would want to share something to the special people around them by giving out party favors, there are many inexpensive but great handmade gifts that would definitely put a smile on your recipients lips.

Unleash your creativity

Indeed, the any special seasona birthday, Christmas, Valentine’s, anniversary celebration, etc.rekindles love, resurgence, and hope of people regardless of age, gender, or race. Aside from sharing love to the ones around you, these special events are also the perfect time to be creative and be resourceful.

Since you are on a tight budget, visiting stores on sale or bazaars can definitely help you find inexpensive items to give out as party favors. You can also create homemade and handmade items using inexpensive materials. Heres a short list of classy yet inexpensive items you can give out as party favors in any special occasion:

1. Personalized items. These are probably the most popular inexpensive handmade items of all times. Personalizing something like a recipe book for those who love cooking, a sketchpad for those who love drawing and sketching, a scrapbook for those who are fond of collecting and immortalizing memories, a notepad or journal for those who are inclined to writing, a photo album for those who love to keep photos, and the list goes on. Personalized items can be inexpensive because all you have to do is look for materials you can recycle. After recycling these items, you can add personal touches to it and give it away as a nice party favor:

2. Sweets and treats. Cookies, chocolate treats, and sweet breads are surefire party favors. If you can bake these goodies, you can save money compared to buying them. You can even warp these goodies yourself by using nice jars and boxes, by collecting nice and colorful gift wrappers or by tying them up with used ribbons, and laces.

3. Handmade or decorated ceramics, glasses, figurines, and cloth items. If you have an artistic knack, buy a plain set of white ceramic figurines, clear glasses or mugs and decorate them. By using a bottle of ceramic paint, you can decorate or color by hand the figurine. You can also draw season-inspired themes on clear glasses to make them extraordinary or you can buy a simple set of fabric paint to decorate mugs, shirts, and small cloth items.

4. Homemade bath oils and perfumes. These also make the ideal handmade items perfect as a cheap party favorsif you are into mixing fragrances. To save some money, try buying a large amount of perfume ingredients and create special fragrances, perfume or bath oil for your recipients. You can also purchase individual mini-bottles to put these pampering products in. If you do this, you can calculate and manipulate the amount of you can put in each bottles so you can give it to more people.

Yummy Treat: Food As Party Favor

Party favors are great for personally thanking all the guests that have celebrated an impotant moment with you. This would make guests feel appreciated for their attendance and at the same their contribution. Party favors would surely make guests take home a part of the party in the own houses. But how do you make this kind of impact?

One of the most cost-efficient, simple and wonderful ideas for party favor, will be giving away food and treats. Among the most popular food that could be given away in parties would be candies and cookies.

Candy favors

Candies are great give-aways, whether it is a children or adult parties. You could put assorted and colourful candies in transparent and small jars. You could decorate the box or the bag where you will be putting it and even including a thank-you note.

You could make personalized candies. Remove the wrapper and create a new design on your computer. You could include personalized messages like a greeting or a thank you. Personalized candy wrappers are popular that there are companies who could design and make wrappers for you. But you could always do it on your own. Aside from being a party favor, you could also use them as invitation or announcement.

Chocolates

Chocolate, another tasty treat that would make your party unforgettable. You could always buy small chocolate ballotins that would have a couple of mouth-watering chocolates inside. You could even have your chocolate favor customized depending on the occasion. They are great for weddings and baby showers. You could also customize the box where you will be placing the chocolate. You could use simple ribbons to decorate.

Cookies

The great thing about cookies is that they could make them thematic or artistic. You could buy cookies with different designs, based on your party theme. You could also put them in containers depicting the theme or the occasion being celebrated. Cookies are great for the holidays. When giving cookie party favors, you could include the recipe, especially if it is for a personal recipe that people commends.

Desserts

They could be a little expensive that other party favors, but they are surely worth giving. You could give out specially made brownies or favourite dessert of the celebrant. There are also foreign recipes that would make good dessert give-aways. An example would be the lazzaroni amaretti cookies which are popular Italian desserts. You could buy them in bulk and just repack them creatively.

If you have a family recipe for dessert, you could share it with the guests. You could even share a famous snack. You could place them inside take-out boxes and design these boxes to suit the occasion.

Wines and drinks

There are affordable celebration wines which could be bought for less than $12.00, like the Italian Proseco. There are also cocktail drinks which can be given in special occasions. They could surely give your even a touch of class and elegance. If you would like to spend less than that, then you could give coffee and tea assortments. You could also personalize their packaging.

When giving away or having food party favors, always consider the theme, the occasion and of course, the budget. You could even give away spices. Bottom line is you give party favors to thank your guests and you would like to thank them in a special way.

Delicious Party Favors

Seldom do people realize that food can be a special party favors they can give out during occasions. When talking about “handmade” items, foods are probably among the top choices this is because there is no way to prepare them but to use one’s hands. Come special seasons such as parties, this is the top handmade gift choice to many people since these are potential staple items on the table.

Although it is still months before a party that you are about to prepare, its never too early to think of the food items you can give out as party favors. As early as now, you can look for special sweets, tarts, candies, breads and bottled treasures in specialty stores or you can start learning how to make special homemade cookies that you can give to your spouse, friends, relatives, teachers, clients, associates or officemates when they attend your party.

Possible food ideas or items that you can give out as party favors include boxes of chocolates in various shapes, a selection of fruits, different arrangements of fruit baskets, traditional hampers that contain specialty foods and sweets such as breads and tarts in different shapes and sizes, and bottles of wine like sauvignon blanc dry white wine.

Delectable treats

If you want the party favors that you are about to give, choose more personalized or intimate that you can customize. Variations for food party favors include variations such as Wine and Gourmet food basket that contain gourmet pepper and poppy crackers, pacific smoked salmon with gourmet cheese spread with wine or a Sesame Crackers food gift which include a selection of garlic and cheese mix and chocolate drizzled almond biscotti and dark chocolate mint sticks with gourmet holiday coffee or bottle of chardonnay and cabernet sauvignon.

But, among the so-many possible food items ideal as party favors, cookiesin different shapes, flavors, and sizesare always on top of the list. Here are some of the cookie basics you need to know before giving out as a party favor:

– Choose your recipients’ favorite cookies. Knowing your recipients’ favorite cookies will make it easier for you to buy or prepare your party favor. If not, opt for standard cookies favorites such as fresh ginger cookies, fruitcake cookies, holly cookies, and chocolate chip or oatmeal cookies.

– Make the presentation attractive. Be creative in packing your cookies by embossing it with ceramic, metal, or plastic stamps or molds or by adding special add-ons to the finished product such as colored sugar, finely chopped nuts, or colorful sprinkles. Make that you decorate the outside of your cookie container with distinctive labels, unique cards, and colorful stickers or wrapping paper.

– Maximize your effort. In making this handmade items as a party favor, try to give all you’ve got. If you are baking the cookies all by yourself, make sure that you prepare to bake a large selection of cookies by freezing several rounds of this dough in advance to achieve best output and best taste.