Let's Play and Eat Some Chess!

How about a tasty game of chess? Now that's one sentence I never thought I'd say.

Signature Chocolates by Rena Debuts Three New Products That Pair Wine & Chocolate

Valencia, CA (PRWEB) April 2, 2008 -- Signature Chocolates by Rena is providing wine and chocolate lovers with a whole new experience with the debut of three new chocolate collections that marry chocolate and wine.

The first product, the Chocolate Wine Pairing Collection features 24 individually wrapped premium dark and milk chocolates, paired by an expert tasting panel with just the right wine to bring out each chocolates unique character. The box even includes tasting notes on the inside flap to guide consumers through the experience as if they were in a wine class. "Chocolate and Wine might at first seem like an unlikely combination, but when you put the right wine with the right chocolate, they complement each other quite nicely," says Diane Rudman, Signature Chocolates by Rena's Marketing Manager.

An even more decadent experience is in store, when consumers try the Chocolate Wine Pairing Truffles. Each box consists of 16 premium rich truffles with flavors like Ginger Praline, Salted Caramel and Citrus Lavender Honey. "When you pair chocolate truffles with certain wines, the flavor notes become intensified," says Signature Chocolates by Rena's Corporate Executive Pastry Chef Stanton Ho, "it really brings out the best characteristics of both the chocolate and the wine."

The final new product is the result of a special collaboration with the Sonoma County Wine Grape Commission called the Grower's Choice Chocolate & Wine Collection.

This features wine infused chocolate truffles with flavors from some of the most famous growing regions of Sonoma County such as Russian River Pinot Noir, Alexander Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, Knights Valley Merlot and Chalk Hill Chardonnay. "The entire experience presents a bouquet of rich flavors that make you feel like you are on a wine tour of the Sonoma County wine country", says Sonoma County Wine Grape Commission's Vice President of Public Relations Larry Levine. A portion of the proceeds also go to benefit a special cause, the Sonoma County Vineyard Employee Education Program.

How Factories Make Specially Shaped Chocolates

Watch this video from Discovery Channel and see how factories make specially shaped chocolates!

Cerealiciously Good!

I tried this great treat from Cerealicious at Robinsons Galleria after I watched Wall-E (which is a great movie, by the way).

They have this great line of cereal treats named after movies. So it's wonderfully and aptly called, Blockbusters.

I enjoyed the chocolatey goodness of the 'Pirates of the Cadbury-ean'. Although I had a hard time pronouncing the name.

:)

Elton John Featured On A Ben & Jerry's Special Ice Cream

It's flavor is called "Goodbye Yellow Brickle Road" and is a tribute to one of Sir Elton John's greatest hits.

The Associated Press described it as "an outrageous symphony of decadent chocolate ice cream, peanut butter cookie dough, butter brickle and white chocolate chunks."

A Cellphone/MP3 Player Named Chocolate

The LG VX8500 (or "Chocolate") is a slider cellphone-MP# player hybrid that is sold as a feature phone. In the United States. it was released by Verizon Wireless in July 2006 and made available online, and later released in Verizon stores in the U.S. on August 7, 2006. In addition to the original black model (dubbed "Dark Chocolate"), the LG Chocolate VX8500 is also available in the U.S. in a light green, white, pink, and red (called "Mint Chocolate," "White Chocolate," "Strawberry Chocolate," and "Cherry Chocolate," respectively).

The LG Chocolate also has another successor now called the LG Chocolate (VX8550) which has: touch buttons with improved accuracy, a scroll wheel, support for 4GB microSDcards, and tactile send and end keys.

Here is a great recipe from Hershey's.

Chewy Chocolate-Cinnamon Cookies

Ingredients:

• 6 tablespoons butter or margarine, softened
• 2/3 cup packed light brown sugar
• 3 tablespoons plus 1/4 cup granulated sugar, divided
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 cup light corn syrup
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup HERSHEY'S Cocoa
• 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Directions:
1. Heat oven to 350°F. Spray cookie sheet with nonstick cooking spray.

2. Beat butter until creamy. Add brown sugar and 3 tablespoons granulated sugar; beat until blended. Add egg, baking soda, corn syrup and vanilla; beat well.

3. Stir together flour and cocoa; beat into butter mixture. If batter becomes too stiff, use wooden spoon to stir in remaining flour. Cover; refrigerate about 30 minutes, if necessary, until batter is firm enough to shape. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Combine 1/4 cup granulated sugar and cinnamon; roll balls in mixture. Place balls 2-inches apart on prepared cookie sheet.

4. Bake 9 to 10 minutes or until cookies are set and tops are cracked. Cool slightly; remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely. 40 cookies.

Health Benefits of Eating Dark Chocolate

Go dark and not white chocolate. There are now a few great reasons for us to grab a bar of dark chocolate.

Dark chocolate is a potent antioxidant. It contains two types of flavonoids: catechin and epicatechin. If you're not familiar with these terms, don't worry. All it means that dark chocolate helps in lowering blood pressure and even contributes in fighting against cancer.

Just don't wash that chocolate down with milk. Studies have shown that milk lowers the efficiency of antioxidants. It has the same effect with green tea, another known source of antioxidants.

Dark chocolate also improves blood circulation and although it's pretty much a given, it helps in improving our appetite. How wouldn't it right?



You have to keep in mind, though, that too much dark chocolate is still bad for your health. The main concern here is the number of calories with each serving you eat. It is still chocolate and it can make you gain unnecessary weight.

Most expensive chocolate truffle

The Madeline

Valued at $250 a piece, it's the kind of dessert that will burn a huge hole in your pocket if you want your chocolate in big amounts.

It was made by The Knipschildt Chocolatier in South Norwalk, Connecticut.

Vote For The Chocolate Hills!

As my first post, I'd like to call on people to vote for the beautiful Chocolate Hills on the New 7 Wonders of the World.

A wonder of nature this beautiful should be announced to the rest of the world.

Click on the image to go to the New7Wonders website and vote.