Extra Dark Decadent Chocolate Sampler Gift Basket

Extra Dark Decadent Chocolate Sampler Gift Basket ** OVERNIGHT AIR SHIPPING **
From ArtofAppreciation.com Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Ships from and sold by Art of Appreciation Gourmet Gift Baskets

Product Description
Super dark chocolate is where it's at for the premium chocolate connoisseur. Our wooden basket features the finest chocolatiers from around the globe - create chocolate bliss with Godiva Solid Dark Chocolate, Extra Dark Chocolate with Roasted Cocoa Nibs, Swiss 74% Super Dark, Kras Bittersweet, Spartak 72% Chocolate, decadent French Dark Chocolate Truffles, Wawel 65% Dark Chocolate Discs, Dark Chocolate Dipped Nuts, Madelaine 72% Dark Chocolate, Bittersweet Chocolate Espresso Beans, Lindt High Cocoa Truffles and our incredible 77% dark Chocolate Mignonettes. Each gift is carefully hand packed and includes a personalized gift message from you to convey your best wishes.

Product Details
Amazon Sales Rank: #282 in Gourmet Food
Brand: Art of Appreciation Gift Baskets
Ingredients: Delicate chocolates damage easily in summer heat, additional shipping charges are added to the cost so when standard ground shipping is selected at $10.99, we automatically ship via OVERNIGHT air to ensure your chocolates arrive in perfect condition. As you checkout, simply select standard shipping at $10.99, we will then ship the next business day via OVERNIGHT/NEXT BUSINESS DAY air. Orders placed Thursday & Friday will ship on Monday to prevent storage in a hot warehouses over the weekend.
Features
Select standard ground shipping at $10.99 and this item will automatically ship via OVERNIGHT AIR to protect your delicate chocolates during summertime heat. The cost of this upgrade is already included in the price of the gift. ORDERS PLACED THURSDAY, FRIDAY, SATURDAY, SUNDAY WILL SHIP MONDAY TO PREVENT STORAGE IN HOT WAREHOUSES OVER THE WEEKEND.
Super dark chocolate is where it's at for the premium chocolate connoisseur.
Our wooden basket features the finest chocolatiers from around the globe, with enough to induce a state of chocolate bliss!
Godiva, Lindt, Swiss Chocolate, Kras Bittersweet, decadent French Dark Truffles, incredible 77% dark Chocolate Mignonettes and MORE!
Each gift is carefully hand packed with attention to detail and includes a personalized gift message from you.

Price: $89.99

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Women & Chocolate

Sinful is how women has always described chocolate. But despite so, do you know that 99% of all women love chocolate and that they may actually prefer chocolate more to than to sex?What exactly about chocolate is it so wonderful? Well, in fact it is not just the women who love it but almost everybody would love it too. I believe you enjoy chocolate just as much? It always feels so nice to have it melted in your mouth, delivering its wonderful taste right through your tongue, doesn’t it?
Well its wonderful taste aside, chocolate contains phenylethylamine - the same chemical that is released in your brain when you fall in love; leading to that increase in the pounding of your heart, feeling of a sudden gush of excitement. “Love Chemical” is what some would call it. It is also believed by researcher that phenylethylamine in turn causes the brain to release mesolimbic dopamine in the pleasure centers of the brain, another chemical where its presence is at peak during an orgasm.
Nevertheless, the sweetness from chocolate also triggers the release of endorphins. Think about those blissful feeling you had after a wonderful session of lovemaking. That is the effect from the production of endorphins in your body. Perhaps that is why some women actually remarked that they felt a feeling of elation when eating chocolate.
Well, a perfect gift for your love, chocolate will be. Just like buying roses during Valentine’s Day, chocolate can never go wrong. In fact, the both could be the best combination ever. Do you know that roses also contain the “Love Chemical”, Phenylethylamine? That explains for its distinct scent.
Giving of chocolate, as gifts of love has been long popular in Japan since the late 1950s. A bit different though; during Valentine’s Day, the ones doing the giving are the women instead and usually, chocolates were sent as gifts to confess their love for that special guy. Heart-shaped chocolates would usually be given. To nevertheless balance out this unique custom, “White Day” was later invented in Japan. On 14th of March it falls, one month after Valentine’s Day exactly. During this day, guys who received the chocolate will be given the chance to reciprocate their valentine gifts with soft, fluffy marshmallows. This would be the happiest day for girls who receive their fluffy gifts. Isn’t it so lovely?
Well, giving of chocolate as a gift of love has today, definitely become more and more popular. Along with the greeting card, your message of love will be delivered. Filled with your most genuine love, each chocolate will contain. Melting one’s heart as they melt in the mouth, warming up their heart as sweetness run through their tongue.Why not send some to your loved ones today, brightening up their day with a chocolate so full of love.
Rick Valens Staff Writer for Love Relationship Discussion Forum, http://www.loveletterbox.com/ and nevertheless also a freelance writer for http://www.fashion-in-style.com/, bringing to you new fashion ideas & lifestyle.

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Chocolate: Breakfast, Lunch And Dinner 3

Chocolate Espresso Bars
Instant espresso powder offers the most practical way to impart a rich coffee flavor to cookies, candies and cakes. Sold in well-stocked food markets and specialty coffee stores, the fine powder dissolves quickly in hot liquid, producing a bolder, more concentrated taste than regular instant coffee. This intense flavor comes with a solid dose of caffeine, however, so if you are sensitive to caffeine's effects, look for a brand of instant espresso powder labeled "decaffeinated."

3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened Dutch process cocoa powder
3 tbs. instant espresso powder
1/4 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
8 tbs. (1 stick) unsalted butter, cut into pieces
2 oz. semisweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
2 eggs
1 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract


For the glaze:
1/4 cup heavy cream
1 tsp. instant espresso powder
4 oz. semisweet chocolate, chopped
Pinch of salt
16 chocolate-covered espresso beans (optional)

Preheat an oven to 350°F. Generously grease an 8-inch square baking pan.

Sift together the flour, cocoa powder, espresso powder, baking powder and salt into a bowl; set aside.

In a small, heavy saucepan over low heat, combine the butter and chocolate and heat, stirring occasionally, until melted, about two minutes. Remove from the heat and let cool slightly.

In a bowl, whisk together the eggs and brown sugar until blended. Gradually stir in the chocolate mixture until blended. Stir in the vanilla, then add the flour mixture and stir until blended.

Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake until the edges pull away from the sides of the pan and the center is springy to the touch, about 25 minutes. Transfer the pan to a wire rack and let cool.

Meanwhile, make the glaze. In a small saucepan over medium heat, combine the cream and espresso powder and heat, stirring, just until the powder is dissolved and bubbles start to appear around the pan edges. Add the chocolate and salt, remove from the heat and stir just until the chocolate is melted. Let cool to room temperature.

Using a small offset spatula, spread the cooled glaze over the cookie in a thin layer. Refrigerate until the glaze is set, about 30 minutes. Cut into 1 1⁄2-by-2 1⁄2-inch bars or 2-inch squares. Top each bar with a chocolate-covered espresso bean. Makes 16 bars.

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Chocolate: Breakfast, Lunch And Dinner+2

Chocolate-Banana Croissant Panini Our simple sandwich is inspired by pain au chocolat, a much-loved after-school snack in France. It is, literally, a chocolate bar sandwiched between two slices of bread. This sweet treat is also enjoyed by schoolchildren in Spain. 2 day-old croissants, cut in half horizontally 2 oz. bittersweet chocolate shavings 1 small banana, cut diagonally into 1/4-inch slices Heat an electric panini maker to medium, according to the manufacturer's instructions. Lay the bottom half of each croissant, cut side up, on a clean work surface. Sprinkle with about two-thirds of the chocolate, dividing equally. Arrange the banana slices on top, then sprinkle with the remaining chocolate. Place the top half of each croissant, cut side down, on top. Place the sandwiches on the heated panini maker and close the lid. Cook according to the manufacturer's instructions until the chocolate is melted and the tops are golden, 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer the sandwiches to a cutting board and cut in half. Serve immediately. Serves four.

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Chocolate: Breakfast, Lunch And Dinner+1

Chocolate is to Valentine's Day what turkey is to Thanksgiving. So why fight it? And as long as you're going to indulge, you might as well do it right. In the "Five-Minute Cooking School," cookbook author and cooking teacher Tori Ritchie shows how to turn chocolate into an all-day decadence, morning, noon and night. She joined The Early Show from the Manhattan flagship store of specialty home furnishings retailer Williams-Sonoma with recipes and tips.

RECIPES Chocolate-Amaretti Heartbreakers These are really waffled cakes — moist, cocoa-rich and flecked with ground amaretti (Italian macaroons) and bittersweet chocolate. They're delicious as is, with just a sprinkling of confectioners' sugar, luscious with lightly sweetened, softly whipped cream, and downright indulgent with ice cream and hot fudge. 3 large double amaretti (or 6 amaretti from 3 paper-wrapped packets) 2 oz. high-quality bittersweet chocolate 5 tbs. unsalted butter 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour 1 1/2 tsp. double-acting baking powder 1/4 tsp. baking soda pinch of salt 3/4 cup granulated sugar 1/3 cup cocoa, preferably Dutch process 1 1/2 cups milk 1 tsp. vanilla extract 1/4 tsp. almond extract 2 eggs Confectioners' sugar, sweetened whipped cream, ice cream and/or hot fudge sauce for serving (optional) Place the amaretti and bittersweet chocolate in the work bowl of a food processor or in a blender and process until pulverized; set aside. Preheat a waffle iron. If you'd like to serve the waffles warm, preheat an oven to 350°F. Melt the butter; set aside. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, granulated sugar and cocoa. In another bowl, whisk together the milk, vanilla, almond extract and eggs until well blended. Pour the liquid ingredients over the dry ingredients and stir with the whisk to combine. Fold in the amaretti-chocolate mixture and the melted butter. Lightly butter or spray the grids of the waffle iron, if needed. Brush or spray the grids again only if subsequent waffles stick. Spoon out 1/3 cup of batter (or the amount recommended by the manufacturer's instructions) onto the hot iron. Use a metal spatula or wooden spoon to spread the batter evenly over the grids. Close the lid and bake until just set. Bake these slightly less than you do other waffles because chocolate has a tendency to burn easily. There's no need to worry, but you do want to keep an eye on these. Transfer the finished waffles to a cooling rack while you make the rest. If desired, just before serving, warm the waffles briefly, about 2 minutes, in the oven. They're good at room temperature, too. To serve: You can present a full five-of-hearts to each person, shaking a dusting of confectioners' sugar over the entire waffle and then scooping some whipped cream or ice cream onto the center. Hot fudge sauce is both luscious and luxurious over these. Broken into individual hearts and filled with ice cream, these make fabulous sandwiches. Makes about 10 full five-of-hearts or about six 6 1/2-inch round waffles. Adapted from "Waffles from Morning to Midnight," by Dorie Greenspan (Weldon Owen, 2001).

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Chocolate Cherry Milkshake

Chocolate Cherry Milkshake
4 scoops vanilla ice cream or frozen yogurt
3/4 cup cold milk
1/4 cup chocolate syrup
3 maraschino cherries, stems removed
Whipped topping & additional cherry
Directions
Place ice cream, milk, chocolate syrup and cherries in blender.Blend until smooth. Garnish with whipped topping and cherry.
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Chocolate Is Good for You!

Great news on the chocolate front! Chocolate is good for you. Under certain circumstances.Katherine Tallmadge, spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association, says, in the February 9, 2005, WASHINGTON POST, that “cacao, or cocoa beans, contain ‘flavanols,’ naturally occurring plant compounds also found in tea, red wine, and apples. Their properties have been studied as heart disease inhibitors.”

post Carl L. Keen, chair of the department of nutrition at University of California, Davis, states in the same article that “the flavanols in cocoa help maintain a healthy vascular system. They reduce blood clotting — an aspirin like effect — reduce oxidative damage and improve blood flow.”
Unfortunately the flavanols in chocolate are bitter and are mostly removed from processed chocolate. The level decreases with each step, from the bean to the cocoa powder, and ultimately to a finished product. But big manufacturers like Nestle and Mars Inc.(producers of M&Ms) are working on chocolate items that are — what else? — good for you. We can soon expect chocolate bars and candies that advertise their high level of flavanols. In the meantime, the only product that states its flavanol level is Mars’ Dove Dark Chocolate, which has 150 mg. in 1.3 oz., a high level. It also has 200 calories. We live in an imperfect world.
While we’re waiting for more high-flavanol products, Ms. Tallmadge recommends unsweetened cocoa powder, but not the alkalized “Dutch processed” kind, which has had its flavanols reduced. Next in desirability is semisweet or bittersweet chocolate with a high cocoa percentage. Some chocolates contain as much as 70 percent cocoa, but they can have as little as 35 percent. The percent of cocoa in milk chocolate can be even lower, and she does not recommend it. She says, “I recommend cocoa or an ounce per day of dark chocolate, which may be about 110 to 150 calories, depending on the chocolate. Any more than that and you’re probably going to take in too many calories for weight control.”
Do you have any idea of what you just read? A highly qualified nutrition professional is RECOMMENDING that you eat chocolate! Maybe not large quantities of chocolate, but chocolate. If you have suffered much in the area of chocolate, you may want to enlarge that statement and post it on your bathroom mirror, where it can cheer you on rainy mornings.
Now comes the chocolate frosting on the cake. Deanna K. reports: “The Diabetic Educator told me about CARBOLITE, a 1.1 oz. low carb chocolate bar made with Splenda, containing 0 sugar carbs, 15-18g carbohydrates, depending on flavor. On Google type in ‘Carbolite’for more information.”
Deanna continues, “The other chocolate bar that I think is acceptable is Amber Lyn Chocolates (fine imported Belgian chocolate), sugar free and carb conscious. A little higher in calories than Carbolite, the 1.2 oz bar has 15-16g carbs. For nutrition information visit www.amberlynchocolates.com.” The dark chocolate bars have 157 calories.
Flavanols are not listed, but these dark chocolates are a good bet for that HEALTHFUL piece of chocolate it is your DUTY to eat regularly. And soon, no doubt, manufacturers will begin to formulate their candies to be high in flavanols — and say so.
About the author:Find Janette Blackwell’s storytelling country cookbook, STEAMIN’ DOWN THE TRACKS WITH VIOLA HOCKENBERRY, at Food and Fiction, http://foodandfiction.com/Entrance.html– or visit her Delightful Food Directory at http://delightfulfood.com/main.html

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Banana Chocolate Milkshake

Got any ripe bananas sitting around the house? Great. Then instead of letting them get too ripe to eat, make yourself a nice, cold delicious banana chocolate milkshake. It’s fun and easy to do.All you do is slice up the banana and add it to some cocoa chocolate and milk and you’ve got yourself a nice afternoon snack. This milkshake will also give you a real boost of energy too. Now you know you’ll never have to waste another banana again.
Banana Chocolate Milkshake
1 cup skim milk2 tablespoons cocoa1/3 cup sugar1 teaspoon vanilla extract1 medium ripe banana, sliced8 large ice cubes
Directions
In blender container pour milk. Add cocoa. Cover, blend on low speed until well mixed. Add sugar, vanilla and banana. Cover, blend until smooth.
Add ice cubes, one at a time, blending until thick.

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Sweet Wishes For You! Gourmet Gift Basket

Send your sweetest wishes on any gift occasion with this generous - yet affordable - gift basket filled with luscious Lindt chocolate truffles, fine chocolates, Sweet Cherub caramel cookies, gourmet cocoa mix, strawberry bon bon candies, brie cheese spread, stone wheat crackers and MORE! It's the perfect gift for someone sweet in your life and makes a wonderful thank you gift for important business associates and clients. Each gift basket is carefully hand packed with attention to detail, adorned with ivy, tied with ribbons and includes a personalized gift card message from you to convey your best wishes. We offer standard ground shipping (4-6 business days in transit) or expedited shipping (2-3 business days in transit) gift delivery services.
Product Details
Amazon Sales Rank: #566 in Gourmet Food
Brand: Art of Appreciation Gift Baskets
Ingredients: Traditional natural wicker gift basket adorned with ivy floral accents, Large Sweet Cherub Caramel Cookies,2 pkgs Venus Stone Wheat Crackers, Brie Cheese Spread, Malto Bello Raspberry Truffle Chocolates, Almond Roca Chocolates, 2 pkgs Gourmet Cocoa Mix, Lindt Lindsor Chocolate Truffles, Strawberry Bon Bon Candies. ** Some of the more delicate chocolate items may be substituted during the warmer months to maintain the high quality of your gift during transit.
Features
Send a your sweetest best wishes to your favorite loved ones, or special business clients.
Featuring an assortment of fine chocolates, flavorful cheese spread, Sweet Cherub caramel cookies and MORE!
A beautiful, delicious and affordable gift basket choice perfect for any special occasion.
Each gift is carefully hand packed, tied with a pretty bow and includes a personalized gift message from you to convey your heartfelt best wishes.
Please see product description and ingredients for details on this oh so sweet gift arrangment.
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