There are some people that are absolutely addicted to chocolates. Actually, they’re addicted to the effect of the serotonin produced by chocolates. It’s a hormone that directs gastric activity and if there are any unused, the brain uses it to manage anger, moods and appetite. It’s the culprit behind that cheerful, happy feeling after you’ve eaten chocolate.

The important thing you have to know is that your chocolate craving couldn’t be addiction. It’s just that the flavors, nutrients and chemicals in chocolates that’s got your senses heightened.

If you really are craving for chocolates, and usually, the best thing for you to do is to learn how to make your own chocolate candy right at home so you can save on gas (from those frequent trips to the store). Here are a few chocolate terms to introduce you into the art and craft of chocolate candy making:

  • Chocolate liquor - Made of 53% cocoa butter, it’s the cocoa mass or paste acquired after roasting and grinding cocoa beans. It’s what makes chocolate.
  • Baking chocolate - Unsweetened chocolate liquor cooled into blocks.
  • Cocoa butter - Your plain cacao bean oils. The measure of chocolate authenticity.
  • Couverture - French term for the chocolate melt that’s used to cover candies and truffles. Made of 35% cocoa butter and adds luster to chocolate.
  • Cocoa powder - Commonly used for chocolate drinks. The driy version of chocolate liquor, sans cocoa butter.
  • Bitter chocolate - aka dark chocolate, 35% of which is chocolate liquor.
  • Semi-sweet chocolate - Chocolate that’s 15% chocolate liquor, with sugar to sweeten.
  • Milk chocolate - Most chocolate candy bars are made of this and is made up of cocoa liquor, sugar and milk.
  • Tempering - This is the final step in chocolate making procedure, crucial in making chocolate richly-textured and lustrous.

To craft your very own chocolate candy bar, prepare and melt chocolate completely in a double boiler taking care it doesn’t burn. Once melted, pour the chocolate mush onto candy molds (for interesting shapes) or a cookie sheet (for chocolate bars), then air dry or chill briefly in the refrigerator. Don’t forget to tap out the air bubbles by hitting your trays gently on the countertop. For fruit-filled confections, dip bite-sized berries or other fruits in the chocolate melt.

If you want your chocolate candy to be as tempting as the store-bought variety, don’t forget to temper. Chocolate tempering is very essential because it lends creaminess and luster to your candy as well as protection from blooming, white spots on the top of chocolates. During this process, crystals are evenly distributed to the chocolate under precise tempering temperatures.

Nowadays tempering is usually facilitated by chocolate tempering machines. Such machines have microprocessors that temper chocolates on its own, keep temperatures even, and even let chocolate stay tempered for a longer time. The end products are usually commercial grade and suitable for profit-making trade.


23.01.2010. | Categories: Business Success, Food Feed, The Beautiful Life | Comments Off

In past years, increasingly artist are approaching portraiture as contemporary art. In years past, the Atlanta portrait artist finished their topics in a style umpteen would classify as traditional fine art.

A portrait painting of Abraham Lincoln done by a legendary European portrait artist has this style perfectly. It is a portrait of Lincoln on a bright background. It is difficult not to conceive a lensman did not travel back in time to snap the characterisation. All though, a snap would in all likelihood not contain the astuteness of Lincoln’s look.

Yet, portrait artists remain to paint their studies in traditional manners and this is not likely to shift. Particularly since many of these portraits deck the dorms of great of the most rank, established constructions in the U.S..

Contemporary art portrayal is fast becoming a popular expression art in modern day art galleries. Specially as younger generations grow ancient and start purchasing such pieces for their privy collections. Such accumulations as the American Royalty Collection, George Washington, Babe Ruth, Britney Spears and many another other iconic designs to this generation have moved concern in portraits and portrait buying.

It is not trying to view wherefore so many souls love portraitures though. In numerous cases, untold as the Mona Lisa, it is one of our only links to the past. The only way we can put expressions with the great names throughout history.


1.08.2009. | Categories: The Beautiful Life | Comments Off

These fire pits have been used as part of home décor and are an ideal for home barbeques. These stones have been facially laid out and the common stones used are the balder quarry stones. They are very strong compared to the brick fire pits, they are durable and resistant to breakages and exfoliation. Most of these stones are specially treated with chemicals which help them to resist from denudation and exfoliation. These pits are nicely designed, crafted and some pits are erected outdoors also matching with the facial stone wall of the house. They also come with various patterns and different colours. The stones used are not only quarry stones but they may also include other stones which include precious stones such as the marbles and others.

The stone fir pits are erected especially outdoors near or close to a patio or on home gardens. Erecting these pits is not cost effective but you have to acquire a specialist who can design the pit using these stones and great art should be considered. Which ever style and design you may think of it will be done for you by the specialist. I would prefer creating my own design and the pit will bring remembrance each time I look at it.

Build a fire pit, plans and ideas.


24.05.2008. | Categories: Better Recreation, The Beautiful Life, The Gardening Way | Comments Off