Posted by admin on May 4th, 2010 — Posted in Eating Fun, Misc, Nutrition + More
Fannie May had simple origins, but it has proved that tremendous customer service, high quality, and an extensive range are the secret recipe for succeeding. This well known chocolate store began trading in 1920 in the Windy City, and during nearly a century in business it has grown into one of the most popular sweet shops in the United States.
Fannie May’s gift of combining quality ingredients in the perfect way made them such a favorite that they expanded to just below forty-eight stores in only fifteen years. In fact the company was so devoted to the standard of its sweets they preferred to close the company temporarily rather than change their chocolates during wartime rationing. Luckily for us, many of those very same recipes are even being produced and as popular as ever now. Of course the candies come attractively packaged. Don’t forget to pick out a decorative presentation box or tin if the chocolates are for a present, just to give the candies the perfect finishing touch. The size of a chocolate gift is completely your decision, from simply one chocolate to a tower bulging with various flavors of chocolate truffle, nuts and every other filling you can imagine from Fannie May. If you want to to have specific fillings you can, even so a large assortment of carefully designed gift boxes are available as well. Fannie May now have franchises not merely in America but in various other nations worldwide. So you can order from the comfort of your home and have your present delivered throughout the country or even further afield. There are a few sensitive items which are not suitable for shipping during the summer, but Fannie May is happy to have gifts delivered throughout the year and guarantees the quality of the gifts when they are delivered.
Even customers with particular dietary demands aren’t an issue for this company. Fannie May’s make candies with no added sugar and other treats besides. Should you need a lot of gift boxes or wedding favors, Fannie May can help you there too. You only have to give them a call and tell them exactly what you want. It’s easy to see the reason why Fannies May’s chocolates are such a big hit with chocolate devotees everywhere. In fact, the tough task will be picking from the tremendous range of gift ideas available. With every sweet treat imaginable from truffles to vanilla readily available, you are sure to get precisely the perfect present.
Comments Off
Posted by admin on April 20th, 2010 — Posted in Eating Fun, Misc, Nutrition + More
Besides the fact that Fannie May has become a household name nowadays, the organization started small. It all began in Chicago in 1920. Pushing forward this much loved business has developed from a single shop into a successful organization furnishing the US with gourmet treats. Fannie May’s ability to mix cocoa, sugar and other quality ingredients in just the right manner made them so popular they grew to about 48 branches in only 15 years. During wartime rationing, the business was shut, because they refused to dilute the quality of any candies. Luckily, many of the recipes it used back in the early days are indeed still in production and on sale now.
Naturally each individual chocolate looks as great as it tastes. Remember to opt for a gorgeous presentation box when the chocolate is for a special occasion, simply to give the chocolates the perfect finishing touch. Have a box or tin delivered for birthdays and special occasions, or even choose an enormous tower of goodies for a friend, loved one, or even a colleague. If you would like to select particular centers that isn’t a problem, even so a huge selection of premade gift boxes are on offer too. To make life even easier, Fannie May has a strong network of providers all over the US and around the world. This makes it easy for you to send these delicious candies anywhere in the US and all over the world without ever having to leave the comfort of your home. While they do have a couple of delivery limitations during the warmest weather, Fannie May can have gifts delivered all year around and always guarantee the freshness of the chocolates when they are delivered.
Particular dietary demands aren’t an issue. Bakery items and other goodies are on offer as well as gourmet chocolates with no sugar added. If you are catering a special occasion like a marriage, individual table gifts and wedding favors are available too. You only have to send them an email and tell them exactly what you need.
Fannie May has become such a popular chocolate manufacturer and it’s all down to its dedication to make quality products, service and its unique variety of. And, the hard part will probably be picking from the vast array of gift boxes on offer. With every sweet treat imaginable from mints to maple to be had, you are going to find exactly the ideal gift!
Comments Off
Posted by admin on April 14th, 2010 — Posted in Eating Fun
Fannie May attribute their incredible achievements to quality and marvelous service. This gourmet chocolate shop first opened its doors in 1920 in the Windy City, and over virtually a century of trade it has grown into one of the most popular sweet shops in the United States. Fannie May’s talent of mixing cocoa, sugar and other premium ingredients in the perfect manner made them such a favorite with the public they grew to just under forty eight branches in only fifteen years. During the second world war rationing, the doors of the shops were temporarily closed, because they preferred not to impair the quality of their recipes. Luckily for us, many of those secret recipes are even being manufactured and on sale now. Almost as wonderful as their gourmet chocolate are the attractively designed boxes they come in. Don’t forget to request a decorative gift box when the chocolates are for a special occasion, it will add a special touch. How much you spend is wholly up to you, going from just one perfect chocolate to a tower crammed with each kind of truffle, caramels and every other filling you can imagine from Fannie May. If you prefer to buy particular chocolates that isn’t an obstacle, however a huge selection of premade gift boxes are on offer as well. Fannie May now have stores not just in the nation but in various other nations worldwide. This makes it possible for you to send these celebrated candies throughout America and internationally without even having to leave your desk. While they do have some delivery limitations during the hotter weather, this chocolatier will happily ship presents all year around and guarantees the quality of the chocolates when they reach their destination. Particular diets are not any problem. Fannie May’s have sugar free chocolate and many other treats besides. If you are catering a large event like a wedding, small table gifts and wedding favors are available as well. Pick up the telephone or drop them an e-mail with the details.
It’s easy to see the reason why Fannies May’s chocolates are such a big success. In fact, with candies such as white, milk and dark chocolate, fudge, and maple centers, the hardest task is not ordering their entire stock in one fell swoop.
Comments Off
Posted by admin on March 4th, 2010 — Posted in Best Lifestyle Resources, Eating Fun, Free Games + More
Ever enquired what happened to the daytimes of leg warmers, side ponytails, and shoulder pads? Surprise Yes! You can take it back once more (for at least a nighttime) with this swanky theme fete. Somehow it looks that the 80s have become a fabulous decennium to recreate. Possibly it’s the flashy dressing or the fabulously awful big hair, or possibly it is the unforgettable music produced by the setters of those crazy 80s trends. Make a totally rad 80s smash with kitsch neon decor, awesomely big hair, and 80s themed drinks. When it comes to the 80s, the coarser the better - so prepare to party hardy! Now all you need to do is play “The Breakfast Club” in the background, and al guests will feel so splendid in (electric) pink.
Chinese individuals are enamored by the colour red not only because of its intoxicating ringing, but also because of its rich significance in Chinese civilization and history. It is thought that crimson is the colour of the soul of the land. The color crimson signifies reunification, wellness, felicity, harmony, peacefulness and successfulness. So imagine what color pallette I would indicate for your Chinese New Year’s party ideas. That is correct - red! Blossoms are a remarkable part of the Chinese civilization and New Year’s is the largest day in the Chinese bloom market. The blooms are said to bring fabulous luck and are passed when visiting kin for the traditionalistic New Years Eve banquet. Call For ornamental take-out vessels from a occasion supply shop and fulfil them with blossoms in shades of reds, golds, and oranges. These easy miniature arrangements can also be passed as presents to your guests when the party is finished.
Luck biscuits are the perfect yummy end to a Chinese meal, and they have a lush history in China. In the United States, Chinese workers who constructed the transcontinental railway used to pucker prosperous messages inside moon cakes, which gave way to the fortune cookie that we recognize nowadays. Order up a batch of luck biscuits with your own customized wishes. Your guests will treasure the good luck of a content crafted specifically for them. Hongbao, which are petite red envelopes stuffed with money, are frequently given to unwed kids on the New Year. You can find these envelopes at celebration supply stores or online and pass them out to your invitees likewise.
Comments Off
Posted by admin on February 27th, 2010 — Posted in Best Lifestyle Resources, Eating Fun, Free Games + More
For Hollywood’s greatest night, observe in old-fashioned fashion with a party worthy of the red carpet. Think of pictures like Clark Gable, Bette Davis, Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn. These leads and those of their generations are the paradigm of classy and talent. There is no better way to observe the big awards evening than channeling the glitz and glamor of Hollywood’s prime.
Gild your home in the recognized colour of the Oscars: golden. These Oscar party ideas for party decorations will stun your invitees. Take out any gold-patterned China to function for appetizers. Find old wooden boxes, vessels and other ornamental particulars and spray paint them metallic before applying them in your table decorations. It is a budget-cordial means to create a dramatic gilded touch.
The one decoration item for the celebration that should not be gold is the red carpet entryway, which can easily be established by purchasing a bolt of red felt material and duct-taping it to the floor discreetly from below to deflect clustering.
Print your invites on grand gold Mylar cardstock, contribute them a double fold and stamp them with a big golden sticker and write on the outside of the invitation “And the Oscar Goes To…”
See your localized movie theater and request for “short ends” of celluloid (little parts they split off when they load the reel onto the projector) and write the occasion items on the film with a metallic pen.
Comments Off
Posted by admin on February 18th, 2010 — Posted in Commerce, Creative Arts, Eating Fun
The tempering phase is very important in chocolate candy making because you cannot turn chocolate silken, lustrous, and firm without it as these are not the usual characteristics of chocolates. Though through conching, you can turn cocoa liquor grains smaller, only tempering will further refine and turn these grains so small as to be unnoticeable by the consumer.
With tempering, chocolates get a glossy patina, snap, firmness, smoothness and a richness and of course, an extended shelf-life. Blooming is also kept at bay. If blooming is allowed to occur, chocolates become flaky and granular and the ugly whitish spots of the crystals in cocoa butter appear on the chocolate’s facade.
Heating and melting prepare the chocolate for dipping and molding, and when temperatures shoot above 90 Fahrenheit, re-tempering becomes a necessary evil.
Manual tempering is a must-learn for every chocolatier because emergencies (such as a tempering machine on the blink) may and will happen whether you liked it or not.
France is from where tabliering, one of the two methods of manual tempering, originated. Marble-slab technique is its other moniker since it’s on a marble slab or any other heat-absorbing top that the melted chocolate is cooled during tempering.
When you venture to do tabliering, you’ll need a ridged knife, a completely dry repository, a double boiler or an electric skillet, and spatula to work on a pound of chocolate. Thin slices are made from the chocolate, after which these are melted on the double boiler, with caution never to get them burned. Out of the melted chocolate, one half is first worked on the marble slab by folding and spreading with a rubber spatula until the cooling temperature for the type of chocolate you’re using is achieved. The other half is then mixed with the first half and the whole mass is worked on till it’s homogeneous in temperature, consistency and appearance.
In the other technique, called seeding, still solid chocolatesappropriately tempered by the manufacturersare used as starter seed for the melted chocolate. The process is not dissimilar to tabliering except that you only heat up three-fourths of the chocolate. The remaining one-fourth of the chocolatethe seedis blended in gently until they are also uniform in temperature, consistency and appearance.
Exact chocolate temperature ranges must be sustained and maintained in both processes of manual tempering with the aid of a calibrated thermometer. You can have fruit-filled chocolates or chocolates of various captivating designs if you so wish with your properly-tempered chocolate.
The scope for fun in manual chocolate tempering is quite limited since the process is an engrossing activity in itself. For regular tempering, a chocolate tempering machine can simplify and speed up your work so you can have the time to plan and improve on your business.
Comments Off
Posted by admin on February 7th, 2010 — Posted in Eating Fun, Shopping + More
Did you ever ask yourself why coffee has grown really best-selling today? If you actually think about it, it is simply coffee. Still, what is making them really desired to people? Without us recognizing, other ingredients are mixed with them to make them gratifying and preferable. Some even name them fancy coffee!
Preparing coffee is an artwork and it takes practice and experiment. It is not surprising if you like to work a recipe of your own to run across wrongdoings in the process. Let us take an example of a couple fancy coffee recipes. You would be stunned to recognise the ingredients supplied!
Cafe Borgia
For this Italian drink, its principal ingredients are whipped cream, ground orange peels and warm chocolate. This recipe demands to combine 2 cups of hot chocolate and 2 cups of strong Italian coffee. Uphold the same coffee-chocolate ratio at all times. After mixing, pour the substances in a mug and supply the cream and orange skins.
Irish Coffee
A cup of Irish Coffee brightens the atmosphere and beguiles us only an Irish style would. Take on a cup of strong coffee and fuse it with the quantity of sugar you want and a shot of Irish whisky. Next is to put the cream on top of the mixture.
You might notice that these formulas demanded cream in them. If you whip cream manually, it will require some time. To make these delightful beverages, Cream Whippers should be applied. They are designed to assist us fix whipped cream quickly and much better.
While being a coffee master would for sure need some time, Cream Whippers will help you vastly. We will not have to worry any longer about fixing whipped cream. You can center solely on blending the components and their quantities to make your masterpiece. On top of it, Cream Whippers allow you to manage this in your homes.
Comments Off
Posted by admin on February 3rd, 2010 — Posted in Commerce, Creative Arts, Eating Fun
Chocolates, if they are delicious and great-looking, could tempt just about anybody to indulge a bit. There are three kinds to choose from: dark, milk, and white chocolates. Cocoa butter, cocoa liquor, and sugar and vanilla in varying amounts constitute dark, or bitter, chocolates. Milk chocolates have, certainly, milk added on top of the dark chocolate components. White chocolate, while lacking cocoa liquor (what makes chocolate chocolaty), has cocoa butter so all three requires tempering to produce fine quality chocolate.
Longer shelf life, shine, crispness, a velvety texture and firmness are bestowed to chocolates via tempering, a process that stabilizes the cocoa butter fats to keep blooming away, a phenomenon which yields blotchy chocolate tops and crumbly textures.
Artisanal chocolatiers are good at manual tempering with their expertise and perseverance honed by years of practice. Using either seeding or tabliering techniques, the difficulty in manual tempering for relatively new chocolatiers is in committing a mistake in keeping temperatures on an even, correct keel as well as in mixing chocolates incorrectly. Both deter the multiplication of type V crystals, which is the sole objective of tempering.
Chocolate tempering machines were invented so that they only produce the type V crystals which give shine and snap to your chocolate confectioneries. A microprocessor controls the temperatures acting on the chocolates during tempering and adjusts the same accordingly. Working space limitations as well as humidity and moisture are issues addressed satisfactorily by a tempering machine, too.
Using a tempering machine is a must if the quantity of chocolates that requires tempering is huge because you need to the quality unchanged every time you make your chocolate candies. But your purchasing decision should be preceded by ascertaining how many operators will use the machine and for how many hours. Benefits will always outweigh costs when investing in a chocolate tempering machine as you’ll have more free time to concentrate on business improvements.
ChocoVision’s Revolation 1, with the capability to temper 1.5 pounds of chocolates per hour, is ideal for the beginner who has no tempering know-how. Too, there’s the ACMC Tabletop Temperer that has a bigger capacity, being able to handle more or less six pounds of chocolates each production time. The tempering bowl is separate (detachable), the thermometer is digital (for accuracy), and the control panels and digital displays are up front for accessibility. The heat source comes from two bright lamps (100 watts each).
A chocolatier well-versed in manual tempering can easily shift to the chocolate tempering machine with a Revolation 2; it has Rev 1’s features plus a digitized temperature display, an all-night mode and a pause option when you want to play with the tempering cycle. Similar to the Rev 2, the Revolation x3210 has all the nifty all-night and pause options; more, it can handle roughly 3-10 pounds of chocolates a pop.
Comments Off
Posted by admin on January 13th, 2010 — Posted in Commerce, Creative Arts, Eating Fun
Chocolatiers embraced the tempering machine readily because they may have been fed up with the arduous process of tempering by hand. Also, chocolates that are tempered with a tempering machine remained in temper for an extended period, and if needs be, all night.
But there are some chocolate lovers who want to have only those chocolates crafted by hand and artisanal chocolatiers cater to this segment of the market using tabliering, a method of tempering by hand. France was the birthplace of tabliering, which involves lowering the temperature of molten chocolate on an endothermic surface like a marble or stone slab.
You should not allow moisture to spoil tabliering and hence the surfaces and the equipment used for tabliering are kept dry as a bone. Moisture may cause “seizing” of the chocolates as well as fast heating and freezing.
The things you need for tabliering, apart from the basic ingredient of a pound of chocolate, include a knife, chopping board, rubber spatula, mixing bowl, double boiler, a thermometer that can read as low as 80-82F, and a cookie sheet. All these things must be entirely free of any wetness.
The one pound chocolate is cut into slim strips, melting them on the upper pan of the double boiler, while boiling water on the lower pan. The chocolate should achieve a 108 to 115F temperature range, remembering that the melting temperature differs from one variety of chocolate to another. The molten chocolate is then transferred onto a mixing bowl. While pouring, the molten chocolate should not fall with lumps but must pour smoothly.
Otherwise known as the mush, the molten chocolate is divided into three parts. The first two parts of the mush is spread repeatedly on a marble slab to bring it to a cool of 80 to 82F. You should keep the temperature of the remaining chocolate in the bowl at 100F to safeguard it from congealing.
Once the first portion has cooled, you mix in the remaining chocolate in the bowl and work the whole lot on the marble slab until it has thickened to a matte consistency as well as the same temperature. Finally, warm up the chocolate accordingly: for the dark chocolate variety, temperature ranges is at 86 to 90 F; for the semi-sweet variety, it’s 86 to 88F; and for the white variety, it’s 82 to 84F. To ensure that the chocolate has been tempered properly, dip the end of the knife or spatula into the chocolate then air dry for five minutes. If the chocolate appears hard and glossy around it, this means that the chocolate has been properly tempered. This tempered chocolate is now all set for molding, dipping or sculpting.
The most important step in tabliering is focused on keeping the temperatures closely monitored and accurate levels maintained so that you need not re-temper the chocolate. If you want to keep the tempered chocolate in that state a while longer, place the tempered chocolate on a bain-marie briefly with the same precautions against water.
Comments Off
Posted by admin on October 21st, 2009 — Posted in Eating Fun, Travel Hall
Are you looking for a vacation destination that is truly unique? You might be considering of somewhere that offers beaches and sailing opportunities, plus the cuisine and atmosphere of a metropolitan city. A ideal vacation that provides all of this is a trip to the French colony of New Caledonia, situated between Australia and Fiji.
This island is situated further south compared to other South Pacific islands, benefiting from southeast trade winds, lots of sunlight and warm weather. If a sailing holiday is what you are seeking for, New Caledonia is situated in a part of the Pacific that has the most remarkable coral lagoon in the globe. Sailing charters are easy to find and with the assistance of the trade winds you can sail out of the capital city of Noumea along the coastal line, past the many small islands that dot the ocean around the New Caledonia. Other outdoor activities on the Island are scuba diving, snorkel diving, horseback riding, canoeing, and kayaking.
If you were hoping for a gourmet holiday, New Caledonia has almost everything you could want. New Caledonia’s capital city, Noumea, is often referred to as the Paris of the Pacific. Noumea features delicate gourmet French food and wine along with the other benefits of a active cosmo town. The restaurants here are some of the best in the South Pacific. Colonised by the French in 1853, New Caledonia has a distinct French influence when it comes to food and wine.
Noumea has over 100 restaurants, ranging from sidewalk cafes to elegant bistros. French cuisine is easy to come by, but other selections include Indonesian, Chinese, Japanese, Spanish, and African food. Seafood is a speciality of the Island, including spiny lobster, prawns, crab, and mangrove oysters. One of the national dishes is Bougna, which is fish or chicken, mixed with sweet potatoes and bananas wrapped in banana leaves and then steamed covered in sand on hot stones. For the adventurous traveler on a epicurean holiday, you can sample a dish favourite with the locals, bat stew.
New Caledonia is the vacation destination you want to be: a sailing holiday, a gourmet holiday, or a time to just relax on the beaches.
Comments Off