Chocolate Trends of 2007

The trends of 2007 turned towards healthy, functional, premium and ethical chocolates.

Deep Fry Your Extra Chocolates?

Eating or sharing extra chocolate candy is a choice, but it is always fun to be creative with your food!

There are a number of other uses for those extra, leftover chocolates. For a unique and unbelievable treat, batter and deep fry a Snickers bar. (Be sure you serve it warm.)

Also, melting down Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups and using the sauce over ice cream or frozen yogurt is fantastic. Your M&M’s, Heath, Baby Ruth’s, or Snickers can be chopped up and put into your favorite cookie mix, or placed on a caramel apple, or simply used as an added layer in brownies. Try using miniature chocolate candy bars as a topping on cheese cakes or ice cream cakes; and don’t forget to drizzle them with lots of caramel or chocolate sauce.

Gourmet Foods – Expect Continued Growth

Gourmet and natural foods are leading in U.S. food and beverage markets. This includes gourmet chocolate. This growth is expected to continue through 2012.

Sugar Free Chocolates

The FDA has published a letter regarding "sugar free" claims from manufacturers and the labeling requirements associated with these claims.

The FDA expresses concern that chocolate manufacturers do show the information about the absence of sugar; BUT do not display the required disclaimer when a product is "low" or "reduced in" calories. They consider accurate claims about the absence of sugar a high priority, because of the obesity epidemic.

Chocolate Industry Says Consumers Will Need To Pay More

Increased prices for commodities such as cocoa, milk, sugar and other expenses that are tied to the end product; are causing profit margin issues.

All chocolate companies are facing the same problems. In many cases it will make it necessary to pass along the increases to the end consumer.

Heavy Chocolate – A 10 Pound Bar

Guittard Chocolate created the worlds biggest chocolate bar; weighing in at ten pounds. This one is for the true chocolate lover, and maybe a few special friends. It is available in four varieties: High Sierra White, Old Dutch Milk, French Vanilla Semi-Sweet Dark and gourmet Bittersweet.

Chocolate: A Future Weapon Against Global Warming?

Some agronomists and plant experts think planting cacao trees can be a key to save the rain forest and could help counteract climate changes.

Chocolate Cravings - Just A Gut Feeling!

Are you craving chocolate? A Swiss study found that bacteria in your digestive system could be the reason. It could be a gut feeling!

Sweet Fruit and Chocolate

Chewy, and temptingly sweet dried fruits are a good healthy snack. But did you know these dried fruits can be taken to another, sensuous level, justifiedly named chocolate dipped fruit.

Make dried fruit even more of a comfort food by dipping it into a rich, creamy gourmet chocolate. Imagine, your favorite dried fruit and that wonderful, irresistible, fresh gourmet chocolate.

Fruit and chocolate choices to satisfy everyone’s sweet snack cravings are many; peaches, pears, mango, pineapple, ginger, cantaloupe, white chocolate, milk chocolate and decadent dark chocolate.

Happy New Year! January 1, 2008

Today brings the Tournament of Roses Parade, Rose Bowl Game, First Babies of the New Year, food, Polar Bear Club Swim, Mummers Parade, sleeping in after being up late, and all your resolutions, (that you will keep) for the New Year!

All will be great in 2008!!! Happy New Year!