It’s been awhile since we have had anything interesting to post on chocolate travels recently. So this week we dug around to see if we could find anything delicious for chocolate lovers on the road.
We found some chocolate salons around the world for chocophiles, chocoholics or simply chocolate lovers that are worth exploring if you are in the area! Give them a try and let us know what you think -
At the Ultimate Chocolate Shoppe, we are always on the lookout for new places to test and try to satisfy our chocolate cravings! Let us know if you hear of any others that we can share -
Today is a slow moving day for those of us here at the Ultimate Chocolate Shoppe -not quite sure what is going on with everyone! I think the transition to fall is effecting everyone!
So today I thought I’d give a few random, less known facts regarding our favorite subject of chocolate! Throw these out around the dinner table tonight and see what happens!
Did you know? Chocolates are made from the cacao seeds of tropical Theobroma tree. It is a Greek word that means “food of the gods.”
The origin of the word chocolate is said to come from the Mayan word “xocolatl.” It was derived from “xococ” which means bitter and “atl” which is the word for water. So literally chocolate means bitter water. But that was then - today chocolate is filled with all kinds of delicious flavors!
Ancient people regarded chocolates as a light aphrodisiac and a source of strength. This is why chocolates were often linked to the goddess of fertility named Xochiquetzal.
Cocoa beans, from where chocolate is made, were used as currency during the time of the ancient Aztecs until the 17th century. It was said that a slave could be bought for 100 cocoa beans. You could also buy a rabbit for dinner for four cocoa beans.
Well, now you are smarter than you were a couple of minutes ago! And I feel better as well - I think that it’s time for a little treat. Should it be a chocolate covered buttercream or a piece of almond buttercrunch? Hmmmmmm.
At the Ultimate Chocolate Shoppe, we understand that you need a dessert and you need it fast some days! And this chocolate coconut macaroons can be done quickly an easily -
14 oz. package of flaked coconut
1 14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk
2 t. vanilla
1 heaping cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips
Preheat oven 350 degrees. Cover cookie sheets in foil and grease -
Mix together coconut, condensed milk, and vanilla until well blended. Stir in chocolate chips.
Drop by teaspoonfuls onto cookie sheets. Bake until golden around edges, approximately 8-10 minutes. Remove from cookie sheets immediately to avoid sticking.
Enjoy!
