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Recent research is uncovering that 'low fat' actually means more sugar. Start reading your food labels carefully. There is nothing healthy about increased in sugar content or artificial sweetener!

 So if you are like me and have a sweet tooth then take a look at this fudge recipe...

Healthy Chocolate Peanut Butter Fudge Recipe

 Ingredients:

 •1/2 cup raw pecans, almonds, or walnuts 
•4 or 5 tbsp of your favorite organic nut butter (try cashew butter, almond butter, peanut butter) 
•Extra dark chocolate bar 
•2/3 to 3/4 cup of organic coconut milk (great source of healthy saturated fats) 
•2 tbsp rice bran (source of additional fiber source) 
•2 tbsp oat bran (healthy fiber including soluble fiber) 
•1/2 cup raw pecans, almonds, or walnuts (contains antioxidants, and vitamins/minerals) 
•1/2 cup dried cranberries or raisins (optional) 
•1 tsp vanilla extract 
•a little stevia to lightly sweeten (stevia is a natural non-caloric sweetener, see description below)

 Method:

 Melt chocolate bar, nut butter and coconut milk in a medium saucepan with low heat (I prefer to use a bowl over boiling water in a saucepan. This helps prevent the chocolate and other ingredients from burning)

 Continuously stir with a wooden spoon or whisk.

 Once all the ingredients have melted add the remaining ingredients.

 Spread the mixture out on baking paper in a baking dish. Ensure the ingredients have mixed well together so you can spread the mixture into the prepared baking dish.

 Place the baking dish into the fridge until the mixture solidifies.

 Simple!

 Stevia substitute

 You may have seen Stevia in many healthy recipes as an alternative to sugar. So I thought I would help explain it a little more for you. The Stevia plant is said to be 300 times sweeter than sugar. The positives to using Stevia instead of sugar is it barely has any effect on blood glucose levels and contains no calories.

 You can buy Stevia from Health Food Stores and as well as many supermarkets.




Courtesy:ezinearticles

Throwing a party where you need to feed a large number of people can be a stressful and costly experience, but it needs not be either of these things. If you are having a large party and need to feed tens or hundreds of people on a budget, but still want to maintain the wow factor with your dinner options, cheap chocolate fountains could actually be one of the best choices available to you. These will allow you to offer party goers a dessert which will be tasty, fun and sociable all at the same time!

 Chocolate is an incredible popular foodstuff amongst people of all ages and many people love to indulge their desires for chocolate whenever they can. For many people, getting to see the river of chocolate in "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" would be a dream come true and a chocolate fountain could go part of the way to achieving this dream, because these fountains produce a constant stream of melted chocolate which things can be dipped into.


Because most chocolate fountain actually comes with a whole range of different dipping options, such as mini-doughtnuts or sliced fruit pieces, the pressure is reduced to provide a range of different desserts for your guests. Most pieces which can be dipped are only one mouthful, so guests will be able to try a whole range of different things whilst they indulge their chocolate desires.

 A chocolate fountain will provide an exciting and different type of centrepiece for a party, which will allow your guests to mingle with each other whilst they eat. Some guests may even be able to bond with each other over the indulgent experience as they discuss which of the dipping options is the best and they will share a sense of camaraderie as they watch one another sneak back for "one last piece".

 The best thing about a chocolate fountain is that despite the fact that can create a wow factor, it need not be an expensive option. Although some luxury fountains may be expensive, it is easy to find a cheap chocolate experience. Many chocolate providers will be able to offer budget options simply by running the fountain for less time (only after a buffet, rather than for the whole party) or by reducing the number of dipping options available. Standard milk chocolate fountains are usually a cheaper option than white chocolate, dark chocolate or pink raspberry fountains for example.




Courtesy:Ezinearticles

In the world of wines, Pinot Noir is a top contender. This variety is striking for its flavor and ability to pair with virtually any type of food. Known as an ancient grape of France, Cistercian monks grew this fruit in their monasteries in Burgundy.

 Regions of Origin

 Pinot Noir comes from grapes grown in a variety of regions. France boasts the most vineyards with over 75,000 acres. The United States comes in at a close second. Germany, New Zealand, Italy, Australia, Chile, Argentina, and South Africa are also countries that grow these grapes. Dijon, France, is the most famous location that produces this wine.


Taste Details

 Many connoisseurs consider Pinot Noir to be a fickle wine with a great flavor range. Both vintage and growing location have a significant impact on flavor.

 - Grapes grown in France usually have a light flavor and color. People may describe this taste as having floral and sweet undertones.

 - In Germany, the wine produced has an earthy flavor with touches of cherry and raspberry.

 - Italian Pinot comes from vineyards located in this country's cooler climate. Although these varieties still have a fruitiness, they also have other distinctive flavors such as clove, white pepper, and tobacco. Italians like to boast that their product has a higher alcohol content.

 - The wine produced in California is bolder and fruitier. Vineyards offer interesting flavors such as black raspberry, black cherry, and caramel. In Oregon, the product tends to have a lighter color and a tart flavor.

 - New Zealanders are proud of their spicy and rich grapes that create a strong wine. The Australian variety is similar to the New Zealand one; however, it tends to be a bit sweeter.

 - South American wine resembles that of the product produced by the United States. However, it often has more of a floral undertone than a fruity one.

 Growing Details

 The grapes used to produce Pinot Noir are difficult to grow. They have thin skins, and they tend to ripen early in the season. Farmers must care for this fruit attentively to ensure that it thrives. It's only with precise climate and patient tending that these grapes will grow well. For optimal growth, plants need cool temperatures, plenty of spacing between vines, and sandy soil. Plants grown in warm areas usually produce grapes that are milder in both flavor and color. A number of diseases can plague this fruit. This plant is also susceptible to point mutations. It's typical to find vines with unique shoots that do not resemble any other ones existing on the same plant. A farmer might capitalize on this type of mutation by using it to propagate new plants.
Pinot Noir is commonly known by a variety of names. Other names include Franc Pineau, Salvagnin, Morillon, Pineau de Bourgoyne, and Auvernat. Different countries have different names for the wine.








Source:Ezinearticles


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