Ode to Chocolate
by: Ana Tampanna
Chocolate delays reality. When I am eating chocolate, everything is on hold: anxiety, panic, frustrations, and insecurity. Chocolate offers a profound richness, a sweetness of life, a euphoric sensation of luxury. I love chocolate in many forms, from M&M’s, to imported Lindt balls, to dark fudge frosting in a pop-top can, to Hershey’s dark chocolate bite-sized morsels.
It is difficult to eat only a little chocolate. I cheat myself when I chew it up quickly and swallow it like other food. To eat chocolate correctly, one must let it melt in the mouth with eyes closed, feeling the tasty, thick smooth velvet coat the tongue. It is also difficult to eat really good chocolate silently. I usually purr a long ummmmmmm of feminine satisfaction when enjoying such a pleasure.
I have strategies to keep from eating chocolate. I meditate after lunch, enjoying the sweetness of life without calories, I brush my teeth after drinking my afternoon coffee, and I give chocolate away to my mother so that it’s not in the house. But it comes back as gifts from other sources, knowing that it is loved and cherished in my presence.
My daughter loves chocolate, too. A hereditary trait, I guess. Sometimes my mother and my daughter and I enjoy chocolate together, a female bonding of sensuous gratification.
We give each other gifts of Easter Bunnies, Christmas balls, and Valentine confections, then share our blessed bounty with each other. We hide it from other family members, and never apologize for succumbing to such greedy decadence. We have trained the men in our lives to buy it for us as well by expressing our enjoyment and satisfaction as lip-smacking, vocalized bliss. It’s as if we permit our chocolate gift givers to be voyeurs of our pleasure.
I have a girl friend who refers to chocolate as the fourth basic food group. She eats it publicly, in front of people, instead of holding private chocolate sessions where no one can count bites or pieces. Self-righteous jailers they are, those indignant souls who reprimand us. Sometimes it is us, ourselves, our split personalities loving and hating our obsession. My sister-in-law denies her children from chocolates’ evil influence, but yields personally to its entrapment. Chocolate calls her name, beckoning her in a trance- like state to follow its’ seductive aroma to the kitchen. I know that aroma well, it cannot be contained in a cardboard box, a foil wrapper, or an insulated refrigerator.
Sometimes I eat chocolate to wake me up, or to keep on working when I want to stop and take a nap. Much preferred to a carrot on a stick. A self-imposed bribe to keep pushing. Of course, this bribe has negative consequences when my jeans don’t fasten.
I suppose the alligator here is the addiction. But addiction to what? Chocolate? Or pushing to achieve? What a shame that my time is spent in activities that don’t burn calories. Striving, planning, dreaming, persisting, setting boundaries, checking off chores, reviewing goals, paying bills.
I refuse to give up chocolate. I know women who have. Women committed to thin. I’m committed to enjoying my life. I have accepted other limitations, and I refuse other desserts, bread, and wine during the week. But chocolate has its place.
About The Author
Ana Tampanna, “The Alligator Queen,” is author or the “The Womanly Art of Alligator Wrestling.” To learn more about her books in addition to her speaking and coaching services, visit her site at http://www.alligatorqueen.com.
Helen's No Fuss Breakfast
by: Helen Porter
No fuss breakfast - recipe makes one - I would suggest 2 per serving
There are few things better than the traditional 'full english' breakfast. Sometimes, however, it is simply too much trouble. Here's a tasty alternative that will make your guests look at your culinary skills in a new light, and will involve you in minimal work, and less wahing up!
Take 1 slice of quality Ham (smoked or honey roast works best), a large egg and grated parmesan cheese
You will need a Le Creuset cook n' bake tray for this dish. Why not use www.helensrecipes.com search to find a retailer. You need to buy the Silicone 6 Cup Muffin Pan, Volcanic.
Line the hole tray with a gently layer of butter
Place the slice of ham in the hole
Crack the egg on top of the ham
Season with a little salt and pepper
Fold the overhanging ham over the top of the egg - don't worry if it won't cover completly
Springle the parmesan on the top
Place in the oven for at least 15mins, check the egg is firm before serving
Serve with lots of granary toast with butter, and plenty of tea or coffee.
About The Author
Helen Porter, blonde, beautiful and internationally acclaimed celebrity chef, writes exclusively for www.helensrecipes.com.
How to Host a Wine Party
by: Stuart Glasure
Looking to have some fun with friends while sharing some wine? You should consider hosting a wine tasting party. It's a really neat way to share your wine favorites and to be introduced to a variety of new and interesting wines. You can also add some spice to your fun by using a wine theme ("All About Reds", "Blindfold Tasting", etc.).
Party Size
You don´t need a lot of guests to have a great party. What I have found works best is to have about four to twelve people, and definitely include yourself as one of the registered guests. Also, I like to always have a contest during the party and give away a gift.
Theme Selection
Pick a fun theme, and remember the theme also determines what wines will be poured. You can name a theme like "The Great Italians", "The Great Whites of California", or whatever fits your mood. I would suggest being very creative, the possibilities are endless. If you tell your local wine merchant your theme, they can be a great source of help with wine and theme matching. Also, at a minimum make sure you have 4 to 6 different wine types to taste.
Food Choices
Have you heard the saying "First the wine, then your menu"? If you had a theme for your party and your wines followed that theme, you may want to carry it through with whatever food you serve. For example if you are tasting Italian Reds why not serve some Italian munchies to match.
While you do need to provide foods that complement the wines provided, the food should not the backbone of the party. Focus on the d´oeuvres such as: cheese, fruit, unsalted crackers, bread or other munchies you may have prepared for the evening. Don not forget to have lots of bottled room temperature water and optional spit buckets available.
When all the tasting is done, you may want to have plenty of coffee and desserts. This is also a great time to break out one of your favorite dessert wines.
To experience the full pleasure of the wine, it is important that you serve them at the correct temperature. Below are the basic temperature guidelines:
Temperature per Wine Types
37-43°F White Sweet Wines
41-45°F Champagne and Sparkling Wines
46-50°F White Dry Young Wines
48-54°F White Aged and Pink Wines
52-59°F Red Young Wines
54-63°F Port and Sherry
58-63°F Red Full-body Wines
59-65°F Red Aged Wines
Serving Considerations
There are important factors to consider when pouring the wine at a Wine Tasting Party.
- Fill the glasses only one-third full. This will prevent anyone from swirling the wine on your tablecloth or carpeting.
- Expect to serve about eight to twelve samples from each 750 ml bottle.
- As a rule, serve white wines before red wines and dry wines before sweet.
- Blush wines are served as you would serve a rose, in-between the white and the reds.
- The serving order is more common sense than etiquette.
- Sweet wines have a tendency to over power the taste buds giving a sensation of bitterness to the dry wines.
Sights
The first step in the tasting process is to examine the wine and take note of the color, clarity, and transparency of the wine. Young wines are typically very clear. Older blends may be expected to have a little sediment. There is a lot to this and it takes a bit of experience to understand which hues are right for each type.
Smell
The second step is in the pleasure of smelling the wine. Swirl the wine around in the glass which awakens its aromas or bouquets. It is important to take a good sniff of the bouquet and try to detect unique fragrances. If are new at this, don´t fret, you will get better over time.
Taste
Now the fun part of actually tasting the wine. Take a sip and roll the wine over your tongue. Different parts of the tongue will register different tastes so be sure to roll the wine around in your mouth. Try to focus on the characteristics of the wine, such as body, sweetness, tartness, bitterness, and fruitiness. You should also take notice the subtleties of the wine´s aftertaste.
About The Author
Contributor: Stuart Glasure [Designer, Fashion Artist, Creator: "Zany Wearables", Wine Enthusiast]
www.ZanyGiftware.com
www.WineDefinitions.com
