chocolate

Spice Up Your African Diaspora Culinary Knowledge

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Hot Spiced Coconut Chocolate Milk

February is a joyous month honoring leadership, celebrating love and praising our culture. Starting the month of festivities is African Heritage & Health week. A week long celebration encouraging African-Americans to return to their roots and rediscover cooking techniques and ingredients their ancestors ate before the age of processed food.

In 2011, Oldways, an organization dedicated to teaching nutrition and good food via culture and heritage, introduced the African Heritage Diet Pyramid. It was created by experts in African American history, cuisine, nutrition, and public health. The ingredients listed are commonly found in recipes from North America, Africa, the Caribbean and South America. Dishes made with African Diaspora ingredients are generally healthier than some soul food dishes ‘invented’ or ‘revised’ within the last 60 years. Read more →

Chili Spicy and Nutty Brownies

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Chili Spicy and Nutty Brownies

Chocolate is what makes Valentine’s Day sweet and infinitely loved. When served with spices and nuts, it’s rich in antioxidants. Cinnamon and cardamom stimulate sexual desire. Chilies quicken the beating heart. The scent of vanilla increases sexual sensations. Nuts and seeds are rich in vitamin E, which is an important nutrient for maintaining the health of sexual organs. Read more →

Sweet and Savory Chocolate Dipped Crackers with a Creamy Cheese

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Sweet and Savory Chocolate Dipped Crackers

Gojee.com is having a potluck party. My dish is simple: Crackers and cheese. That’s it. It’s best to keep it simple, instead of introducing a complex dish. Of course, everyone’s dish is going to be superbly unique. It’s not a competition, but it’s necessary to try my best. After all, we drool and glaze at each other photographs. This time, we’re tasting the creation.

My idea starts with a simple recipe: Crackers. They literally take 30 minutes from prep to serving. That’s the same amount of time it takes to buy crackers at a store. These aren’t basic flour and butter crackers, for they’re “whatever’s in my pantry” flavor. I started by adding lemon to the basic recipe. Then I changed the recipe to include cornmeal and chili spices. Lastly, rosemary and wheat are classically paired together. I’m proud of my quick creation. However, there’s a little encouraging voice in my mind to push this plain cracker idea further. Read more →

Appetizing Events: Mascarpone Ice Cream with Green & Black’s Organic Espresso Chocolate Shavings

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Mascarpone Ice Cream with Espresso Chocolate Shavings

It was truly an eventful week leading to the busiest busy day of them all. Perhaps, I overextend myself, but who can decline an invitation to Green & Black’s Organic Chocolate and Wine tasting? However, on the day of the event, another important project was due at 6:00 p.m. sharp. The day was double-booked, but the project was completed and delivered at 5:45 p.m. The tasting started at 6:00 p.m. For a brief moment, I considered not showing up, but after a busy week, I knew this was a treat that should not be missed. Read more →