Yes, Virginia, there IS a Santa Claus…and he makes delightfully delicious concoctions for even the most savy aficionado of the CHOCOLATE universe. Santa Claus must have given Cal Orey carte blanche with his trade secret chocolate recipes and interesting tidbits of chocolate fact and lore, in her new book, ‘The Healing Powers of Chocolate’ (Kensington, January 2010). Pre-orders are available for this soon-to-be best seller, so if you’d like to get a 1st edition, you’d better hurry!
Cal kindly took time from her prolific writing career and answered a few of my questions which appear below…she also answered Jimmy’s request (from my ‘Christmas Cookies’ article) for a Chocolate/Raspberry Cake! What a Holiday present! Thanks, Cal!
What inspired you to write this particular book?
One summer morning, I woke up and had chocolate on the brain. I did brew a cup of fresh Italian Roast coffee splashed with organic chocolate milk and paired it with a warm dark chocolate muffin. And then, my creative juices were in high-octane gear. I got a craving to e-mail a query to my book editor. I wanted to write a new book on the healing powers of chocolate. But I hesitated and thought, “This is a crazy idea. Chocolate is a decadent food.”
Later that day I pondered the topic like I would scrutinize a truffle. After all, I had gone to Vinegar World and Olive Land in my two books The Healing Powers of Vinegar and The Healing Powers of Olive Oil. Would my publisher at Kensington really be interested in sending me to Chocolate Nirvana? Or was my idea just a sweet pipe dream of a self-professed chocoholic?
I decided I had nothing to lose, so I sat down in my study and wrote a quick query regarding writing a book on chocolate. A few hours later, I received a response from my editor. I’d snagged his interest. Within a couple of weeks, the idea was sealed into a chocolate book deal. At last, I was given the go-ahead to write the book I had wanted to pen for more than a decade.
What were you surprised about regarding chocolate in your research efforts for the creation of this book?
I was amazed to discover eating chocolate provides health improvements such as it can help lower the risk of heart disease, cancer, diabetes—even obesity! (I am 5’5” and still size 4, 120 pounds)—and increase longevity. I was also elated to experience chocolate boasts dozens of home cures, including beating depression, fatigue, pain, as well as boost your sex drive!
Is dark chocolate more beneficial for healing as compared to milk or even white chocolate?
Yes, dark chocolate (70% cocoa content) (it’s an acquired taste, and easier with chocolate infused with fruits, herbs, and spices) has more health benefits than other types of chocolate because it contains disease-fighting antioxidants. A 1.5 ounce bar of quality chocolate has as much antioxidant power as a 5 ounce glass of wine,
Chocolate-Raspberry Cake
* * *
Chocolate and raspberry are meant to be together. For a rich and luscious layer of glaze that adds a lovely raspberry flavor to the chocolate, spoon raspberry preserves over the batter just before baking.
½ cup Trans-Fat Free Organic ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
Margarine, at room temperature ½ teaspoon salt
1 ½ cups granulated organic sugar 1 1/8 teaspoons baking powder
3 eggs 1 1/8 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/8 teaspoons pure vanilla extract 1 ½ cups buttermilk
2 cups unbleached all-purpose
Flour Spectrum Naturals Canola Spray
Oil
½ cup raspberry preserves
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Using a hand mixer, cream the Organic Margarine in a mixing bowl. Add the sugar and beat on medium speed, scraping the sides of the bowl as needed, until well blended, about a minute. Add the eggs and vanilla extract and continue to beat on medium speed about 30 seconds, until well blended. In a separate large bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa powder, salt, baking soda, and baking powder. Spoon all of the creamed butter mixture onto the sifted dry ingredients. Pour the buttermilk over the top. Use a hand mixer on low speed; mix about 1 minute, scraping down the sides of the bowl 2-3 times.
Spray a 10- up bundt pan with spectrum Canola Spray Oil. Spoon the batter into the prepared pan, scraping the sides of the bowl. Smooth the batter. Using a teaspoon, arrange the raspberry preserves evenly over the batter. Bake in the center of the oven about 50 minutes, or until a cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean. Remove from the oven and let it stand for 5 minutes, then invert onto a cake dish, being careful not to let the hot preserves ooze out and burn your skin. Allow to cool before serving. Serves 8.
Now I know that I will somehow have to try not to get chocolate stains all over the pages of her new book while reading it. After all, it’s See’s Candies season (just sinking my teeth in to a dark chocolate Walnut Square Bar would be great right about now). Merely the fragrance in the air alone while walking in to Boehm’s Candies in Issaquah, WA, will turn you in to a Swiss national for a moment (complete with goat). Every year I wonder how many millions of pounds of nuts it takes to make Brown & Haley’s Almond Roca. And, if you’re up in Canada perhaps your face is currently plastered up against the window of Roger’s Chocolates, drooling, of course (like I would be). No Christmas is complete without a mint Frango refreshing and tickling your tongue. Or perhaps you would prefer to imbibe your chocolate with an exquisite Emphere Mocha from Dilletante. For an extra ‘kick’ in chocolate, try the Coconut Curry Milk Chocolate Bar by Theo, or if you like to live dangerously (yet flavorably) try Lindt’s 70% Chilli CocoaShell bar…you won’t be sorry! I know, I know…I’m going off on a Willy Wonka tangent, but Cal’s book has just transformed my mind in to a very nostalgic ‘vision of sugarplums, chocolate-style’. See how mesmerizing the mere ‘thought’ of chocolate can be?
For more pure and sweet information from Cal, visit the following:
******UPDATE******
WATCH CAL'S INFORMATIVE INTERVIEW WITH NEWSMAXHEALTH.COM ABOUT HER BOOK AND THE MANY BENEFITS OF CHOCOLATE:
Comments
Chocolate -one of my favorite things! Good to learn about the many chocolate items you listed in your last paragraph. Have to try some of those I haven't had.
What a Wonderful Writer with just the Greatest subject matter..!!!
Wow, I think that is so cool that chocolate is an antioxidant and fights obesity! Another excuse to indulge.
Hi Judi and other chocolate lovers,
I received chocolate--all kinds--throughout my research. You'll be amazed to learn how many amazing chocolatiers are around the world creating chocolate (good for you stuff). Once you try some of the brands (available for all budgets) you'll feel like you've gone to Chocolate Heaven. And the great thing is, chocolate isn't just a holiday thing. It truly is a super food.
I never knew the benefits of chocolate. I was taught (by my father and mother of course) that chocolate make you fat and that is where my acne is coming from. It is nice to know I can indulge in some good to eat that is also good for me!
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