Chocolate isn’t just for special occasions or holidays. Chocolate is a year-round treat that almost everyone enjoys, and some people cannot make it through the day without at least a nibble. Moreover, chocolate is enjoyed in myriad forms, from drinks to candies to pies to cakes. Not many, people, however, know much about this confection they find so irresistible. Do you?
History of Chocolate and Its Origins
According to fieldmuseum.org (2009), over 2,000 years ago in the tropical rainforests of the Americas, a secret was discovered: the seeds of the cacao tree could be processed into a tasty treat.
The Aztecs and Mayans, however, were the first cultures to make chocolate, grinding the seeds and mixing them with spicy seasonings in order to create a foamy drink. Then, the Spanish conquistadors arrived in Central America and Mexico in the early 1500s and, when they sailed for home, carried some of the seeds with them. The rest, as the saying goes, is history.
Of course, the taste and texture of chocolate are much more refined today than during the 1500s, and there are far more ways for chocolate lovers to enjoy this yummy treat.
The Different Kinds of Chocolate
Chocolate is available in dark, milk, or white; however, when cooking with chocolate, you should make certain to buy the form that is most appropriate for the selected recipe.
- Baking chocolates: bitter or unsweetened, available in squares; sweet, available in bars and chunks; and semisweet, available in chips and pieces.
- Beverage chocolates: cocoa and instant hot chocolate mixes.
- Chocolate sauce, which is basically chocolate syrup to which milk, cream, and/or butter has been added.
Tips for Cooking with Chocolate
When cooking with chocolate, keep the following guidelines in mind:
- Make certain utensils are dry and free from moisture.
- Do not cook chocolate over high heat.
- For best results, melt chocolate in a double boiler, over hot, not boiling water.
- Stir chocolate constantly to keep its texture smooth.
- If the chocolate becomes hard, stir in appropriately two tablespoons salad oil, not butter since butter contains moisture.
- When melting chocolate with other ingredients, for example, butter, milk, etc, stir constantly so the chocolate and liquid will blend smoothly.
- When adding liquid to pure melted chocolate, add 2 tablespoons at a time so the chocolate will not harden.
- Heat cocoa and chocolate sauces in a double boiler over low heat.
- Just before serving hot cocoa, beat briskly to bring out the full flavor.
Recipe for Orange Cake with Chocolate Glaze
Ingredients:
- 1 package orange cake mix
- Two 6-ounce packages semisweet chocolate pieces
- 1/4 cup butter or margarine
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 2 tablespoons white corn syrup
- Orange peel for garnish
- Chocolate curls for garnish
Cake Preparation:
- Mix cake by following package directions
- Pour into two 8-inch round cake pans
- Bake according to directions
- Allow the layers to cool before glazing
Chocolate Glaze Preparation:
- Combine chocolate pieces, milk, butter, and corn syrup in a double boiler
- Heat over hot, not boiling, water until well blended, stirring constantly.
- With a small spatula, fill and frost cake layers with glaze.
How to Make Chocolate Curls:
- Place bar or chunk chocolate on foil in a warm, not hot, place on the stove to soften (Chocolate should be warm and pliable but able to hold its shape
- Hold softened chocolate firmly on a cutting board
- Using a warm, dry vegetable peeler and firm, steady strokes, slowly pull the peeler backward across the surface of the chocolate (For wide curls, use the wide side of the peeler; for narrow curls, the thin side)
- Refrigerate curls until firm then sprinkle on the glazed cake along with the orange peel for an attractive and appetizing garnish
This is a delicious cake that will be a bit hit at family dinners and reunions, club meetings, holiday gatherings, office parties, or anywhere that chocolate lovers congregate.
If you would like to try some delicious candy recipes, including some for fudge, please check out the following articles:
References:
- All About Chocolate: History of Chocolate, retrieved September 28, 2009 from fieldmuseum.org
- Favorite Recipes of America: Desserts(1968) Orange Cake with Chocolate Glaze; Favorite Recipes Press: Louisville, Kentucky
Carol Rzadkiewicz - Carol Rzadkiewicz has taught college English for over 14 years and is the author of three published novels and numerous short stories.
