Chocolate...Perfect for Valentine's Day!

It's Valentine's Day. Time for hearts, flowers and chocolate.  Yum... chocolate...I love chocolate. I used to be a milk chocolate fan, but my husband has totally converted me to dark chocolate. I'm sure you've read this.  Dark chocolate is not only good for you, but it also makes you happy.  It contains phenylethylamine which is the same hormone triggered by the brain when we fall in love. Hard to believe that something I enjoy so much is actually good for me. It usually doesn't work that way.

The European Society of Cardiology published a study done in Germany that followed 19,357 people, aged 35 to 65, for 10 years.  They found that those "who ate the most amount of chocolate – an average of 7.5 grams a day – had lower blood pressure and a 39% lower risk of having a heart attack or stroke compared to those who ate the least amount of chocolate – an average of 1.7 grams a day. The difference between the two groups amounts to six grams of chocolate: the equivalent of less than one small square of a 100g bar."

And, if that is not enough of a reason to enjoy dark chocolate, how about the fact that it contains more antioxidants per 3.5 ounces than prunes, raisins, blueberries, blackberries, strawberries, raspberries, kale, spinach, Brussels sprouts, alfalfa sprouts, plums, oranges, red grapes, red bell peppers, cherries, onions, corn or eggplant.

Not all chocolate is created equal.  According to Wikipedia, usually an emulsifying agent like soy lecithin is added to create a smooth texture.  Some manufacturers are now using an artificial emulsifier derived from castor oil that allows them to reduce the amount of cocoa butter while maintaining the same mouthfeel. The more expensive chocolate tends to be processed longer and thus have a smoother texture and "feel" on the tongue, regardless of whether emulsifying agents are added.  Some mass-produced chocolate contains much less cocoa (as low as 7% in many cases) and fats other than cocoa butter. Vegetable oils and artificial vanilla flavor are often used in cheaper chocolate to mask poorly fermented and/or roasted beans.  Look for organic, Fair Trade and/or non-GMO chocolate if wanting to avoid these "extras" in your chocolate.

For those that find themselves alone on Valentine's Day, do not despair. A study reported by the BBC indicated that melting chocolate in one's mouth produced an increase in brain activity and heart rate that was more intense than that associated with passionate kissing, and also lasted four times as long after the activity had ended.  For those that aren't alone...why not enjoy them both!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Valentine's Day

We don't go all out for Valentine's Day.  I have a few decorations I put up, my wonderful husband always gives me roses, usually pink, we exchange cards and the kids get a small treat.  This year we also made Valentine cookies. 

I found this incredible sugar cookie recipe (peanut safe of course) on the internet last fall and use it every holiday to make cookies for the kids to decorate.  I found it on someone's blog, but I didn't bookmark it so unfortunately I can't give her credit.  I'm guessing though that her name is Rhonda because they're called Rhonda's Sugar Cookies. Here's the recipe (I use all organic ingredients):

3 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup butter
2 eggs
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla

In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda and salt.  Add the butter and mix it like you would a pie crust.  In another bowl, beat eggs.  Add the sugar and vanilla and beat well.  Pour this mixture in the bowl with the dry ingredients and blend.  The dough will be a little crumbly, but I usually just knead it a little with my hands.

This recipe doesn't require you to refrigerate the dough, so it's ready to either roll out and cut with cookie cutters or shape into balls and flatten with a fork or glass dipped in sugar.  The recipe calls for you to cook on an ungreased cookie sheet; however, I've recently discovered parchment paper and swear by it!  Bake cookies at 350 degrees for approximately 9 minutes.  Remove from pan and place on wire rack to cool.  After they cookies have cooled, store them in an air-tight container.  They also freeze well.

Happy Valentines Day!  We've got some cookies to eat!