Valentine's Day Chocolates Tips
Read these 4 Valentine's Day Chocolates Tips tips to make your life smarter, better, faster and wiser. Each tip is approved by our Editors and created by expert writers so great we call them Gurus. LifeTips is the place to go when you need to know about Valentines Day tips and hundreds of other topics.
A Chocolate Spa Day
Ever fantasize about being smothered in chocolate? At some spas around the country it is now possible and even socially acceptable to have chocolate smothered over your body. The antioxidants in the chocolate benefit your skin. It's been proven that antioxidants are a powerful anti-aging substance, and if you rub chocolate on your skin, the antioxidants from chocolate will protect your skin from the effects of sun and everyday pollution. If you're looking for a chocolate gift for that chocolate lover in your life who is hard to shop for, this may just be it.
How Hot is Your Chocolate?
If you make your own chocolate candy or truffles at home, you know that it's crucial to be accurate about the temperature of your chocolate at all times. To get an accurate reading use a digital thermometer. A regular candy thermometer is less accurate at the low temperatures that chocolate candy making requires. Also, be sure that you hold your thermometer so that it doesn't touch the sides or bottom of the container your chocolate is in, as this will affect the temperature reading.
Good Chocolate, Good Mood
If you're planning on giving a box of chocolates to your favorite chocolate lover, you may be giving more than candy. Studies show that eating chocolate produces a chemical response in our brains that relaxes and uplifts us.
Candy Making Maddness
The best chocolate for making truffles and chocolate candy shapes is called “couverture chocolate.” A high fat content makes this high quality chocolate easier to melt and although it's expensive, the extra price is well worth it in terms of flavor and ease of use. Another option for homemade chocolate candy is “compound chocolate.” This chocolate contains hard vegetable fat as well as cocoa butter so it's a bit cheaper. Be sure to sample before purchase if you can, as poor quality compound chocolate can taste waxy.
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| Byron White |
