By Darragh Doiron
The Port Arthur News
April 30, 2008 10:17 am
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Green & Black’s Organic Chocolate should be kept in a cool, dark place. That’s just the sort of secret closet where I’d hide to eat it. But, chocolate tastings are the new wine tasting, and the company has tips on how to make yours the talk of the season. Sometimes it’s difficult to share chocolate, but I did. From this line, I especially enjoyed the Ginger, Espresso and Maya Gold.
Tips for Hosting an At-Home Chocolate Tasting
• Allow two squares per person
• Like a wine tasting, begin with looking at the appearance, examine the smell, taste the chocolate.
• Limit yourself to about six different chocolate varieties and begin with the lightest variety and finish with the darkest: White, Milk, Caramel, Cherry and Dark.
• Place the first piece of chocolate in your mouth and pinch your nose. As you are doing this your tongue will be able to detect only flavor (salt, sweet, sour, bitter, savory) and sensations and textures (including astringency and the cooling effect of the cocoa butter)
• Allow the chocolate to melt, release your thumb and forefinger and breathe in deeply
• You are now experiencing the intense aromas, usually mistaken as flavor (This is because these volatiles are all detected by your olfactory gland behind and connected to your nose)
Learn more at www.greenandblacks.com.
Mexican Caviar
Let Tabasco help you celebrate Cinco de Mayo with Mexican Caviar, a colorful combination of black beans, corn, tomatoes and avocado. Use it as a side salad or chip dip.
Mexican Caviar
1/3 cup olive oil
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
1 1/2 teaspoons original Tabasco pepper sauce
3/4 teaspoon salt
2 cans black beans, drained and rinsed
2 cans corn, drained and rinsed
2 large tomatoes, chopped
2 ripe avocados, pitted, peeled and diced
4 scallions, sliced
2 tablespoons fresh chopped cilantro
Combine oil, vinegar, Tabasco sauce and salt in large bowl; mix well. Stir in black beans, corn, tomatoes, avocados, scallions and cilantro; toss until well blended.
Let stand about one hour before serving. Makes 8 cups.
That’s nutty
You can invite Little Debbie into your afternoon with new Nutty Bar Singles, packaged at 100 calories a serving. Crunchy wafers are layered with peanut butter and covered in fudge. When I opened a box, my coworkers clamored for anything with the Little Debbie name. I usually indulge in these only after LifeShare offers them as a reward for donating blood. It was nice to crunch a guilt-free snack. Nutty Bar Singles come individually wrapped, 12 to a carton for about $1.59 a box.
Cost cutters and household tips:
• Hair dryers do not just dry hair, they work wonders on low speed to quickly eliminate dust from silk flower and plant arrangements.
• Alliance to Save Energy has tips to reduce energy costs: Cut your air conditioning load, reduce pollution, and fight your local "heat island" effect by planting leafy trees around your home, installing reflective tiles on your roof, and insulating.
• Leave a squeegee inside the shower and have each family member squeegee the walls after each shower. This reduces hard water buildup and a lot of scrubbing later on. A towel works, too, suggests The Maids Home Services.
Contact this reporter at ddoiron@panews.com.
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