Today is National Chocolate Day and what better way to celebrate today than by baking one of my famous Death by Chocolate Snazzy Cakes for a surprise birthday delivery on today. National Chocolate Day is celebrated on October 28 so that means that everyone has permission to run out and stock up on your favorite chocolate and pig out on today. The National Chocolate Day is a day for everyone to celebrate all things chocolate. Did you check out my previous post on Smoothie King launching the Ghirardelli Smoothie? Click here. It’s just in time to help celebrate the day.
Just in case you wasn’t aware that chocolate actually comes from the seed of what is known as the Theobroma Cacao tree. Cacao is grown in Northern South America, Central America & Mexico and dates back as early as 1100 BC. Its said that the cacao seed has a very bitter taste which must be fermented in efforts to develop its flavor. I doubt that we would enjoy it in its natural state of taste.
The seeds go through the fermenting process, then dried, cleaned and then roasted. Can you imagine the process it takes in order to get that delicious taste that we have all grown to love? There are four types of chocolate which many of us are familiar with when we go into our local super market to purchase chocolate chips or baking chocolate. They consist of:
- Unsweetened baking chocolate – cocoa solids and cocoa butter in varying proportions.
- Sweet chocolate – cocoa solids, cocoa butter or other fat and sugar.
- Milk chocolate – sweet chocolate with milk powder or condensed milk.
- White chocolate – cocoa butter, sugar and milk but no cocoa solids
Here are a few of my Snazzy Cakes creations in honor of National Chocolate Day.
Are adventurous in the kitchen like I am? I decided to share a few of the weirdest chocolate recipes that I have run across over the years. I have yet to try them but they are on my list. I hope that you enjoy.
- http://www.bunsinmyoven.com/2010/01/07/chocolate-chip-and-bacon-cookies/
- http://www.cacaoweb.net/chili-con-carne.html
- http://www.allchocolate.com/recipes/savory-chocolate-bbq.aspx
- http://thestonesoup.com/blog/2014/04/2-unusual-ideas-for-chocolate/
I would love to hear about how you’re celebrating National Chocolate Day! Leave your comments below and feel free to tag us in your pictures on Instagram. Be sure to use the #NationalChocolateDay hash tag.