Health Benefits of CHOCOLATE

"Chocolate contains up to four times the anti-oxidants found in tea."

Sound too good to be true? In fact, that was the conclusion of a recent study by Holland's National Institute of Public Health and Environment.

Researchers found that chocolate - specifically dark chocolate - contains 53.5 mg of catechins per 100 grams. (Catechins are the powerful anti-oxidants that fight against cancer-causing cells and help prevent heart disease).

By contrast, 100 ml of black tea contains a mere 13.9 mg of catechins.

SO...I say here's to a "cuppa" and a CHOCOLATE bar! :)

OUR FIRST COCOA CLUB MEETING

FRIDAY, AUGUST 8th, 2008 - 7 PM
HOSTED BY: JENNY and; AMY

THEME: CHOCOLATE, DRINKS, and; FRIENDS!

CHARTER MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE:

Jenny Z - Co-Founder

Amy R - Honorary Cleveland Chapter Member

Mary R - Charter Member

Campbell Z and "Albert the Guinea"- Jr. Charter Members

Regan - Jr. Charter Member

Alison B - Charter Member

Kelli F - Charter Member

April O - Charter Member

Autumn S - Co-Founder


MEETING NOTES: As a result of her love of the show "SEINFELD," Mary was able to indentify who is credited with our COCOA QUOTE and won the trivia question. She was sent home with a supply of "BLISS" chocolates!

We had an amazing collection of treats! Some of the highlights were: Alison provided delicious chocolate chip cookies from Paradise cafe. April shared Lindt truffles. Kelli offered us a taste of some candy favorites - (Reece's Cups, Snickers, and Keebler Chocolate Graham cookies). Mary brought some classic tootsie rolls that inspired some GREAT CHOCOLATE ART! (as seen above!) Jenny expanded our taste buds sharing a chocolate with chili powder and some sauces for dipping! Regan and Campbell helped Aunt Amy make a smooth fudge, (a family recipe), and a rich chocolate bundt cake. I brought some snackable choclate covered pretzels and blueberrries.

As for the drinks, we had plenty of red and white wine, but my favorite had to be the Raspberry beer! Amy, I hope you will post the name and location that you bought it so that we can get some more!




..CHOCOLATE, CHOCOLATE, CHOCOLATE! There was no lack of treats or fun! We learned that there is a limit to how much CHOCOLATE one can eat! Next time we will focus our efforts and add some other kinds of foods!

LOOKING FORWARD TO OUR

NEXT GET-TO-GETHER IN

SEPTEMBER!

All things COCOA

There are many "followings" in this world. There are fan bases for just about anything you can imagine. However....there is no group out there, no club that requires membership fees, no gathering of enthusiastic groupies; no organized collection of people that are proven tried and true more than those of us who love -

~~~~ CHOCOLATE ~~~~

We go by many names. We've been called "CHOC-O-HOLICS," "Chocolate Lovers," "Addicted to CHOCOLATE," and many others names and phrases that only endear us and spur us on in our passionate quest for all things CHOCOLATE!

CHOCOLATE runs thicker than blood! Are some just genetically pre-disposed or is it a learned and nurtured relationship?

For me, I think it is BOTH! My mother had a passionate love affair with CHOCOLATE! To any doubter she was quick to point out the health benefits CHOCOLATE, but she never forgot to mention the pure pleasure that CHOCOLATE gave her! Many times I found my mom nibbling on CHOCOLATE from a secret stash, its where-a-bouts known only to her! So, it only stands to reason that I too have a fond connection with CHOCOLATE. To me, CHOCOLATE is luxury, pleasure, release, comfort, joy, and FUN!

One of my most cherished memories of time with my mom was a yearly event that at a certain age I was invited to attend with her. It was in my hometown of Durango, CO and it was called "CHOCOLATE FANTASIA" and fittingly, it benefited the local safe house and community shelter. It was an extravagant evening of all things indulgent. I remember it clearly even today.

And so it would seem that I was destined to begin my own love affair with this delectable indulgence. CHOCOLATE! Suitable as gifts for royalty, yet common enough today to bring a bit of luxury to everyday life!

Who of us, the CHOCOLATE lovers that we are, hasn't sought comfort in our favorite CHOCOLATE? Who of us hasn't felt our head swim at the mere thought of 7 layer CHOCOLATE cake? Who of us hasn't gingerly checked for drool while pressing our nose to the glass in front our our local CHOCOLATIER? Who of us doesn't have a stash unknown to anyone but ourselves? Who of us doesn't love to entertain the dream of swimming Willy Wonka's CHOCOLATE river, or moving to France to become a "CHOCOTAT" temptress creating confections that inspire magic...and of course a dreamy man like Johnny Depp!

AAAH....the power of CHOCOLATE!