Description

The most stylish, approachable, and mouth-watering chocolate cookbook ever, from award-winning chocolatier Fran BigelowIn 1982, Fran Bigelow proudly opened the doors to Fran’s Chocolates, a boutique storefront styled after European chocolate salons, where she could showcase the pure flavors of the exquisite confections she had spent years perfecting. Chocolate lovers in Seattle immediately beat a path to Madison Street to taste desserts as wonderful as anything in Paris or Belgium. Over the past two decades, Fran Bigelow has grown into a world-class chocolatier, operating two elegant shops that enjoy cult status in Seattle and beyond, by way of her mail-order and Internet business. Now, in her debut cookbook, Fran reveals the magic behind her addictive creations: how she manipulates a few ingredients—butter, cream, eggs, sugar, salt, vanilla, and nuts—to create sublime textures and highlight pure flavors in her elegant modern desserts. The seventy-five recipes included here range from extravagant celebration cakes and holiday specialties (White Chocolate Torte or Souffléd Chocolate Mocha Roll); to European style fruit and nut tarts (Chocolate Cherry Tart or Milk Chocolate Crème Fraîche Tart), soufflés, cheesecakes (White Chocolate Brie Cheesecake, a Fran specialty), homemade ice creams (Dark Chocolate and Ginger Bombe), and extraordinary renditions of American classics, including brownies, chocolate cookies, the ultimate hot fudge sauce, and a chocolate milkshake that will instantly transport you back to childhood. Fran also tells you everything you need to know about chocolate, from the different styles of chocolate-making employed in Europe, South America, and the U.S. (and how each result in different flavors), to deciphering labels (which ingredients enhance meltability, for example), and how the amount of cocoa in different brands and styles of chocolate influences the final taste of a dessert. You will learn how to taste a truffle—preferably in two bites—and the language of chocolate “signs,” the squiggles atop candies. Recipes for some of Fran’s award-winning confections are also included here: chocolate cherries and nut clusters; chocolate stuffed fruits; easy cocoa-dusted truffles; and more ambitious dipped truffles featuring liqueurs, coffee, vanilla, and other chocolate-friendly ingredients; and chocolate fondue, a perfect party dessert for children and adults alike. Whether you are a cocoa connoisseur or devotee of the cacao bean with cravings that won’t quit, Pure Chocolate is a must-have for any chocolate aficionado.

A history of chocolate in Seattle predated the opening of Fran's some 20 years ago. But Fran Bigelow single-handedly altered the entire landscape. She had meant to open a pastry shop and discovered that truffles were among the deep dark concerns of Seattle residents. Her Gold Bar became a gold standard for adult candy bars, in Seattle and then across the nation. Fran Bigelow would never claim the renown she so deserves, but would instead most likely spread the credit around like a chocolate butter glaze on one of her earth shattering cakes. But the proof is in the pudding and the pudding--called Princess Pudding--can be found on page 140 of Pure Chocolate, Fran Bigleow's distillation of all she knows. She holds nothing back. She shares freely, confidently. "If you are patient and understand its unique properties," Bigelow says in her introduction, Everything You Need to Know About Chocolate, "chocolate will repay you with the most perfect pleasure." Can you imagine? Perfect pleasure? Bigelow unlocks the secrets, one after another. She cautions all along, however, that patience is essential. "If you're one of those folks who thinks life is too short to stuff cherry tomatoes," Bigelow intones, "you may not have the patience for tempering chocolate." She establishes up front the basic rules of working with chocolate, then proceeds to act like best friend and coach in each and every recipe. The experienced baker and chocolatier may jump right in. For the new comer, Fran suggests those recipes that are easiest to master and act as building blocks for more complex procedures. Your results, in other words, are guaranteed. In 10 chapters Bigelow moves from cookies and brownies (you may think you know brownies; you may want to reconsider), through tortes, tarts, cakes, cheesecakes, puddings, and custards. Pure Chocolate is worth its weight if only for the chapter on ice cream and sorbet. There are glorious sauces and delicious chocolate drinks. And finally, the chapter on truffles that begins with the introduction to tempering chocolate, one of the great mysteries on the kitchen. Seattle learned 20 years ago that all it thought it knew about chocolate had to be relearned over and over again with return after return to Fran's. That this fabulous experience has been packed in between two covers and sent home to the diligent cook, well, that's Fran Bigelow right there, sharing all she knows. --Schuyler Ingle

Description

Send your taste buds soaring with these decadent handmade Belgian chocolates from Divine Treasures! Each box is filled with an assortment of sweet truffles for your sweetie (or yourself!): Toffee Square, Rocky Ray, Mello Bars, Coconut Square, Caramel with Sea Salt, Peanut Butter Melt, Cranberry Jewel, and DiviNibs. Divine Treasures chocolates are sweetened with only organic agave nectar, organic brown rice syrup, organic Florida crystals, and/or chicory syrup. They never contain trans fats, refined sugars, corn syrup, gluten, or dairy. Makes a divine gift! Ingredients: Organic Belgian chocolate (organic chocolate liqueur, organic cane juice or organic beet juice, organic cocoa butter, organic vanilla), organic peanut butter, organic soy milk, organic brown rice syrup, organic Florida Crystals, brown rice syrup, non-GMO soy protein, toffee soy nuts (sugar, vegan natural flavor), organic rice flakes, unsweetened coconut, Earth Balance buttery spread (expeller-pressed natural oil blend [soybean, palm fruit, canola, and olive oils], filtered water, pure salt, natural flavor [derived from corn], soy protein, soy lecithin, lactic acid [derived from sugar beets], colored with beta-carotene from natural sources), cranberries (sweetened with fruit juice), organic nibs, natural gums, course sea salt. Allergy note: Processed in a facility that also processes soy, peanuts, and tree nuts.

Description

Nicole's Divine Crackers are the ultimate hand-made gourmet crackers. Made with all natural ingredients, we strive for freshness and quality. We even hand-mill our own flour and grains on site! One bite says it all.

Features

• We use only all natural ingredients; Made in the United States from start to finish
• Handled with upmost care from our home to yours
• Carefully packaged by humans - Never machines
• Made in Chicago, IL

Description

Nicole's Divine Crackers are the ultimate hand-made gourmet crackers. Made with all natural ingredients, we strive for freshness and quality. We even hand-mill our own flour and grains on site! One bite says it all.

Features

• We use only all natural ingredients; Made in the United States from start to finish
• Handled with upmost care from our home to yours
• Carefully packaged by humans - Never machines
• Made in Chicago, IL

Description

Flavored organic egg white protein shake mix containing 25 mg protein per serving. 10 servings per conatiner. Blend with water or add your favorite liquid to deliver a delicious organic protein boost.

Features

• organic egg
• protein supplement
• zero cholesterol, zero fat
• weight management
• non-dairy, non-soy

Description

Chocolate is so much more than just a comfort food. This cookbook sampler (which has been hand crafted & edited by us) is unique-unlike many of the e-books sold today that are copies of copies that have been hastily put together with no thought, care or editing. It offers 20 of the Best of the Best delicious chocolate recipes from the Chef's Secret Vault like (Chocolate Pizza, White Chocolate Cheesecake with White Chocolate Brandy Sauce, Chocolate Peanut Butter Bonbons, AND MORE...). Your friends and family will think you've been taking lessons in gourmet cooking. So don't miss this chance to add some treasured recipes to your personal collection.

Description

A sinfully decadent and completely delicious celebration of the wonderful chocolate produced by the Divine Chocolate Company—now available in paperback  Written by chocolate expert Linda Collister, this book features more than 100 recipes ranging from wonderful chocolate cakes, sweets, and pastries through to stunning savory dishes all made from the chocolate made from the cocoa beans supplied by the Kuapa Kokoo farmers of Ghana, part-owners of the Divine Chocolate Company. It's the ultimate in fair trade indulgence! Recipes include Red-hot Chili Chocolate Cake, Very French Chocolate Macaroons, Sticky Upside-down Chocolate Pear Gingerbread, Heart of Hazelnut Chocolate Muffins, Double Chocolate Pretzels, and Venison With A Rich Chili and Chocolate Sauce.