HEALING POWERS Book Series: 5 Sweet Secrets to Dump Winter Weight

Enjou Chocolat's Healthy Chocolate Bars

Ever wonder how to lose those pesky pounds? I've got a secret (or five)--and it comes from my Healing Powers book series. I'm talking chocolate and vinegar, olive oil, honey, and coffee. This time of year many of us have packed on unwanted weight and we want to dump it ASAP. Well, I've got the secrets (and you can find 'em in any of my books: The Healing Powers of Chocolate, Vinegar, Olive Oil, Honey, and Coffee).
1. Dark Chocolate: No kidding. In my book The Healing Powers of Chocolate I discuss how eating chocolate (70% cocoa content) in moderation can curb your sweet tooth and help to curb cravings to eat fattening sweet stuff. And yes, the sweet bars (the ginger orange peel one is unforgettable) in the photo above will titillate your taste buds with flavor and texture.
2. Vinegar: The acetic acid in apple cider vinegar is the compound that can help you to blast those unwanted pounds away. It can boost your metabolism (calorie buring power) and suppress your appetite, too.
3. Olive Oil: Ah, yep. This monounsaturated fat is good for you and it, like vinegar, can help to satisfy you so you don't have those hunger pangs. It's the must-have healthy fat to drizzle on stir-fry vegetables and salads teamed with red wine vinegar.
4. Honey: My fave of all. Sweet, raw honey. One teaspoon in a cup of tea or solo will boost your energy and then you'll want to go do it.
5. Coffee: And java is comforting and can also give you more energy to go do it, whether it be pre-spring cleaning or walking the dog. I'm living proof. Just got back from a swim and hot tub.

P.S. The best part, by incorporating these five superfoods into your diet (4-5 mini meals per day) along with eating a Raw Caveman Diet for a few days (veggies, fruits, nuts) and drinking herbal teas and coffee (in moderation) you're going to lose up to 5 pounds or more within two days (about 1200-1300 calories for an adult woman; 1500 for a man). Repeat as needed. Get a move on every day.  I weighed myself at the spa and am back to 120 lbs., size 4, at 5' 5". Yes, the Healing Powers of these foods found in my Healing Powers books work wonders (click your mouse on the previous link and see your friendly superfoods busy at work).

Sweet Winter Contest: Win Chocolate Book & Chocolate Snowmen!

Two Chocolate Gifts for You!

'Tis the day before Christmas Eve and day after the first day of Winter. Chocolate is on my brain. Actually, during the holiday season through Easter chocolate is a big deal. Really big. I know this because it was discovered during my research for The Healing Powers of Chocolate (Kensington). Ah, those were the days when I received gourmet chocolate from around the globe on my doorstep via UPS.
Yeah, yeah, yeah (popular saying these days) I was in Chocolate Heaven every week, sometimes three times. I'm talking dark chocolate sea salt caramels from Fran's in Seattle to chocolate truffles from Ireland. Not to forget chocolate bars and bon bons from popular chocolatiers in California to New York and Florida to Chicago.
These days, it's coffee which isn't too shabby either. But chocolate is an awesome gift to give or receive. I chose these chocolate covered cookie snowmen from Enjou Chocolat. These cuties seem appropriate due to the snowfall in the Southwest/Midwest. Not so much here in the Sierra. It's 5 degrees and it will be a swim day/fire at night. Manmade snow at Heavenly for now. But I forecast significant snowstorms will follow in January and February.
Meanwhile, edible snowmen will have to suffice. And the chocolate? Well, it'll help boost those feel-good endorphins. Then, one day I'm certain a storm will come in, the white stuff will fall from the sky, shoveling will follow and walking the Brittany duo in knee high powder, and making a real snowman will happen. Till then, a book on the merits of chocolate and eating chocolate cookies is as good as it gets.  (Enter the contest on Foodie BlogRoll website and you just may win these goodies.)

The Healing Powers of Chocolate Hits Kindle

By Cal Orey, The Writing Gourmet

Enjou Chocolat

Recently, I noticed that my book  The Healing Powers of Chocolate (Kensington) by Cal Orey is now offered in kindle format. That means that kindle folks can read about the amazing powers of chocolate ASAP!
Did you know?...
* Known as Mother Nature's "food of the gods," the medicinal benefits of chocolate were recognized as far back as 4000 years ago.
* Eating chocolate can help boost the immune systerm, lower the risk of heart disease, cancer, diabetes--even obesity!--and increase lifespan.
* A 1.5 ounce bar of quality chocolate has as much antioxidant power as a 5 ounce glass of wine--without the side effects of alcohol.
* Chocolate is full of mood-enhancing ingredients, including phenylethylamine (the "love drug") and serotonin.
* Chocolate can relieve a host of ailments, including depression, fatigue, pain and PMS, as well as up your sex drive!
So, imagine: You can enjoy The Healing Powers of Chocolate and savor chocolate bunnies and eggs during the spring season as you enjoy this one-of-a-kind book--wherever you are. Exploring the world of chocolate, Mediterranean-style, heart-healthy recipes, home cures, and beauty and anti-aging spa treatments is just a mouse click away! That's chocolate power in the high tech 21st century!
P.S. Want to peek at a yummy excerpt about the beauty of chocolate? How about coming along with me back in time to a Diary of a Chocolate Goddess? This is a real-life story of how I entered Chocolateland and indulged in a chocolate bubble bath at a high end spa! Ah, it was unforgettable.

Imagine a World without Chocolate & Strawberries... Save the Honey Bee!

Surprise! The honey bee pollinates strawberries and cocoa.

Can you imagine a world without chocolate and strawberries?  Did you know that our crops depend on the beekeepers and small honey bee in a big way? Millions of acres of U.S. fruit, vegetable, oilseed, and legume crops depend on insect pollination--and that includes the sacred honey bees. This little insect gives human gifts from the hive but also helps pollinate our crops, home gardens, and wildlife habitat.
It's been estimated by the USDA that 80 percent of insect crop pollination is done by hardworking honey bees. If you do the math, that means one-third of the total human diet comes from insect-pollinated plants, including fruit, legumes, and vegetables--all the good, healthful stuff that you and I love--like chocolate covered strawberries  created and available by Enjou Chocolat.
But despite the need for the honey bee--who works a double shift with making honey and pollinating crops--there is a megaglitch that is becoming a growing problem: The honey bee population is declining.
While you enjoy chocolate and strawberries, consider donating funds to researchers around the country who are trying to determine the causes of Colony Collapse Disorder and what can be done to bolster the bee population. (More information in chapter 16 "And the Bees' Buzz Goes On...")"in the new book The Healing Powers of Honey by Cal Orey, published by Kensington Publishing Corp.)
One more thing... Cooking and baking with chocolate and fruit--and sweet honey--is healthful and scrumptious. I can't envision a world without these good-for-you foods. Can you? Meanwhile, there are dozens of recipes in The Healing Powers of Chocolate and The Healing Powers of Honey to show you how sweet it is now while the honey bees are buzzing in the U.S. and around the globe.
(Photo courtesy of Enjou Chocolat.)

Here Comes Peter Cottoncat and Enjou Chocolat

As a Catholic girl, I have always loved Easter--a time of renewal. When I was a kid, my mom would make a mega ordeal out of the holiday. After Sunday mass, she'd bake a honeyed ham, sweet potatoes, greens, and a vanilla and lemon filled bunny coconut cake. Not to forget my dad who always gave me and my siblings Easter baskets full of chocolates--eggs and bunnies. And, of course, we colored boiled eggs and hid them around the house and backyard.

This year, I'm starting to think about Easter baskets. Making one at home can work but so can getting a ready-made basket (or other holiday goodies) at Enjou Chocolat. I glanced at the array of Easter treats and this Easter basket would make bunnies around the globe smile. Enjou Easter Basket includes a large floppy-eared chocolate bunny, jelly bean carrot, Enjoy connoisseur collection of chocolates, 1/2 pound solid milk chocolate eggs, and more. It doesn't get much better than that...

But there is an exception. Tomorrow, the Easter Bunny is coming early for me. I pray that God's feline creature is a purr-fect fit for both of us. And something is telling me that this new kitty on its way may make the upcoming days this spring wonderful and full of life. And if my intuition pans out, an Easter basket will be an ideal way to celebrate the ressurection of a cat in my cabin to help fill the huge void of my beloved Kerouac (my muse and beloved cat companion whom recently used up his ninth life), one of the feline loves in my life. Here comes Peter Cottoncat and chocolate. "Here comes Peter Cottoncat hopping down the kitty trail..."

Chocolate With A Heart: Unforgettable Chocolatiers

By Cal Orey,

The Writing Gourmet

Welcome to February and American Heart Health month. During last year this time, as a solo adult I embraced chocolate like an excited kid by savoring heart healthy dark chocolates from the West Coast, Midwest, and East Coast. It was a love affair with chocolate.

* Christopher Norman Chocolates: Chocolatier John Down's whimsical creations arrived on my doorstop. I loved the petit fours: hand-painted pastries that include dark chocolate and strawberry.

* Romanicos: Another gourmet chocolate company, in Florida, made me smile on Valentine's Day. In February, living in a region with snow-covered ground, it was great to taste the dark chocolate truffles packages in an attractive red box. I loved the Floridian orange flavored gems with distinct notes of the sweet citrus ffruit.

*Christopher Elbow: Two days after Valentine's Day, I received a box of Christopher Elbow chocolates: a 16-piece selection in a sophisticated white box with an earth colored brown ribbon. Chirstopher Elbow is one of the most popular chocoaltiers, praised for his enticing, eye-catching, and beautiful pieces mde from the best chocolate and ingredients.

So, this Valentine's Day I was welcomed with a UPS box on my doorstep. When I opened it up, a white box with a red ribboned bow greeted me. As I took out the gift my eyes feasted on a heart-shaped edible chocolate box filled with several dark chocolates. This experience is so much more exciting than bringing home a bag of chocolate from the grocery store. It's unforgettable to receive a box of chocolates with a special flair.

Thank you Enjou Chocolat, I feel special today and I owe it to you, chocolate, and the Westminster Dog Show coming tonight along with an overdue snowstorm on its way at Lake Tahoe. It will be a two dog-one cat night, with a crackling fire, hot cocoa, and a few chocolates to savor. And, now after the snow arrived, I'm dreaming of baking a decadent Italian dark chocolate cake to boost my spirits during the snowed-in time.

The Chocolate Craze Hits Home

By Cal Orey,

The Writing Gourmet

***

Welcome to Valentine's Day or Saint Valentine's Day, the 14th of February, a traditional day for the change of romantic gifts of affection in both America and Europe. These tokens can include chocolates of all kinds, shapes, and sizes.

During my Valentine's Day experience in 2009, as an adult I embraced the popular holiday like an excited kid by savoring gourmet chocolates from both the West Coast and East Coast as well as the Midwest and Deep South. It was love affair with chocolate.

While I enjoyed champagne truffles, hand-painted pastries, orange-infused chocolates, and chocolates with nuts of all kinds, I forgot about the delicate roots of chocolate and the cocoa bean--which seems to be in danger these days...

* * *

Widespread Chocolate Appeal

The deal is, Africa produces 70 percent of the world's cocoa crop, followed by Latin America and Southeast Asia, and other regions around the world. Folks in "chocolateville" around the world are not ignoring the plight of chocolate--which is derived from cacao trees tagged as the "food of the gods."

America continues to lead the globe in cocoa bean importing and chocolate production. But Switzerland maintains front-runner position in its chocolate consumption. Like the worlds of olive oil, vinegar and wine, the world of chocolate is both competitive and delicate--and that's where the danger lies.

Cocoa bean harvesters count on Mother Nature to do her best, I learned. There are two main harvests per year, but some cacao can be harvested all year long. Also, pests, disease, and weather destroy some of the world's cacao each year. Sadly, chocolate craziness--including political, social, and economic woes are happening amid the Ivory Coast, a dangerous place right now like back in 2002. And this unrest puts the cocoa bean business in jeopardy and prices may soar (affecting the pocketbook of both chocolate makers and chocolate lovers) in the coming years.

As I anticipate arrival of a box of assorted dark chocolates from one of my favorite East Coast chocolatiers, Enjou Chocolat, I continue to send positive energy to the chocolate gods that all will be well in chocolatelands so chocolatarians, like me, can reap the healing rewards.

NEW Really Cool Chocolate Bars: Fruits & Herbs

By Cal Orey,

The Writing Gourmet

Wanna taste a yummy healthy dark chocolate bar infused with lots of good stuff? Stop looking because Enjou Chocolat's "A Taste of Health" Variety Pack has arrived on my doorstep and can be on yours, too. Yep, chocolate bars infused with chocolate's best friends...

As the author of the new book The Healing Powers of Chocolate (Kensington, 2010), I have tasted dozens of dark chocolate bars--it was for research. My simple taste and working system worked like this. The dark chocolate bars (70% cocoa content is proven to be good for your brain to your heart and other body parts) that were both healthy and tasted good didn't last in my home. They were eaten by me, the sibling, or friends. Alas, the ones (and there were a lot) that boasted good health sadly missed the mark by tasting like cardboard, crayons, or worse. I put 'em in my file cabinet for a rainy or depressing day. One year later: They made it to the garbage can.

Back to the really good chocolate bars. Out of the five, I knew the one that would win my heart: Ginger Orange Peel...The Blueberry/Cranberry followed. And I have three more to go.

The Ginger Orange Peel was awesome. I love ginger. I love citrus. Combine these puppies with dark, creamy chocolate (Wendy, you got it going on with the texture and taste of chocolate unlike so many other bars I've put to the test) and you'll be soaring high in chocolate world. Yes, those feel-good mood-enhancing compounds blast the blues and bring on the mighty endorphins to do their job--no matter what kind of day hits you or challenges you face.

As I write in the chocolate book:

* Orange: Another immunity-enhancing citrus fruit, oranges are rich in vitamin C, vitamin B1, fiber, and potassium. Best Choco Blend: Dark chocolate bars...

* Ginger: Ginger root is a digestive aid, like tasty cinnamon...Best Choco Blend: It is used in dark chocolate bars.

And, and, and I still have the Goji Berry bar to go. We're talking wolfberry/goji which is a delicious fruit known for its positive effects on vision and the brain. Best Choco Blend: Dark chocolate bars.

Read: I'm on overload (think worker honey bee with six weeks to live) as I'm stuck writing/researching/tasting honeys from around the globe... that I so need this bar (more than one)! The bottom line: If you want something chocolate, something sweet, and something healthy, it's time for A Taste of Health. You'll get it in this five pack and it came in the nick of time for me. Thank you Wendy.

Enjou S'Mores--Comfort Food During Hot Times

By Cal Orey,

The Writing Gourmet

We are experiencing a heat wave at Lake Tahoe. Like most Sundays, I swam today. But when I start to crave swimming in the lake (again)--that's a sure-fire sign that it's a cooker. Translation: No way is Callie cooking. But chocolate? Now, that's another story. Despite what some folks may think, chocolate can be savored in the good old hot summertime. But you have to know how to do it...

Enter Enjou S'Mores. Wendy, founder of Enjou Chocolat, sent me a package of chocolate delights. The S'Mores is a treat that I just had to try. Her web site describes it best: "An Enjou twist on a classic fave. A fluffy treat of marshmallow is sandwiched between two graham crackers and then covered in chocolate."

According to history, it may have been the Girl Scouts who created the first s'more back in the early 20th century. Nobody really knows for sure, though. Meanwhile, you can find these chocolatey-gooey treats at restaurants, make them yourself, or get them ready-made--like I prefer to do, especially when it's still in the 80s.

Sure, images of sitting around a campfire at the lake at nighttime making s'mores is a romantic image. And I was a Brownie as a kid. But personally, tonight, I'd rather chill at home by the fan(s); open windows, watch the film 2012--and munch on these ready-made goodies (no microwave needed). In fact, it's so warm that they're in the fridge. In an hour or so as the Earth's crust displacement starts; our golden state falls shakes and falls into the Pacific Ocean; and the Yellowstone Caldera blows... I'll take one of these chocolate delights out of the cold box and fix a glass of homemade lemonade to go with it.

Thank you Wendy. You're making my night a joy as I plan on playing hooky from writing my honey bee book and am going to watch the sci-fi doomsday film--complete with all the chaos. I'm glad these graham crackers are crunchy (but not too)--good stress releasing comfort food during nail-biting movies like, this one. These chocolate gems are superior DIY ones. No mess making 'em, no mess eating 'em because they are wrapped in creamy chocolate. What can I say? I'm a die-hard chocolatarian who thrives on good chocolate and bad disaster flicks. Yikes, my movie is on. "Subjects have now entered the 'hot zone'." OMG! Where are the s'mores?

P.S. In my book The Healing Powers of Chocolate (Kensington,2010), I discuss how exactly both dark chocolate and milk chocolate (it boasts calcium) can help you to chill.

Chill with Heart-Healthy Chocolate Graham Crackers

By Cal Orey,

The Writing Gourmet

Ah, it's hot outdoors--in the 80s today--at the sierra. Yes, at Lake Tahoe our summer has arrived. As a busy worker bee--I'm working on the forthcoming honey book--but whipping up a hot, home-cooked meal seems like too much work. The Brittany duo and kitty Kerouac are whooped from the heat, too; but they don't have to work for a living in a resort town like I do...

Speaking of work, I received emails today touting new research showing dark chocolate can help lower blood pressure. That's no news to me--I put it in my book The Healing Powers of Chocolate (Kensington, 2010). Of course, I feel eating a natural Mediterranean diet and getting a move on to keep your weight in check also are keys to maintaining lower BP numbers. Read: Yesterday, I swam outdoors. The pool was bliss. It was calm--all mine. Considering taking the plunge into the cold lake to chill--after a decade of avoiding swimming in it, it may be time to take a dip. Or not. Wasn't there crocodiles in that film Lake Placid?

On the topic of good health, the other day I had the pleasure again to speak with Wendy, owner of Enjou Chocolat . We chatted about heart healthy dark chocolate and I raved about her dark chocolate dipped graham crackers. I just ate one as I sip cold, spring water. These cookies are awesome--something to write home about or send home to for a gift to savor. They took me back to childhood graham crackers but they have a sophisticated grown-up twist. And if you're looking for something crunchy to pair with iced tea or a cold glass of calcium-boosting milk (also known to help you stay heart healthy and lower those cholesterol numbers)--these special crackers are better and more soothing for humans while dealing with the ongoing sound of firecrackers (and spooked companion animals who don't like loud noises) for the forthcoming Fourth of July. With a gourmet touch these scrumptious grahams are your ticket to chocolate nirvana in the hot summertime.