CHOCOLATE Cravings!

Compiled by Linda Lokey

Approximately 4,000 years ago, in 2000 B.C., cocoa was discovered in the Amazon Rain Forest. The Mayas were the first civilization to discover cacao beans and quickly began to worship chocolate.  Both the Maya and Aztec people used cacao as a form of money.  The Mayas and the Aztecs fought for chocolate!

In the early 1500’s Columbus took his fourth voyage to America and was introduced to chocolate.  It was a chocolate drink called xocoatl.  He did not enjoy the drink but he was interested and took cacao beans back to his homeland.  From there, sailing, exploring, and trade allowed chocolate to travel quickly around the world.

In present day, an average person eats about 26 pounds of chocolate and candy in one year.

FUN CHOCOLATE FACTS

During World War II, soldiers got chocolate candy bars as part of their rations.

In 1966, The Campbell Soup Company bought the Godiva Chocolatier, Inc. of Belgium.

In 1973, The Hershey Foods Corporation opened a chocolate theme park, Hershey’s Chocolate World in Hershey, Pennsylvania.

On Valentine’s Day, people spend over 1 billion dollars on chocolate, more than any other day of the year.

Chocolate: Here today …. Gone today!

I can resist everything but temptation.   –Oscar Wilde

Triple-layer GODIVA Dream Cheesecake by Meg D.  (pictured)  

WINNER of FOOD & WINE 2010 Can You Top This? Contest 

2 cups crushed chocolate graham crackers (about 12 crackers)

 3/4 cup white sugar

 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon butter, melted

16 ounces cream cheese, softened (2-8 ounce packages)

  3 eggs

 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, divided

3 ounces GODIVA Dark Chocolate Callets

1 1/3 cups sour cream, divided

1/3 firmly packed dark brown sugar

1 tablespoon all-purpose flour

1/4 finely chopped pecans 5 ounces cream cheese, softened

1/4 teaspoon almond extract

GODIVA Dark Chocolate Dream Glaze:

6 ounces GODIVA Dark Chocolate Callets

1/4 cup butter

3/4 cup powdered sugar

2 tablespoons water

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Preheat the oven to 325°F.

In a bowl, combine the crushed graham crackers, 1/4 cup white sugar, and butter. After thoroughly mixing, place into 9” springform pan and press firmly into bottom and up the sides. In one bowl, combine 8 ounces cream cheese and 1/4 cup sugar together; blend well with mixer.

In a separate bowl, mix together 1 egg, 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract, melted GODIVA Dark Chocolate Callets, and 1/3 cup sour cream. Mix the two bowls together and blend well. Spoon evenly over chocolate graham cracker crust.

Combine the last 8oz package of cream cheese in a bowl with the brown sugar and flour; beat until the mixture is fluffy. In a separate bowl blend together 1 egg, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract, and finely chopped pecans. Mix the two bowls together and blend well. Spoon over the chocolate layer of cheese cake in the springform pan.

To create the final layer, combine 5 ounces of cream cheese and 1/4 cup sugar; beat until well mixed. Add the remaining egg to the mixture and beat again. Stir in 1 cup of sour cream, 1/4 teaspoon vanilla, and the almond extract. When all ingredients are mixed thoroughly, add to the pecan layer of cheesecake. Bake in the preheated over for 1 hour. Let cool for 1 hour on wire rack.

GODIVA Dark Chocolate Dream Glaze: combine the GODIVA Dark Chocolate Callets & butter in a double boiler.  Bring water to a boil, reduce the heat to medium.  Begin to stir the Dark Chocolate Callets and the butter until smooth. Remove from the heat.  In a separate large bowl, add the remaining ingredients.  Once thoroughly mixed, add the melted chocolate mixture, and stir until smooth.  After the cake is chilled (4-6 hours), spread the warm chocolate glaze over the cake.