Chocolate Facts To Make You Smile

We all love the taste of chocolate, even the texture and mouth feel. Most of us probably eat it every day, or at least several times a week. It is one of the most beloved food products in the world and many would say that they cannot live without it.

Most of us probably feel we know chocolate pretty well by now, as it is a regular part of our lives. However, there are many fascinating facts about the world of chocolate that most do not know. Below are some interesting facts about chocolate, some of these facts are bizarre, some downright silly.

Just What Does Chocolate Mean
According to Hershey there is no standard in the United States for Dark Chocolate, however, there are standards for Milk Chocolate and Semisweet chocolate. In some countries the standards are different. The UK is said to have slightly higher chocolate contents in most of their confections. In the USA, however, Milk Chocolate only has to contain about ten percent chocolate liquor, whereas Semisweet chocolate has to contain at least thirty-five percent chocolate liquor. Milk chocolate, which has slightly different rules, must contain at least twenty percent Cocoa Butter.

Spending Chocolate
The history of chocolate pretty much begins with the Mayans. Cacao beans were so valuable to them that they were used as currency. It is said that ten beans could buy a rabbit, or even a prostitute. And one hundred beans were enough to buy a slave, though slavery in those days was a much different institution in many ways. When the Aztecs came along they adopted these traditions and continued using cacao beans as currency. People would buy everything from livestock, to food and tools with the beans and some people actually created counterfeit beans using clay. Generally only the richer people drank chocolate regularly though, because drinking your money is expensive.

Theobromine
Chocolate contains a higher portion of Theobromine than anything in nature. Theobromine is similar to Caffeine, but it has a milder stimulant effect. Some preliminary research has shown that it may also be helpful for suppressing coughs. While Theobromine has long been used to treat issues such as blood pressure, and is being tested for its use in fighting cancer, you can have too much of a good thing.

By The Cup
The Aztec rulers and higher class drank a ton of hot chocolate; Montezuma himself was reported to have drunk about fifty cups of chocolate a day. While a normal cup of chocolate wouldn’t contain too much caffeine, the chocolate the Aztecs drank was extremely dark, combine that with the sheer intake and he must have been incredibly wired. What is truly fascinating though is that they did not drink hot chocolate, they drank it cold. They did not drink it with sugar, and it was actually the Spaniards who first added sugar to the drink. The Aztecs would pour the mixture back and forth from pitchers until it got really foamy and believed the foam was the best part.

Are you looking for the perfect wholesome and healthy foods to use as gifts for a business associates, family or friends? A quick visit to http://sunburstoranges.com can solve all of your fresh gift giving adventures. We sell only the finest selections and the freshest citrus you can buy.

Presented By:
Sunburst Oranges
180 South “E” Street
Porterville, CA  93257
559-561-3391

Chocolate Thumbprint Cookie Recipe

Chocolate is the rich and indulgent treat that seems too good to be true that it could actually be good for you. Indeed, studies suggest that people who regularly eat moderate amounts of dark chocolate may have lower risk of heart failure and lower incidence of high blood pressure, hardened arteries and even strokes. You can feel good about indulging in this healthy chocolate recipe (in moderation, of course!).

Ingredients

1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces
1/4 cup walnut oil, or canola oil
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1 large egg
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
5 ounces semisweet or bittersweet chocolate, chopped, or chocolate chips, melted
6 tablespoons of your favorite Sunburst Oranges jam

Directions

Position rack in the center of the oven; preheat to 375° Fahrenheit. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.

Whisk all-purpose flour, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl until well combined. 

Beat butter, oil, granulated sugar and brown sugar in a large bowl with an electric mixer until almost creamy the mixture may still be a little grainy. Beat in egg and vanilla; scrape down the sides and beat in melted chocolate and the ground nuts. Stir in the dry ingredients with a wooden spoon until just incorporated.

Roll about one tablespoon of dough into a ball, place on the prepared baking sheet and flatten slightly until it looks like a deflated basketball. Continue with the remaining dough, spacing the cookies 2 inches apart.

Bake the cookies for 6 minutes. Carefully remove from the oven and gently press your thumb or the end of a wooden spoon in the center of each cookie. Place 1/2 teaspoon of your favorite Sunburst Oranges jam in each indentation. Bake until the jam is melted and the cookie is set but still a little soft, About 8 minutes more. Cool on the pan for 2 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Let the pan cool for a few minutes before baking another batch. 

Makes: About 36 cookies
Preparation Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 1 1/2 hours

Are you looking for the perfect wholesome and healthy foods to use as gifts for a business associates, family or friends? A quick visit to http://sunburstoranges.com can solve all of your fresh gift giving adventures. We sell only the finest selections and the freshest citrus you can buy.

Presented By:
Sunburst Oranges
180 South “E” Street
Porterville, CA  93257
559-561-3391

Harvard Reports Eating Chocolate Prevents Heart Disease

Sweet! Harvard Medical School through Harvard Health Publications in June of 2015 released a report titled, Sweet dreams: eating chocolate prevents heart disease. Being a bonafide chocoholic that is great news.

A study that was based in England had the following results… middle-aged and older adults who eat up to 3.5 ounces of chocolate a day (that’s more than two standard Hershey bars) seem to have lower rates of heart disease than those who spurn chocolate altogether.

All of the large studies, including the one from Norfolk, are observational studies. That means the researchers asked questions about the participants eating habits, tracked their health, and made statistical connections. These kinds of studies can generate important insights. But they can’t prove cause and effect. It takes a randomized trial to do that.

It’s possible that people who like to eat chocolate do something else that offers heart protection, like eat a wide variety of healthful foods. One of the interesting things about this research is that participants in the non-chocolate group had higher average weight, more artery-damaging inflammation, more diabetes, were less physically active and had diets with the least amount of fat compared to chocolate eaters.

Is Milk Chocolate Okay?

Most of the previous studies on the chocolate-heart connection found that only dark chocolate offered any cardiovascular protection. In the Norfolk study, any type of chocolate, including milk chocolate, seemed to have the same beneficial effect.

Scientists aren’t sure what it is about chocolate that seems to boost heart health. It may be related to flavonoids, a type of antioxidant produced by plants. Flavonoids are found in tea, red wine, blueberries, apples, pears, cherries, and nuts.

Flavonoids are particularly abundant in cacao beans—the seeds of the cacao tree. Fermenting, drying, and roasting cacao beans yields cocoa powder, which is used to make chocolate.

Flavonoids in cocoa have been shown to help lower blood pressure, improve blood flow to the brain and heart, prevent blood clots, and fight cell damage. They’ve also been shown to help thinking skills.

Your best bet is to stick with dark chocolate. As a general rule, it has more cocoa and therefore more flavonoids than milk chocolate. It also has less unhealthy sugar and saturated fat. The higher the cocoa content of the bar, the better it is for your health. Look for bars with 70% cocoa or more.

I think I will stay with an ounce of dark chocolate every so often, with some Chocolate Therapy in between.

Are you looking for the perfect wholesome and healthy foods to use as gifts for a business associates, family or friends? A quick visit to http://sunburstoranges.com can solve all of your fresh gift giving adventures. We sell only the finest selections and the freshest citrus you can buy.

Presented By:
Sunburst Oranges
180 South “E” Street
Porterville, CA  93257
559-561-3391

Remember September 11th 2001

24 Police Officers

37 Port Authority Officers

43 EMTs and Paramedics

343 Firefighters

3,018 Civilians

Never Forget

Presented By:
Sunburst Oranges
180 South “E” Street
Porterville, CA  93257
559-561-3391

Totals include recent deaths to due post event related illnesses.

In The News At Sunburst Oranges

We thought that today would be a good one to catch up on what has been happening at our facilities this year as far as recognitions go.

Our life's journey has brought us to where we are, has made us what we are, and will be recognized for its individual importance as it impacts others in positive ways. At Sunburst, we want to help as many individuals and helpless animals as possible through the organizations and affiliations our interests have lead us to on this journey.

Sunburst Oranges was honored this year with the very first 'Liver Lover Award' presented by the American Liver Foundation (ALF) for our sincerest interest in helping to get their message out to the masses using the miracle of social media. 

And, whenever possible, attending the ALF Liver Life Walk events with Plucky and his Pals sharing joy and wonderful Plucky Brand oranges with everyone. 

Sunburst Oranges is proud to be affiliated with the American Liver Foundation's Liver Life Walks in cities across the nation each year.

Then of course there's Morgan d' Organ (of ALF fame) working full-time to help inform and educate where liver education needs are greatest. His Facebook page, Orange is the New Liver, is Raising Awareness, Raising Funds, and Raising Spirits!

Please take a moment to visit Hedgy the Hedgehog and his friends at Hedgy's Good Deeds new Facebook page. Their mission of 'doing good where it really counts'  is a concept destined for greatness. Watch what can happen! 

Kent Robson (of Hedgy fame) and his wife Karen, founders of 4Families, have a mission to 'come alongside and equip, empower, engage, and encourage parents and their youth who are facing difficult challenges.' 4Families began after seeing many families were at their wit's end as they grappled with the challenges of a child making wrong choices.

Last but not least, we cannot forget the helpless, precious animals. Louie's Loves Facebook page is devoted to them. Janina Reed, it's founder, won't rest until she helps as many suffering and displaced pets as hours in the day will allow. Please take a moment to read about her successes.

Are you looking for the perfect wholesome and healthy foods to use as gifts for a business associates, family or friends? A quick visit to http://sunburstoranges.com can solve all of your fresh gift giving adventures. We sell only the finest selections and the freshest citrus you can buy.

Presented By:
Sunburst Oranges
180 South “E” Street
Porterville, CA  93257
559-561-3391

Celebrate National Teddy Bear Day

OK as hard as I might I can’t think of a direct relationship from Oranges or any other fruit or product we sell and National Teddy Bear Day but who can resist a cute Teddy Bear. Nevertheless we offer for you the national Holiday of the Teddy Bear.

National Teddy Bear Day takes place in the US on September 9th. Initially a US specific holiday this is increasingly being celebrated by bear lovers across the world. There appears to be no record of the origin of this holiday or why this particular date was chosen - perhaps the bears themselves know?

Teddy bears are, of course, named after US President Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt. The name came about after a 1902 hunting expedition. The hunt had found no game, so at the end of the day someone brought out a baby bear and suggested that Roosevelt might like to shoot it instead. Roosevelt understandably felt that this was not exactly sporting and refused. The incident was illustrated in a newspaper cartoon entitled "Drawing the Line" - which also referred to the political situation at the time. An enterprising New York toymaker saw an opportunity and brought out a cute stuffed bear named "Teddy's Bear". The rest, as the say, is history.

Today people buy teddy bears across the world, not just for young children but often for themselves as collectibles. Some early bears by well-known names such as Steiff or Gund are rare and much sought after by enthusiasts.

So if anyone deserves an annual holiday it's certainly the Teddy Bear. How they celebrate their special day depends on their owner. Some people like to take their bear out on a trip, others like to organise a toy party and perhaps even buy their bear gifts. If all inspiration fails, there's always the traditional picnic - I've never known a bear turn one down!

Confusingly there's also a National Teddy Bear Day in November. That special day was created by the Vermont Teddy Bear Company in 2000 to celebrate the contribution the teddy has made to popular culture.

Are you looking for the perfect wholesome and healthy foods to use as gifts for a business associates, family or friends? A quick visit to http://sunburstoranges.com can solve all of your fresh gift giving adventures. We sell only the finest selections and the freshest citrus you can buy.

Presented By:
Sunburst Oranges
180 South “E” Street
Porterville, CA  93257
559-561-3391

Grilled Chicken Breasts with Spicy Jalapeno Apricot Jam Glaze

If you are looking for something that is sweet yet brings the heat this is the recipe for you.  You can adjust the heat by adding or removing the jalapenos slices that are added to the dish. So if spicy is where you want to go this recipe leaves you in full control.

For guests that want just a hint of spice don’t add any of the jalapeno slices to their portions. Did I mention we have the Jalapeno Apricot Jam on our website.

Ingredients

2 cups jalapeno apricot jam

3 tablespoons olive oil, plus more for brushing

2 tablespoons soy sauce

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

1 tablespoon finely chopped garlic

1 jalapeno, sliced into medallions

Real salt and freshly ground pepper

8 sliced boneless chicken breasts

4 jalapenos, sliced in half or quarters and de-seeded

(for more heat leave the seeds in place)

Directions

Combine the jalapeno apricot jam, olive oil, soy sauce, mustard, garlic and jalapenos in a medium bowl and season with salt and pepper. Reserve 1/2 cup.

Preheat the grill. Brush the chicken with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Place the chicken skin-side down and cook until golden brown, 6 to 7 minutes. Turn-over and continue cooking for 5 to 6 minutes. Brush both sides with the jalapeno apricot jam glaze and continue cooking until done, an additional 4 to 5 minutes.

Place the jalapeno slices on the grill and grill for 2 minutes. Turn-over, brush with the reserved 1/2 cup of Jalapeno Apricot jam glaze and grill until the jalapenos are soft, 3 to 4 more minutes.

Are you looking for the perfect wholesome and healthy foods to use as gifts for a business associates, family or friends? A quick visit to http://sunburstoranges.com can solve all of your fresh gift giving adventures. We sell only the finest selections and the freshest citrus you can buy.

Presented By:

Sunburst Oranges

180 South “E” Street

Porterville, CA  93257

559-561-3391