Month: January 2013

What the Heck is a Stalking Horse Bid? Definition & Origin

What the Heck is a Stalking Horse Bid? Definition & Origin

With all the talk of the Hostess company in bankruptcy, I wanted to know what the term ‘stalking horse’ meant to the financial markets as in recent news from Food Business News, a stalking horse bidder was named for the Hostess company. The plain definition …read more

What is Xanthan Gum? And Gluten-Free Flour Mixes

What is Xanthan Gum? And Gluten-Free Flour Mixes

Xanthan gum is used as a binding agent in doughs and acts as a stablizer, and is perfect for creating gluten-free flours. On Pastry Sampler, I’ve shared a couple of different recipes to try for gluten-free flour mixes a basic recipe based on rice flour …read more

Acticoa Chocolate – 8 Grams A Day for Health

Acticoa Chocolate – 8 Grams A Day for Health

Looking for an excuse to eat chocolate on a daily basis? Look to Callebaut for the answer. Their ‘Acticoa’ chocolate is processed to retain 80% of flavanols – which according to an article from Confectionery News is typically destroyed in the chocolate making process. Even though this chocolate is not new news, the fact the EU changed the wording on Callebaut’s health claim is. The full article from Confectionery News provides links to the EU’s decision, as well as what the SCFCAH deems normal vs. healthy with this health claim.

Callebaut suggests 8 grams of the Anticoa chocolate per day provides 100% of the daily recommended values of antioxidants. It’s vegan-friendly as well. I haven’t tried it yet but since the chocolate is over 60%, it is a bittersweet chocolate with a nice snap. And would probably make an easy and sweet way to take an antioxidant supplement each day.

For more information on this chocolate visit Callebaut’s FAQs on Acticoa.

Green Market Baking Book: 100 Delicious Recipes by Laura Martin

Green Market Baking Book: 100 Delicious Recipes by Laura Martin

Baked goods such as chocolate cupcakes and apple pie bring to mind family favorites and sweet treats. Is it possible to bake desserts like these without refined sugar? That was Laura Martin’s goal when she set out asking her culinary friends for recipes of baked …read more

ISM Cologne: The Future of Sweets – January 27-30, 2013

ISM Cologne: The Future of Sweets – January 27-30, 2013

ISM Chocolate Master It’s that time of year again – the ISM-Cologne Confectionery Trade Fair. The group calls itself ‘The World’s Leading Trade Fair for the Confectionery Industry.’ There was 35,000 visitors for the 2012 event with over 1,400 different exhibitors. This event targets the food trade, …read more