Recipes for Valentines Day: Chocolate

Here's a couple of my favourite chocolate recipes for that special day... hope it will be inspirational.
Have a great one!
xxx
AO


Kindly note that the source of the recipes are http://www.wholeliving.com/. Please visit the website for more :)

"CHOCOLATE-HAZELNUT RICE PUDDING

Ingredients
FOR THE PUDDING

2 tablespoons unsweetened

Dutch-process cocoa powder

1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar

Pinch of coarse salt

5 cups skim milk

1 tablespoon unsalted butter

1 cup Arborio rice or other short-grain white rice

1/4 cup Frangelico

2 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped

1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons plain nonfat yogurt, preferably Greek-style

FOR THE HAZELNUT CRUNCH

1/2 cup blanched hazelnuts, toasted and coarsely chopped

1 tablespoon lightly beaten egg white

4 teaspoons sugar

Directions

Make the pudding: Whisk together cocoa powder, sugar, salt, and milk in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a simmer; remove from heat.

Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add rice; cook, stirring constantly, until edges are translucent, 1 to 2 minutes. Add hot milk mixture; bring to a simmer, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat; simmer gently, stirring occasionally, until rice is tender and has absorbed most of the liquid, about 30 minutes.

Remove from heat. Add Frangelico and chocolate; stir until chocolate has melted. Pour into a bowl. Refrigerate until cold, about 2 hours. Stir in 1/4 cup yogurt.

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Make the hazelnut crunch: Toss together nuts, egg white, and sugar. Spread on a rimmed baking sheet lined with a nonstick baking mat. Bake, stirring often, until nuts are golden and dry, about 15 minutes. Let cool completely on sheet on a wire rack.

Divide pudding among bowls. Top with hazelnut crunch and remaining yogurt."


SPICED HOT DARK CHOCOLATE

Ingredients

1 quart soy milk

6 ounces dark chocolate, coarsely chopped

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom

1/8 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper

1/8 teaspoon coarse salt

Directions

In a small saucepan, combine all ingredients and whisk over medium-low heat until the chocolate has melted completely and the mixture is steaming hot, about 5 minutes. Serve.

CHOCOLATE COVERED STRAWBERRIES

Ingredients
Makes about 20
8 ounces semisweet chocolate, finely chopped

1 pound large strawberries (about 20), washed and dried well

1/3 cup finely chopped pistachios (optional)

Directions

Place chocolate in a bowl set over (not in) a saucepan of simmering water. Stir occasionally, until melted, 3 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat.

Line a baking sheet with waxed paper. One at a time, dip each strawberry in chocolate, twirling to coat; then sprinkle chocolate-covered portion with pistachios, if using, and place on waxed paper.

Chill chocolate-dipped strawberries at least 15 minutes to set chocolate. (Strawberries should not be stored in refrigerator longer than 1 hour as condensation drops may collect on the chocolate.)"

Chora Museum / Church

This hidden monument located in the borders of old Istanbul is home to one of the most exquisite collection of mosaics. Dating to the Byzantine era, one has to hold their breath regarding the beauty and the condition of the well kept mosaics and frescoes that border the interior of the church.

In my opinion it is one of the most well-kept secrets of Istanbul. While everyone is heading off to Topkapi, Dolmabahce or Taksim I would recommend a d-tour to Chora...

For more information regarding its history Wikipedia  is a good site to begin: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chora_Church

The peacock at the right corner is particularly interesting...

Maternity Wear

If you look at alot of the fashion magazines its almost as if pregnancy is not era in the women's life.

This period that usually covers 9 months plus the breastfeeding of approximately 6 months overtakes our fashion decisions for well over a year. (Multiply that by the number of kids you're planning).

I have been looking around for a while now. Gap Maternity has some great options, as well as the Turkish brand Bellamom, but a great internet find is http://www.asos.com/.
Here's a round up of some of the styles that caught my eye...

1920's Style

It all started with a 1920's themed party at the Pera Palace Hotel in Istanbul, Turkey.
Doesn't it always start with a party?

Established in 1892 in the Pera quarter, and recently restored, Pera Palace Hotel (http://www.perapalacehotel.com/) has hosted many renowned guests throughtout its history. The most famous include leader and founder of Turkey, Atatürk (1917), Ernest Hemingway, Greta Garbo, King Edward VIII, Queen Elizabeth II, Emperor Franz Joseph, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Sarah Bernhardt, Alfred Hitchcock, Pierre Loti, Jacqueline Kennedy Onasis....

Also Agatha Christie's "Murder on the Orient Express", inspired by the author's stays at the Pera Palace Hotel was published in 1934.

 The hotel is a great example of Art Noveau style and was an influence for our costume party right before Christmas.

Key decisions were to be made such as what to wear and how to do the hair. Here is some inspiration that came my way and of course some vintage 1920 Vogue covers that I have found to be dazzling.

A fresh start?

The new year always comes with a bundle of resolutions, start of diets, exercising, destinations to be visited, career aims, hobbies, etc...

For me it will be a continuation of 2010, with 7,5 months pregnants I have some unfinished business to attend to. Its even fair to say the year will begin with March 2011 this year.

But for those of you that are in search of a guideline and steps for detox, balanced life and dieting tips here are some websites I'd like to recommend:

1) The Calm Space: http://www.calmspace.com/
Upon signing up you will receive a newsletter each day for a month for "a month of me time".

2) Whole Living: http://www.wholeliving.com/
The 28 day whole living action plan will take you through detox, stress-free lifestyle, exercising with a step a day.

I hope you will find them useful...
xxx
AO