Few words evoke the emotional enthusiasm people feel toward chocolate. It has a treasured place in our personal collection of memories - the Easter baskets, the birthday treats, the candy displays at Christmas, the heart that told you someone loves you.
It started young. During our special times, chocolate was there - an integral part of the event. One taste of chocolate (or even the thought alone) makes the mouth water and the emotional associations rush in. It brings back the multitude of fondly-remembered feel-good experiences we didn't want to end.
So a great-testing piece of chocolate inevitably makes us happy inside. Of course, it doesn't hurt that chocolate contains phenylethylamine (PEA), a natural substance that's reputed to stimulate the same reaction in the body as falling in love. That's why, even at times when we're feeling down, anything chocolate feels so comforting.
Chocolate is Meant to be Shared
My favorite career was owning The Chocolate Factory in Branson, Missouri. Making chocolate inspired me; it's so apparent that it makes a person's soul happy. My passion led me to create 300 new chocolate products and 26 different flavored fudges (one of which won the title, "World's Best Chocolate" in 1986).
Out of that grew the Chocolate Fantasy events, which are used as non-profit fundraisers. People can't resist the 30 to 40 different kinds of chocolate creations offered. It combines three great things - chocolate, fun, and doing good through the charity. As crowd-pleasing and impressive as those events are, these same techniques can be accomplished by a rank beginner. With equally enthusiastic reactions.
Making chocolate goodies with others improves the flavor - as well as the enjoyment.
Visualize your whole family gathered around in the kitchen, making gourmet chocolates together. Smell that wonderful chocolatey aroma, feel the rich texture of gourmet chocolate goodies in your fingers.
Now that's fun! And you're all creating memories you'll never forget, at the same time.
You Can "Do this at Home"
The Old Tyme Chocolate Cookbook I wrote shows how to make truly gourmet chocolate in your own home, using the tools you've already got. Without prior experience, anyone can create professional-quality results your friends will rave about. You'll reveal out-of-the-ordinary chocolate expertise. All because you grasp the subtle differences of taste and texture between your gourmet concoctions, and what is sold at the store.
Learn tricks that the pros know. For instance, did you know you must NEVER introduce water into the chocolate during the manufacturing stage? A few drops of water will turn a pot of chocolate into the consistency of modeling clay. Why not try a recipe that will satisfy any chocolate craving?
Chocolate Toffee
2 cups granulated sugar 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 1 cup dark corn syrup dash salt 1/2 cup whipping cream 1/2 stick (1/4 cup) butter
Line an 8-inch baking pan with buttered foil. Combine all ingredients in a large saucepan. Begin cooking over medium heat, lowering heat as candy thickens. Cook to 250 degrees F. Pour into prepared pan and let cool. Break into bite-sized pieces or cut and wrap in plastic film.
Check out other chocolate recipes, tricks, and lore from my book at http://oldtymechocolate.com/home.php.
Dazzle your friends and family with your chocolate proficiency. It's sure to raise your reputation, along with your social standing. Best of all, you'll find yourself as welcome as the chocolate masterpieces you create. It's all in knowing how.
A trampoline is essentially a gymnastic and recreational equipment made of a steel frame with a piece of taut, strong fabric stretched over it using coiled springs as anchors. The attached fabric or strong canvas sheet is used for tumbling. Innovative trampolines are made of dense net, stretched elastically on a frame of varied shapes. Durable materials like tarpaulin are often used as an alternative to nets.
Trampoline inherited its name from the Spanish "trampol'n" meaning a diving board. Trampolines were first used by the Eskimos who used to toss one another up into the air on walrus skins. The first modern trampoline was built by Larry Griswold and George Nissen in 1934. They later established the Griswold-Nissen Trampoline and Tumbling Company in 1942 and began making trampolines commercially in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
The United States Navy Flight School used trampolines in its training of pilots and navigators during World War II by allowing pilots to practice their orientation. Trampolines were also used in the space flight programme to help train astronauts in experiencing various body positions in flight.
Since the year 2000 trampolining was introduced to the Olympic Games as a competitive gymnastic sports. In competitive trampolining the user is allowed to bounce as high as ten metres.
Trampolines are of two types, recreational and competitive. Recreational trampolines are generally circular, octagonal or rectangular shaped, and the materials used such as the springs and the bed fabric are not as sturdy as that of competitive trampolines. On the other hand, competitive trampolines are made of stronger and less-elastic fabric, with the trampoline's elasticity provided only by the springs. The frames of competitive trampolines are made of steel that can be folded up for easy transportation to competition venues.
Some of the popular and essential trampoline accessories include covers, safety nets, ladders, anchors, tents, trampoline bounce boards, trampoline enclosure locks and spring tools. Trampoline weather covers protect the frame pads, material and stitching on the mat of the trampoline against UV rays. Trampoline accessories such as nets, also known as trampoline enclosures, are constructed with zinc tubes and a tough polyethylene net to add extra safety to the trampoline. With the growing popularity of trampolining, more and more trampoline accessories are available at reasonable prices.
Trampolines can be used for entertainment. They are also used for diverse activities such as physical education, competitive gymnastics, diving training etc. In recent times, trampolining has become a popular sport among children, as they never seem to lose their enthusiasm for trampolining.
Both Jude Simons & Susan Jan are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Susan Jan has sinced written about articles on various topics from Data Recovery, Travel Insurance and Watches Reviews. For more on Trampolines visit Susan's sites and. Susan Jan's top article generates over 135000 views. to your Favourites.