To Be Fair...

Barry Callebaut recently introduced Fairtrade-certified versions of their chocolate the 35.1% milk, 55.3% and 70% dark chocolate with no recipe adjustment. I hear Fairtrade a lot, but thought I might do a quick delve into what it actually means, so you can determine if it’s something you would like to support. To start, a definition off a webpage I found on the Green America website helpful; "Fair Trade is a system of exchange that honors producers, communities, consumers, and the environment. It is a model for the global economy rooted in people-to-people connections, justice, and sustainability”. It encourages women to participate in the work force and leadership roles, and strictly regulates human rights and child labor laws alike ensuring safe working conditions and finally a chance to take a small business that may have otherwise gone unnoticed and allow it to become part of the global market. Fairtrade certification ensures the product being sold is bought meets particular economic, social and environmental standards providing workers with fair pay for their labor, goods and empowering them to receive an honest ability to sustain themselves and the earth.  Barry Callebaut will have agreed to pay a fair price for the chocolate, an amount that would cover cost of production, wages, and the basic necessities of living including food, shelter, clothing, medical care and education. Fairtrade items include coffee beans, cocoa pods and chocolate, sugar, rice, flowers, olive oil, tea, vanilla beans, wine, crafts, bananas and…sports balls. You learn something new everyday!  Fair Trade is monitored by World Fair Trade Organization, a global community consisting of over 350 organizations committed to the principals of Fair Trade and they operate in over 70 countries and in five different regions of the world, including Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and North American and the Pacific Rim. And for clarification, there is Fair Trade and Fairtrade. The difference is Fair Trade is the movement to make the world better. Fairtrade is the actual labeling stamp you see on products, like if you are ever in a Whole Foods, they are amazing with this. The Fairtrade Labeling Organization puts this stamp only on products that meet the standards from the supported producer.For more information, check out the following links and share what you learn!

http://www.bakingbusiness.com

http://www.greenamerica.org/programs/fairtrade/whattoknow/index.cfm

http://www.fairtradetowns.org/about/faq/

The Monster Mash!

So…who loves brownies?! Or, should I ask who doesn’t like brownies?...I’m a fan, I’m a corner person personally, and like my blondies, I like them chewy! We already did the pumpkin blondies, but for Halloween, I wanted to go with the traditional chocolate brownie…but fun!

While I am pretty creative, when I see something someone else does, I have to try it too. I saw these in Target, on a box actually. They sold a kit so you could make them and charged a ton for it. I bought the pieces. Marshmallows. That’s kind of it. The rest was icing which I had on hand,and some food coloring. So, basically…no excuses! Buy you some Komplet Brownie Mix (22035) and get baking! As a note, I also found these on the Betty Crocker site, here.

As a side note; while we are talking about brownies…we have the MOST AMAZING sugar free brownie, Komplet Sugar Free Brownie Mix (22145)! We developed it while the whole Atkins phase was in full effect (ugg!!!) so it contains almond flour, which makes it so rich and delicious, and has a great nutritional profile! Good fiber! So…if you have some sugar free customers, give them a fantastic treat this holiday season! Just leave out the marshmallow and frosting…

The Doorway to Fall

Ahhh....September. When I think of September I think of apple picking, sweatshirts and jeans, football and warming up with some hot drinks; hot coffee, hot chocolate, hot apple cider...delicious! And, with my hot drinks, I personally like a little treat. Nothing goes better with a hot drink than a dunk-able sweet! Right now, I would dunk biscotti.

Chocolate Chip Biscotti

2lbs 8oz Natural Parve Creme Cake, 24024
8 oz Whole Egg
8 oz Softened Butter
6 oz Chocolate Chips
7 oz Toasted Almonds
Natural Almond Flavor To Taste

Mixing Method
1. Mix all ingredients on one minute on low speed.
2. Scrape bowl; mix for another one minute on low speed.
3. Scale 17 oz logs and roll in granulated sugar.
4. Bake at 375 F. in a deck oven, or 325 F. in a convection oven for about 20 to 25
minutes or until logs are baked through.
5. Completely cool baked biscotti logs.
6. Cut on an angle and lay the biscotti cookies on their side and re-bake for 10 to
12 minutes until golden brown around the edges on 350 F.

You can also make this with the chocolate creme cake mix, 22177.

Stay tuned next week...I feel like making some bread.