Chocoholics Rejoice!

Written by Molly Smith, Reporter

What’s the first word that comes to your mind when you hear chocolate: Sweet? Delicious? Tasteful? An average American consumes twelve pounds of chocolate each year.  But where does chocolate come from? Chocolate comes from the Aztec word xocolati, meaning “bitter water”. Chocolate is derived from cocoa beans, which are crushed down to a fine cocoa powder. The Mexicans found the first cocoa, and made it into solid edible pieces in the 1700’s. Now, people spend more than seven billion dollars a year on chocolate for any occasion. In a survey of D-B students, eight out of ten students loved chocolate.

   December 16^th is National Chocolate Covered Anything Day that many people celebrate. Strawberries, pancakes, bread, pretzels and many other foods are poured, dropped, spread, drizzled, and dipped in mouth-watering chocolate. Some people go to the extremes, by covering insects or other abnormal items in this delicious treat. Chocoloaholics everywhere rejoice about this national holiday! For all you chocolate lovers, this gives you and excuse to have anything chocolate all day. Below is a recipe for chocolate covered bacon, an interesting recipe for you to try.

Ingredients

6-8 slices thick cut, best-quality bacon
12 ounces semisweet chocolate chips
4 ounces white chocolate, melted, optional for garnish

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F.
2. Place the bacon on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake in the oven, until bacon is cooked to your liking. 15 minutes for soft bacon, 20 minutes for crispy bacon.
3. Let bacon cool on the parchment paper for 5 minutes then transfer to a plate lined with paper towels.
4. Meanwhile set up a double boiler. Heat a large saucepan filled with water over high heat until boiling. Reduce heat to a simmer.
5. Set a heat-proof bowl over the simmering water. Add the chocolate chips and stir with a fork until smooth and completely melted.
6. Cover another baking sheet with parchment paper.
7. Using tongs, carefully dip the bacon into the melted chocolate turning to coat all sides in chocolate. Transfer to the clean sheet of waiting parchment paper. Repeat with remaining slices of bacon.
8. Drizzle with the white chocolate, if desired.
9. Refrigerate until chocolate is hard.
10. Once cool, enjoy!