NEWS: Bad Crops Lead To Higher Cacao Prices

Cacao beans: victims of El Niño.   According to the International Cocoa Organisation (ICCO), the world’s current cocoa shortfall is now 55% larger than previously thought, due to adverse weather conditions that caused crop reductions over the 2006/2007 season. The global production deficit is now estimated at 242,000 tonnes. Severe dry and windy conditions affected…
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TRENDS: The World Of Cookies

Are you a standard cookie eater or a trendsetter? Although the overall $5.9 billion U.S. cookie market sales increased 14% in value from 2002 to 2007, standard cookies are losing ground and niche cookies are trending up. According to a new report by research firm Mintel, standard cookies still represent 57.5% of sales. But this…
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FOOD TIP OF THE DAY: Panettone

Panettone makes great French toast! Photo by Gabriel T | Sxc. Did you get a panettone for Christmas? Panettone is the Italian version of fruitcake, a fluffy, sweet yeast bread dotted with raisins, candied lemon and orange peel (called pan dulce in Latin America). In Italy, this tall, dome-shaped, airy Christmas yeast bread, which dates…
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RECIPES: Last Chance Easy Holiday Recipes

Who can resist Chocolate Peppermint Pie?   Still searching for that special recipe for Christmas or New Year’s Eve? – Turn your cheese tray into a Cheese Christmas Tree. – Serve this crowd-pleasing Chocolate Peppermint Pie. – Entertain the adults with this Chocolate Stout Ice Cream Float—impressive and made in seconds. – Make elegant Cranberry…
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