Eat chocolate, live longer

You’ve probably thought more than once in your life that you’d die for a piece of chocolate, but did you know that chocolate can actually keep you from dying?  You’ve probably heard about the antioxidant benefits of chocolate too. According to Chocolate.com, researchers have discovered a long list of other potential health benefits from chocolate; we’ll be reviewing those as we count down to American Chocolate Week. In a Chocolate.com story about American Chocolate Week, the site described a study in the Netherlands that showed  eating the equivalent of one-third of a chocolate bar every day could lower blood pressure and also reduce the risk of death by up to 50%.  The good news is you now have a healthy reason to eat chocolate daily; the bad news is you should probably stop a third of the way through the bar!  Choose dark chocolate and the health benefits multiply.

Enjoy Chocolate Digestives and other choco-treats at DINE member inns during American Chocolate Week.

We’re featuring a new chocolate recipe each day offered from Distinctive Inns of New England.  Today’s recipe of the day is Chocolate Digestives from the Captain’s House Inn in Chatham, MA.  Visit Captain’s House Inn during American Chocolate Week (March 14-20) and you’re bound to find these and other chocolate treats served at tea time afternoons at the inn.

Chocolate Digestives from the Captain’s House Inn

 Ingredients:

 1 Sleeve (16 oz.)         Plain Digestives

3/4 Cups                      Butter

4 tsp.                           Light Brown Sugar

4 tsp.                           Cocoa Powder           

2 Tbsp.                        Golden Syrup or Honey

3 Bars                          Cadbury’s Milk Chocolate

 Method:

 1. Place the digestive biscuits in a sealed plastic bag and crush with rolling pin; set aside.

2. Melt the butter, sugar, cocoa and syrup in a saucepan.  When melted, remove from heat and add crushed digestives.  Fold until crumbs are fully coated.

3. Place into a greased 9×13-inch baking tin and refrigerate until hard. 

4. Melt chocolate in a double boiler until smooth and pour over biscuit mixture.  Refrigerate until set.

5. When set, cut into squares and store in refrigerator.

 Makes 24 digestives.

For additional information on American Chocolate Week and recipes for you to use at home, read these stories:

Get Ready For American Chocolate Week

Recipe of the Day: Chocolate Tissimo Cake from Chesterfield Inn