iCook Italian: Chocolate (PDF)

The first to discover it were the Mayas, who considered it to be the food of the gods. They happily cultivated it thanks to their tropical climate and drank it in cups with some additional spices. However, as soon as the Spanish anchored on the east coast of Mexico, they began exporting it back to Europe. It first appeared in Italy in Modica, in Sicily, which was a Spanish protectorate at the time, and from there it spread throughout the peninsula, soon becoming a staple part of the culinary tradition of the Belpaese, and a fundamental ingredient in cakes and desserts. 40 different ways to enjoy chocolate. The recipes found in iCook Italian allow young and old, cooks and confectioners, chocoholics and neophytes to prepare and enjoy chocolate specialities. Try the incredibly refined truffles, the silky soft cake known as the sette veli, or the Chocolate Almond Cake and you will understand why the Maya considered it to be the food of the gods. All recipes come with recommendations from our wine expert. iCook Italian is a series of cookery eBooks, each one containing 40 illustrated recipes. From appetisers to pasta, from rice to soups, from second courses of meat and fish to ice-creams, desserts, puddings and cakes as well as pizza, focacce, egg dishes and salads, iCook Italian is a genuine feast of Italian gastronomy. All dishes were chosen by taking a peek at the recipe books in grandmother's kitchen along with those of the most creative and talented chefs in the country, marrying tradition with modernity and putting regional specialities alongside the cuisine of other countries. All were chosen with an eye on their nutritional value, something which has made Mediterranean cuisine such a success. Each recipe is accompanied by a photo of the finished dish and step by step instructions on how to make it. We haven't forgotten about the ideal wine either, which helps bring out the very best in flavours and aromas, and some simple, but practical, advice about the pleasures of food and how to choose the right ingredients for that final touch of class. Secrets stolen from the best kitchens in Italy.