{"id":534,"date":"2015-02-14T18:12:06","date_gmt":"2015-02-14T16:12:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hbne.co.il?p=534"},"modified":"2019-11-05T14:01:16","modified_gmt":"2019-11-05T12:01:16","slug":"whole-hearts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hbne.co.il\/?p=534","title":{"rendered":"Whole Hearts"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"shachar<\/a><\/p>\n

Holes,
\nMy memory is full of holes:
\nIntermittent and fleeting,
\nIts \u200eimprints wanting and lonely.<\/h3>\n

From time to time, I remember sporadic details, fragmented events, \u200epieces, always pieces: the puzzle is incomplete. It is a challenging task \u200eto piece the memories together and retrieve a reliable narrative. \u200eFor example, I remember a fashion taboo which dictated \u201cthou shalt \u200enot wear\u201d one patterned clothing article with another, likewise, \u200eabsolutely do not wear a dress or skirt with leggings or pants:<\/p>\n

\u200e\u200e\u200eThe \u200enever never land of fashion fiasco.\u200e<\/h2>\n

\u200eIt was 1976 when I visited Israel for my very first time. My journey \u200ebegan about the time that Air France flight #139 from Paris to Tel Aviv \u200ewas hijacked. As our airplane touched down in Zurich (enroute \u200estopover), we were whisked away into an isolated warehouse where \u200eevery last inch of our luggage was picked apart and put back together \u200eagain. I can recall, but a few days later, after the Israeli Air Force \u200erescued the hostages, walking the streets of Tel Aviv amidst all of the \u200ecelebrations and t-shirts\u2019 everywhere proclaiming:<\/p>\n

\u200e\u200e\u200e\u200e \u201cKol Hakavod \u200eL\u2019Tzahal\u201d or \u201cWell Done IDF\u201d.<\/h3>\n

This was, without a doubt, a memory that left \u200eits mark \u200e\u200e\u200e\u200e deep in me.<\/p>\n

At that time the trip from Lod (now Ben Gurion Airport) to the \u200enorthern border was long and tiresome. When we finally reached our \u200edesignated kibbutz, in the midst of the dark and unfamiliar place, there \u200eawaited an even more unfamiliar snack. That was the first time that I \u200ewas acquainted with one of the Israeli national snacks: chocolate \u200espread sandwiches!\u200e<\/p>\n

Truthfully?<\/p>\n

The idea filled me with disgust: a chocolate sandwich?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Reflecting now, I believe that my husband had a quite similar reaction \u200ewhen he was introduced to two of my favorite sandwiches at the \u200etime: peanut butter and jam and bagel, lox and cream cheese: in a \u200eword,<\/p>\n

\u200e\u200e\u200e\u201cYuck!\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

After a while, during my second and longer visit to Israel, I developed \u200ean affinity for this strange snack, especially on long hikes, trips to the \u200eSinai Desert and late night milking\u2019s in the dairy. \u200e\u200e\u200eDespite all this, the \u200esnack remains in my mind to be sugar laden and any resemblance to \u200echocolate is purely coincidental.\u200e<\/p>\n

Chocolate, theobroma cacao, food of the Gods, has been known to \u200eman for some 2000-4000 years. The Mayans and the Aztecs believed \u200ethat chocolate was a superfood endowed by the Gods and blessed with \u200emagical and divine properties. A dark and bitter chocolate drink was \u200eused in religious ceremonies as well as for medicinal purposes. So \u200evalued was the cocoa bean that at times it was used as a form of \u200ecurrency.\u200e<\/p>\n

It is said that chocolate made its way to The Continent during the \u200esixteenth century AD with the conquest of the Aztec empire by Hern\u00e1n Cort\u00e9s and his \u200eSpanish compatriots. Cort\u00e9s\u2019s first reaction of the \u200edark and bitter drink was memorable to say the least:<\/p>\n

\u200e\u200e\u200e\u201cA drink fit for \u200epigs!\u201d<\/h2>\n

Once the chocolate drink was sweetened it became very \u200epopular amongst the conquering Europeans. The heavenly chocolate \u200ewas a treat for the privileged for many years to come. It was out of \u200ereach to the common people for hundreds of years.\u200e<\/p>\n

Today chocolate is beloved by all. Statistics from 2012 reveal that the \u200echocolate eating record is held by the Swiss. In 2012 on average each \u200eSwiss person ate a whopping 11.9 kilograms of chocolate or about \u200e\u200e240, 40 gram, bars of chocolate. By comparison, the average American \u200eat that time ate \u201conly\u201d 5.5 kilograms annually.\u200e<\/p>\n

Chocolate is delicious:
\nWho will say otherwise?
\n\u200e\u200e\u200eBut is chocolate \u200ehealthy?<\/p>\n

\u200e\u200e\u200eLet\u2019s discover the magical properties of chocolate:<\/strong><\/span>\u200e<\/p>\n

\u200e\u2666 Powerful antioxidants 21x more potent than blueberries
\n\u200e\u2666 Improves cardiovascular health
\n\u200e\u2666 Lowers blood pressure
\n\u200e\u2666 Strong antidepressant
\n\u200e\u2666 Improves mood<\/p>\n

Chocolate and Valentine\u2019s Day, what is all the fuss about?<\/h2>\n

\u200eThere are many compelling reasons from the magnesium that \u200eincreases our joy, to the phenethylamine which sparks love, to the \u200eanandamide a source of pleasure, along to the tryptophan which \u200ereleases serotonin which boosts our mood.<\/p>\n

\u200e
\nUsually the processing of cocoa includes fermentation in the fields, \u200eroasting beans at temperatures ranging from 100-150 degrees \u200eCelsius and an addition of chemicals to enhance their flavor. \u200e<\/p>\n

Roasting the beans enhances their flavor and color, sterilizes \u200eas well as eases the process of husking the shells. Potassium \u200ecarbonate also aids in enhancing the taste and color of the beans.\u200e<\/p>\n

\u200e\u200e\u200eBoth the heat and the chemicals partially destroy and damage some of \u200echocolate\u2019s superfood godlike properties. \u200e<\/p>\n

Raw cacao beans, cacao nibs \u200e\u200e(broken beans) and cacao powder can be purchased. The raw cacao \u200eproducts have been fermented and dried but not roasted in high \u200etemperatures nor chemically treated. These products can be found at \u200eany health food store.\u200e<\/p>\n

Chocolate spread sandwiches, I can\u2019t say that I am fond of them. I try \u200eto avoid gluten as much as possible. Chocolate spread?, why not \u200esimply spread some sugar on a piece of bread?!\u200e<\/p>\n

\n

May I challenge you to a simple culinary mission?<\/h2>\n

Every time that you \u200erealize that you are attracted to an unhealthy food, merely make an \u200eeffort improve the quality of your choice. Choose to upgrade. We \u200eIsraelis are very proficient at finding the best of the best.
\n\u200e<\/p>\n

I am not asking you to stop spreading chocolate on your bread.<\/h3>\n

Start \u200eby simply leaving the white bread at the store. Replace it with a whole \u200egrain bread, perhaps one which comes from a boutique bakery. For the \u200ecr\u00e8me de la cr\u00e8me, may I present you with a recipe for a simple and \u200equick chocolate spread? What about the taste you ask: why heavenly, of \u200ecourse! Forget about preparing sandwiches for your children. For this \u200eValentine\u2019s Day prepare a gourmet and unforgettable spread! \u200e<\/p>\n

\n

The Spread<\/h2>\n

The Ingredients:<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u200e2 T Coconut oil\u200e
\n\u200e4 T Raw cacao powder\u200e
\n\u200e4 T Pure maple syrup
\n\u200e1 t Pure vanilla extract\u200e
\nPinch of Himalayan salt (pink for Valentine\u2019s Day\u2026)\u200e<\/p>\n

Another part of your mission, important none the less, is to visit your \u200eneighborhood health food store and get to know these foreign \u200eproducts\u2026\u200e<\/p>\n

In cooler temperatures the coconut oil will be solid. Start by placing \u200ethe jar in a bowl of boiling water. In just a few moments you will have \u200eenough liquid to use.\u200e<\/p>\n

Add all of the ingredients, with the exception of the cacao powder, \u200eand whip by hand. Once the mixture is thoroughly blended, fold the \u200ecacao powder in three equal portions while whipping in between until \u200ea smooth cream like texture is obtained.\u200e<\/p>\n

\u200eI welcome you to tinker with the flavor. For example add in grated \u200elemon or orange zest\u00a0or even cayenne pepper!<\/h3>\n

If you are looking for treats to take along to athletic activities, try \u200edipping almonds or other nuts in the spread and then stuffing dried \u200edates with them. Yummy!\u200e<\/h3>\n

The spread is ready!
\nCongratulations: mission accomplished!\u200e<\/h3>\n

<\/h3>\n
<\/div>\r\n