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You don't need a grill to make tender and delicious

Historians trace the origin of the word "chocolate" to the Aztec word "xocoatl," which referred to a bitter drink brewed from cacao beans. The Latin name for the cacao tree, Theobroma cacao, means "food of the gods”. Many modern historians have estimated that chocolate has been around for about 2000 years, but recent research suggests that it may be even older. Sweetened chocolate didn't appear until Europeans discovered the Americas and sampled the native cuisine.

Try using vinegars for foods you never would have thought to pair them with. A great example is using aged balsamic vinegar as a topping for ice cream. It is a unique dessert to serve to your guests, and you will be the talk of the party.

A creative party idea is to throw a chocolate party. Make chocolate your theme and let the ideas melt into your mind. Start with your invitations, include small chocolates inside the invitations or spray them with a chocolate scented body spray.

Tea is rumored to have first been discovered by the Emperor of China in 2737 BC, while boiling water in the shade of a tree. A light breeze caused some leaves to fall into the water, which the emperor tasted and found to be delicious. Since then it has traveled the world conquering the thirsts of virtually every country on the planet.

www.reuters.com

By Tom Brown
Published: Wed Mar 6, 2013

Mark Zaslavsky, chairman, chief executive and owner of the Miami-based specialty food import, export and distribution business Marky's, poses at Sturgeon Aquafarms in Bascom, Florida February 8, 2013.
REUTERS/Michael Spooneybarger