The Cacao Tree

CHOCOLATE
Theobroma cacao

The cacao tree produces flowers and fruit year-round. The cacao tree is small and comes from the forests of Central and South America. It needs a warm and humid climate, regular rainfall as well as a fertile and well-irrigated soil. It grows in the shade, preferably at an altitude of 1,300 to 2,300 feet, in the tropics 20° above and below the equator. The cacao tree yields its first crop at 3-4 years old. It is an adult plant at 10. It produces from 300 to 1,000 pounds of cocoa per acre for about 50 years.

The cacao tree fruit is a huge berry called cacao pod, usually egg or melon-shaped, 5 to 12 inches long and 3 to 5 inches wide. The cacao pod contains 30 to 40 seeds. It takes 20 to 25 pods to get 2 pounds of cocoa. Once the tree reaches maturity, fruit pods will sprout from its trunk and branches. The golden-red to purple fruit pods turn brown at maturity, at which time they are split open and the insides scooped out. Each pod generally produces 20 to 40 almond-shaped cacao beans.

After the cacao beans are removed from the fruit, they undergo fermentation, a process that reduces their bitterness and helps develop their heady aroma. After they are dried the beans are ready to be cleaned, graded, packed, and shipped for processing into chocolate products.

Once the beans are selected, they are roasted and shelled to obtain the center cacao kernel, or nib. To transform the cacao kernels into the thick, dark-brown paste called chocolate liquor, the nibs are ground between large heated rollers in high-speed mills.

Chocolate liquor is the base from which all chocolate products are made. Pure chocolate liquor, which contains 53 to 55 percent cocoa butter, is unsweetened and too bitter to eat. It is compressed into blocks or squares and is used for cooking and baking."

History of perak

As with the other Malay states in the north, Perak was constantly under threat from regional powers. During the 16th century, the Achinese and the Dutch was the main cause of concern due to Perak's monopoly of tin. In the 18th Century, Perak was then threatened by the Bugis and Siamese. Under the Siamese influence, Sultan Kedah was forced to remove the Sultan of Perak to ensure compliance by the Perak state.

These external factors did not help the state due to the internal turmoil regarding the succession to the throne between Raja Ismail, Raja Abdullah and Raja Yusuf in 1870. There was also a situation with the Chinese faction due to the growth of the tin industry. Perak led the immigration of Chinese into Malaya due to her abundance of tin. With the influx of the Chinese, they brought with them the secret sect and triad. Unrest occurred during the 1870 s between Hai San clan and Ghee Hin clan that forced British intervention in protecting Perak's interest.

Evidently, in 1874, a conference was held on Pangkor Island for the signing of the Pangkor Engagement. Under the agreement, Raja Abdullah was elected as the Sultan of Perak. The British also appointed J.W.W Birch as the first British Resident. Unsatisfied with the British forceful influence in Perak, the Malays plotted to assassinate J.W.W. Birch in 1875. After the death of Birch, Sultan Abdullah, Dato Sagar, Ngah Ibrahim and Dato Maharajalela were accussed for his murder and was sentence to death or exile.

Perak became part of the Federated Malay State in 1896 until the Japanese invasion. With the withdrawal of the Japanese forces in 1945, Perak was put under the British Military Administration.

In October 1945, the British laid out the Malayan Union scheme before the British Parliament. Under the scheme, Pulau Pinang, Melaka and nine other Malay states were to be united under the Malayan Union. Sir Harold MacMicheal was then entrusted in obtaining the agreements from the Malay Rulers.

Malays opposition to the British plans to form the Malayan Union catalyst the movement for Independence. Sparked by national sentiments, Dato Onn Jaafar formed United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) on 11 May 1946. The Malay Federation was founded on 1 February 1948 and on 31 August 1957, Malaya achieved Independence.

BAKERY=)

Top Baking Schools & Pastry Chef Programs

Becoming a professional baker or pastry chef requires an enormous amount of training. Just because you prepare great bread or bake a delicous birthday cake doesn't mean you are ready for working in the restaurant industry.

If you ever dreamed of becoming an executive pastry chef or opening up your own bakery, I highly recommend you do some research and learn everything you can about what it takes to become a professional one.

You can start with my article called Becoming a Pastry Chef and then be sure to check out my interview with Certified Master Baker Leslie Bilderback.

Trained bakers and pastry chefs are in demand these days. Experienced chefs can earn upwards of $60,000 per year but remember you will still have to start at the bottom and work your way up. One way you can insure a better job and quicker route to the top is by getting a good culinary education.

It's critical to choose the right school that fits your needs and provides you the training and education you'll need to be successful. Below is a listing of some of the top baking schools and pastry programs available. When you find a school in the city you are interested in going to, click on the link for more information.

If the school looks interesting and you want more information including how to get an application, click on the Request Free School Info button, fill out a short form and receive more information directly from the school. No obligations or commitments required.

5 Keys A Successful Relationship..

my best friend!!

Having a successful relationship takes work from both partners. Great relationships don’t always come easy. If you find the right partner, that’s half the battle. But, no matter how long you’re with that person, you have to continuously work on your relationship and try to find ways you can improve it. The following are 5 keys to a successful relationship.

* Communication- I can’t stress the importance of communication enough. If you aren’t able to open up and talk about things, than you don’t have a solid relationship. When people have things on their mind and let them go without discussing it, it usually manifests itself elsewhere.For example if something your partner said hurt your feelings and you don’t talk about it, you might find yourself getting annoyed at everything they do. You may start nitpicking at them. In reality it’s not those little things bothering you but what they said that hurt your feelings. Without communication, many of us hold a grudge. Holding a grudge is definitely not productive for a relationship. One important rule about communications is to talk in a respectful manner. Just spewing out whatever is on your mind in any tone of voice is not communication. Talking is great but if you don’t do it with respect, it’s pointless. Also remember to not only talk about things but to be a good listener too.

* Honesty- Being honest and not lying is crucial to a good relationship. Even “white lies” are not healthy for a good relationship.

* Trust-If you can’t trust your partner, than there’s a problem. You know you’re in a good relationship when you don’t worry about your partner cheating on you. Those thought aren’t on your mind at all. You never worry when your partner is working late. If you find that you’re becoming suspicious of your partner, than that’s not a good sign.

* Respect- A healthy relationship has a key element of mutual respect for one another. Its okay to disagree but you must respect each others opinions and differences.

* Dependability- It is important to have dependability in a relationship. Having a partner that is dependable and reliable will give you a great sense of security within the relationship. When times are tough and you hit rocky patches in your life it is important to know that somebody will be there for you

LOVE!!

*To My Friends Who Are…NOT SO SINGLE

Love isn’t about becoming somebodyelse’s “perfect person.” It’s aboutfinding someone who helps you becomethe best person you can be.

*To My Friends Who Are…HEARTBROKEN HEART

breaks last as long as you wantand cut deep as you allow them to go.The challenge is not how to surviveheartbreaks but to learn from them.

*To My Friends Who Are…NAIVEH ow to be in love:

Fall but don’tstumble, be consistent but not toopersistent, share and never be unfair,understand and try not to demand, andget hurt but never keep the pain.

*To My Friends Who Are…SEARCHING

True love cannot be found where itdoes not truly exist, nor can it behidden where it truly does. Love ismagic. The more we hide it, the moreit shows; the more you suppress it,the more it grows.

*To My Friends WhoAre…PLAYBOY /GIRL TYPE*

Never say I love if you don’t care.Never talk about feelings if theyaren’t there. Never touch a life ifyou mean to break a heart. Never lookin the eye when what you do is lie.The cruelest thing a guy can do to agirl is to let her fall in love whenhe doesn’t intend to catch her fall.

*To My Friends Who Are…SINGLEL

Love is like a butterfly. The more youchase it, the more it eludes you. Butif you just let it fly, it would cometo you when you least expect it. Lovecan make you happy but often times ithurts, but love’s only special whenyou give it to someone who is worthit. So take your time and choose thebest!

Train at Nexus

Students of SM Teknik Keningau train at Nexus
12 June 2008

For the first time in Malaysia, a vocational school has introduced an attachment programme for its students to gain first hand experience in an actual work environment.
Since 2006, SM Teknik Keningau has included a one-week practical attachment as part of the Bakery Course for students taking their MPAV and SPM examinations. The two modules involved are the Bread and Yeast and Patisserie. The objective of this exercise is to give students the opportunity to gain as much practical knowledge as possible directly from the related industry before they graduate. In turn, they will be able to apply their academic knowledge and expertise in an actual work situation. This will help the students develop a higher level of confidence in their ability and capability in this field before venturing into the work force.
Nexus Resort Karambunai is the first resort chosen by SM Teknik Keningau to place its students. Two groups totaling 18 students underwent their one-week training between 25 May and 7 June this year. They were accompanied by two chaperones from the school and stayed at the resort staff campus. The students were supervised by Chef Marcel Riemer, Executive Sous Chef at Nexus Resort, and were given the opportunity to learn not only about pastry and baking but also how the other kitchens operate as well.
Currently, the industrial training offered at SM Teknik Keningau is for the Form 5 students 2007/08 session. This is the first time such a programme is carried out by a vocational school in Malaysia. This type of training is usually organized by institutes of higher learning such as polytechnics and other industrial training institutes. However this type of programme is actually very useful to ensure SPM graduates from technical and vocational schools have the right foundation to get involved in the food service industry.

gain valuable work experience during their one week on-the-job training at the Nexus Resort pastry department.

Pastry

The Diabetic Pastry Chef

Shortly after attending culinary school to become a pastry chef, I was diagnosed with diabetes. I devastated, as I absolutely loved to bake and loved to eat sweets. I experimented with a lot of artificial sweeteners and was mainly disappointed with the results. I thought, there has to be a better way to bake great tasting products from my kitchen that will be enjoyable for diabetics to eat. After all, our love of eating is what got most of us into this mess to begin with! After many experiments, I developed a formula that consistently turned out delicious confections even a non-diabetic would love.