The NEWTREE Blog

Current Mood: Happy

Here is a compilation of summer stories submitted by fans of our Facebook page. They share their experiences of travels, friendly encounters, beautiful places and simply great summer feelings! Enjoy!

Olivier sent us a photo taken in Madagascar. Here is what he says:

Photo courtesy of our Facebook fan Olivier

This picture was taken from the terrace of our lodge at Lavonono which is located on the southern coast of Madagascar. This place is probably my best souvenir of a 3 weeks backpacking trip to Madagascar in 2007. I will always remember the two days we spent there, talking with the owner about social responsibility of the tourists, reading a book while watching the sunset, drinking an ice-cold THB (the local beer) and eating fresh fish, watching whales playing around at the horizon… Definitely need to go back there !

And here is the story of Bénédicte, who went to Morocco with her 2 friends:

Photo courtesy of our fan Bénédicte

There were 3 of us traveling: 2 girls, who had never before traveled by motorbike, and one guy. Backpacks, a guitar, safety helmets, and off we went to experience Adventure!

And Adventure it was… We often ran out of petrol, the motorbikes broke down, we were covered with dust and extremely tired. But along with that, there were also marvelous encounters, smiles given and received, help that came from strangers, lots of laughter and magnificent views.

For me personally, this is what the word “vacation” brings about.

And finally, Cindy posted a photo taken in Spain, near the Cadaques.

Photo courtesy of our Facebook fan Cindy

For me, this is a magic place where serenity and plenitude reign, and where nature exists in all its beauty and power. This mountainous region is perfect for taking long walks, and for swimming, surrounded by complete serenity. I sent this photo because it evokes so many amazing moments in my memories. Laughing and action go along with peace and calm.

I can hear only the crickets, the sound of waves, and the singing birds… All of this can make us forget the world of our daily lives, the routine, metro, work… The new scenery, new encounters, and other equally wonderful things that make us simply relax. What else can one want?

Current Mood: Esctatic

Branch by David from NEWTREE

Here is a recipe of a deliciously relaxing dessert that you can make this weekend. It uses NEWTREE Lavender chocolate, and it’s totally decadent. We publish it in English, French and Dutch (scroll down for the French and Dutch versions).

ENGLISH

This chocolate mousse will make you feel like you are in the Provence region of France… It’s a great dessert to savour and enjoy in a relaxing way. This recipe uses NEWTREE’s milk chocolate with lavender, which has relaxing and calming effect (in fact, one chocolate bar of NEWTREE lavender chocolate also contains linden blossom extract: an equivalent of 3 cups of linden blossom tea!).

Here is a list of ingredients for 4 people:

250 g of whole milk
25 g of fine sugar
2 eggs
3 NEWTREE lavender chocolate bars (80 g each)
several fresh apricots

Preparation

First, you need to prepare base cream. Bring milk to boil in a small pot. Separate egg yolks from whites (keep the whites). Beat the egg yolks with sugar. Then, add milk in a slow stream to the egg yolks mixture while continuing to mix slowly.

Put the mixture into a saucepan over moderately low heat in a top of a double-boiler while stirring frequently until smooth. Attention: don’t let the mixture boil! When the mixture becomes thick, remove the saucepan from the stove and set it aside.

After the base cream is ready, melt the chocolat bars, add them to the base cream and stir everything gently together.

Whip the egg whites in a bowl until they turn into white foamy «snow » and add them very carefully to the chocolate and cream mixture.

Put the mousse into individual bowl or cups and store in a cool place.

At the moment of serving, add previously caramelized apricots. Serve everything cool.

Enjoy!

FRANÇAIS

La mousse au chocolat au lait à la lavande et aux abricots

La Provence et l’évasion sont à vos portes…
Découvrez cette mousse au chocolat aux saveurs délicieusement parfumées.

C’est le dessert idéal pour vous détendre. En effet, notre recette utilise le chocolat au lait à la lavande NEWTREE, qui a des propriétés relaxantes et apaisantes (une tablette de chocolat au lait à la lavande NEWTREE contient l’équivalent de trois tasses de tisane de tilleul).

Ingrédients pour 4 couverts

250g de lait entier
25 g de sucre semoule fin
2 œufs
3 tablettes de chocolat au lait à la lavande NEWTREE (3 x 80g)
quelques abricots frais

Préparation

La crème de base :

Faites bouillir le lait dans une petite casserole. Séparez les jaunes d’œufs des blancs (à conserver). Battez ensemble les jaunes et le sucre semoule. Ensuite, versez le lait sur ce mélange en remuant constamment. Reversez dans la casserole et faites épaissir à feu doux au bain-marie sans cesser de mélanger. Attention, ne laissez pas cette crème bouillir!
Lorsque la crème nappe la cuillère, retirez la casserole du feu.

La suite de la recette :

Faites légèrement fondre les tablettes de chocolat et versez-y 150g de la crème chaude. Mélangez soigneusement.
Battez les blancs d’œufs en neige très ferme et incorporez en aérant jusqu’à obtenir une mousse homogène.
Versez la mousse dans des ramequins ou coupes et mettez au frais.

Au moment de servir, agrémentez de petits dés d’abricots préalablement caramélisés. Servir le tout frais.

Bonne dégustation !

NEEDERLANDS
Melkchocolademousse met lavendel en abrikozen

De Provence en de vakantie sfeer op uw tafel… Ontdek deze heerlijk geurende chocolademousse.

Het ideale dessert om U te ontspannen. In onze recept gebruiken wij immers NEWTREE melkchocolade met lavendel, die rustgevende en kalmerende eigenschappen heeft (één reep NEWTREE melkchocolade met lavendel stemt overeen met drie kopjes lindebloesemthee).

Ingrediënten voor 4 personen

250g volle melk
25g fijne kristalsuiker
2 eieren
3 repen NEWTREE melkchocolade met lavendel (3 x 80g)
abrikozen

Bereiding

Basispudding :

Breng de melk in een kleine kookpan aan het koken.
Bewaar de eiwiten voor het vervolg van het recept en klop de eierdooiers samen met de kristalsuiker. Giet dan de melk op dit mengsel al roerend.
Giet weer in de pan en kook alles op zachte vuur in een bain-marie tot de pudding dikker wordt. Blijf voortdurend roeren en laat niet tot het koken komen !
Als de pudding de lepel bedekt, neem uit het vuur.

Vervolg van het recept :

Giet 150g van de warme pudding op de licht gesmoltene choladerepen. Goed mengen.
Klop de eiwitten heel stijf en vermeng luchtig tot een lichte mousse.

Giet de chocolademousse in vuurvaste schoteltjes of bekers en leg in de koelkast.
Voeg voor het opdienen gekarameliseerde stukjes abrikoos aan toe.
Koel opdienen.

Goede degustatie !