Lake Champlain Chocolates - Filled Passion Fruit 80% Dark bar - Aug. 16, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

Lake Champlain Chocolates

Filled Passion Fruit 80% Cocoa Dark bar

Good ++

Weight: 1.625 oz. (46 g.) / 3.25 oz. (92 g.) in total bar

Calories: 253.3 calories in 1/2 bar

Cost: $3.69 for 1 bar

Purchased from: Piazza's Fine Foods, Palo Alto, CA 

Welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate and Fruit Theme Week.

Today's Filled Passion Fruit 80% Cocoa bar from Lake Champlain Chocolates (Burlington, VT) was an intriguing combination of deep dark chocolate surrounding an creamy inner filling of tropical, tart, passion fruit.

The company has added a barely there touch of lime that also helps cut the sugar level (thank you). 

Normally, a smooth but bold 80% cocoa chocolate might overwhelm more delicate fruit flavors; but the two extremes co-existed rather beautifully and seductively in this bar.

Dove - Real Cherries in Dove Dark Chocolate - Aug. 15, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

Dove*

Real Cherries Dipped in Dove Chocolate

Good - Good +

Weight: 3 oz. (~84 g.) / 17 oz. (482 g.) in total package

Calories: 400 calories in 2 servings

Cost: $8.49 for 1 package 

Purchased from: Target Stores, Mountain View, CA

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate and Fruit Theme Week.

These "Real Cherries Dipped in Silky Smooth Dove Dark Chocolate" were a slight departure from traditional Dove chocolate bars and offerings.

The slightly chewy, dried cherry centers had an authentic, slightly tart-sweet cherry flavor with chocolate richness surrounding the core fruit.

Glossy dark chocolate exteriors gave these rounds some shine and durability. Altogether, they were fairly tasty.

*The Dove brand is owned by Mars, Incorporated

Flax4Life - Dark Cherry Brownie flax muffins - Aug. 14, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

Flax4Life
Dark Cherry Brownie
Good - Good +
Weight: 1.16 oz. (33 g.) / 14 oz. (396 g.) in total container
Calories: 130 calories in 1 muffin
Cost: $8.99 for 1 container of 12 muffins
Purchased from: Piazza's Fine Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate Brownie Theme Week and Day #2 of Chocolate and Fruit Theme Week.

August is a great time for fresh summer fruits, including grapes, melons, figs, peaches and cherries. Today's container of Dark Cherry Brownie flax muffins was from Flax4Life (Bellingham, WA).

These dairy free, gluten free and nut free mini brownie muffins had sweet fudge brownie flavor and texture, with subtle, natural (dried, dark cherry) fruit flavor.

Muffin Revolution - Cha Cha Cha Cherry Chocolate Chia Muffins - Aug. 13, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

Muffin Revolution

Cha Cha Cha Cherry Chocolate Chia Muffins

Good 

Weight: 2.25 oz. (65 g.) / 9 oz. (260 g.) in total container or 4 muffins

Calories: 170 calories in 1 muffin

Cost: $5.99 (guess) for 1 container of 4 muffins

Purchased from: Whole Foods Market, Los Altos, CA

Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate Brownie Week.

Chocolate Cherry Chia Muffins from Muffin Revolution (Richmond, CA) 

This grain-free, paleo-friendly and Non-GMO muffin was satisfying and less sugary sweet than most muffins or brownies (thank you!).  Sweetness was supplied by dates and fruits.

The texture was slightly more coarse—it was made with blanched almond meal/flour—than processed white grain flours. The chocolate flavor was pleasing; and the cherry and chia flavors were so well incorporated they might be missed.

So, while this is technically a muffin and not a brownie, if one were to bake a less-sweet, paleo brownie it might be similar to today's chocolate cherry muffin. 

The Muffin Revolution muffins also contained fruits and vegetables (apples, bananas, blueberries, cherries, zucchini) and eggs.

Picky Bars - Ah, Fudge Nuts! Cacao-Abunga Brownie bar - Aug. 12, 2018

Chocolate of the Day:

Picky Bars
Ah, Fudge Nuts! Cacao-Abunga Brownie
Good
Weight: 1.6 oz. (45 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 200 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $2.50 for 1 bar
Purchased from: REI, Mountain View, CA

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate Brownie Theme Week.

Today's Ah, Fudge Nuts! Cacao-Abunga Brownie bar was from Picky Bars (Bend, OR).

This energy bar with the long name was thoughtfully constructed with a short list of ingredients by three professional athletes Lauren Fleshman, Jesse Thomas and Steph Bruce.

The gluten-free bar had a brownie and nut aroma, and a pleasant slightly fudgey chocolate chew. It contained 7 grams of protein, and had a clean finish—with no artificial after-taste that occasionally accompany some protein and energy bars.

Larabar - Double Chocolate Brownie Bites - Aug. 11, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

Small Planet Foods, Inc. (distributed by)
Larabar - Double Chocolate Brownie Bites
Good
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 5.3 oz. (150 g.) in total package
Calories: 130 calories in 1 serving
Cost: $5.99 for 1 package
Purchased from: Whole Foods Market, Los Altos, CA

Welcome to Day #5 of Chocolate Brownie Theme Week.

These Larabar Double Chocolate Brownie Bites were distributed by Small Planet Foods, Inc. (Minneapolis, MN).

They had a soft chew and a light, brownie-like look and texture inside. They were also Gluten Free, Non-GMO, Vegan and Dairy Free. And they contained a relatively short list of ingredients: dates, almonds, semi-sweet chocolate chips, cocoa powder, coconut flour and sea salt. The dates gave them a dried fruit sweetness and moistness.

Westminster - Lucy's Brownie Crisp Triple Chocolate gluten-free crisps - Aug. 9, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

Westminster Cracker Company, Inc.
Lucy's Brownie Crisp Triple Chocolate gluten-free crisps
Good +
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) / 4.5 oz. (127 g.) in total package
Calories: 100 calories in 1 serving (3 pieces)
Cost: $4.29 for 1 package
Purchased from: Sprouts Farmers Market, Mountain View, CA

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolate Brownie Theme Week.

Today's Lucy's Brownie Crisp Triple Chocolate Gluten Free Crisps were from Westminster Cracker Company, Inc. (Rutland, VT).

These Brownie Crisps had an aroma and flavor that were part brownie and part chocolate cookie. They were made with 72% chocolate chunks, 46% chocolate chips, sugar and a gluten-free flour blend, and they were, as advertised, light and crunchy.

In addition to being gluten-free, these brownie crisps were certified vegan and kosher; and contained no peanuts, tree nuts, milk or eggs; however, they did contain soy, oats and fava.* They were also Non-GMO Certified.

*Ingredients: Organic Cane Sugar, Flour Blend (Gluten-Free Oat, Garbanzo/Chickpea, Sorghum, Tapioca and Fava Flours), Vegan Chocolate Chips and Chunks (Sugar, Unsweetened Chocolate, Dextrose, Cocoa Butter, Soy Lecithin, Natural Vanilla Extract), (Organic) Soy Milk (Contains Carageenan, Cocoa, Expeller Pressed Canola Oil, Potato Starch, Leavening (Calcium Lactate, Calcium Carbonate, Potassium Bitartrate), Cellulose Gum, Modified Cellulose), (Organic)Vanilla Extract, Baking Soda, Xanthan Gum, Salt.