ChocolateBet: August 25, 2012

Chocolate of the Day: 

Jer's Chocolates
Gourmet Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars - Cara Mella
Good
Weight: 1.5 oz. (42.5 g.) in 1 bar / 3.0 oz. (85 g.) in total package of 2 bars
Calories: 210 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $5.99 total package of 2 bars
Purchased from: Piazza's Fine Foods, in Palo Alto, CA

I could have had two Cara Mella dark chocolate peanut butter bars from Jer's Chocolates (Solana Beach, CA) if I wanted them today. Made with U.S. Valencia peanut butter, the bars filling contained a blend of a slightly crunchy/crispy layer (likely the crisp rice), and thick creamy elements. Each package came with two individually wrapped bars. However, after one bar I felt full.

This sense of being overstuffed could have come from a generous portion size, or from some of the ingredients in these bars. A note to those eating gluten free, while no wheat or gluten ingredients were listed on the wrapper, consumers were advised that these bars: "May Contain Trace Amount of Almonds, Pecans, Cashews and Wheat Flour."

The head confectioner, Jer (Jerry Swain), started his business with peanut butter and chocolate balls and, after winning awards, began making a line of bars that has included the Cara Mella; the Pretzo Change-O (with pretzel bits); Toffee Break; and the Original Incredibar flavors.
 
Today was Day #6 of Chocolate and Peanut Butter Theme Week.

ChocolateBet: July 2, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:

2 bars
Jer's Handmade Chocolates
Jer's Dark Toffee Break Peanut Butter Bars
Very Good
Weight: 3.5 oz. (100 grams) in 2 bars
Calories: 420 calories in 2 bars
Cost: $7.00 for box/package of 2 bars
Purchased from: Chocolate Covered, in San Francisco, CA

Sweet, soft and crunchy, these Peanut Butter Bars from Jer's (Solana Beach, CA) packed a nice texture contrast. Jer's packaging says they use U.S. grown organic Valencia peanuts.

The company makes a line of bars and confections. It sounded like these peanut butter bars were created after (and as a possible follow-up to) Jer's peanut butter and chocolate balls.

Much as I love summer, and especially summer evenings, hot weather + chocolate can induce a temporary sloth-like, pre-nap-state. OK, I don't know how a sloth thinks. But if you've ever seen one crawling along the ground in a warm climate, you'll get the idea. This morning, I ate these two peanut butter chocolate bars for breakfast/lunch, and slumped into a pleasant, food-induced semi-coma: eyes fixed, staring out at the wall of bright light that is currently my patio. Fortunately, the thought of all the work I have to do snapped me right back into a productive state.

There should be a siesta warning on larger sized boxes of chocolate. Or, God forbid, I could limit my chocolate consumption to my normal level of ~1 oz. per day.