Lake Champlain - Gingerbread Molasses Bar - Jan. 13, 2015

Chocolate of the Day: 

Lake Champlain Chocolates
Organic, Milk Chocolate Gingerbread Molasses bar
Good ++ - Very Good
Weight: .81 oz. (23 g.) / 3.25 oz. (92 g.) in total bar
Calories: 125 calories in 1/4 bar
Cost: $2.64 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Today was the last day of Chocolate Baked Goods Theme Week, and Day #1 of Chocolate and Ginger Theme Week.

This Organic, Milk Chocolate Gingerbread Molasses bar from Lake Champlain Chocolates (Burlington, VT) was part of a ginger-fueled trio. I paired this bar with two of my favorite gluten-free ginger cookies:

1. Ginger Zinger cookies from Tate's Bake Shop (Southampton, NY) - thin, buttery and crunchy cookies with embedded chunks of crystallized ginger
2. Ginger molasses cookie from Ginger and Fox Baked Goods (Santa Clarita, CA) - jumbo-sized, chewy, fragrant and flavorful ones just like mom used to bake.

Each square of this bar had a slightly raised area (embossed with the Lake Champlain stag by the lake and stars logo); and the raised pocket area held a smooth, gingerbread-chocolate ganache (with heavy cream, molasses, ginger, cinnamon and nutmeg).

Tate's Bake Shop - Gluten Free Brownie - Oct. 22, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Tate's Bake Shop
Gluten Free Brownie
Good - Good +
Weight: 4 oz. (113 g.) in 1 package
Calories: 480 calories in 1 package
Cost: $27.00 for 1 box of 6 (+ shipping)
Purchased from: Tate's Bake Shop, online order

Today was Day #9 of Chocolate Brownie Theme Week.

This rich, substantial Gluten Free Brownie was from Tate's Bake Shop (Southampton, NY), and had a fudgy, dense and slightly chewy, semi-sweet chocolate texture and flavor.

The Brownie was part of a box of 6 individually-wrapped, gluten-free bars (3 Blondies and 3 Brownies). Tate's Bake Shop also offers a line of gluten-free cookies.

Tate's Bake Shop - Blondie - Oct. 21, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Tate's Bake Shop
Blondie
Good - Good +
Weight: 4 oz. (113 g.) in 1 piece
Calories: 510 calories for 1 piece (3 servings)
Cost: $27.00 for box of 6 (+ shipping)
Purchased from: Tate's Bake Shop, online order

Today was Day #8 of Chocolate Brownie Theme Week.

I enjoyed Tate's Bake Shop Chocolate Chip Cookies so much that I wanted to include their Gluten-Free brownie bars this week, so I ordered some. And, once again, a 7-day theme week, has grown by a few days.

When I was young, my mom used to make butterscotch brownies. These were also called blonde brownies, or "blondies."

This Gluten Free Blondie from Tate's Bake Shop (Southampton, NY) contained 1.) brown sugar, 2.) butter and 3.) semi-sweet chocolate chips -- in that order, followed by a list of natural ingredients. Almond flour and walnut bits gave these Blondie a slightly nutty taste and texture.

At 510 calories for the whole blondie, this was not a low-calorie item. But then, it doesn't pretend to be. The label suggested that this very rich bar be divided into 3 servings. So, find a knife, cut this into thirds and try to resist eating all three pieces yourself. I dare you.

Tate's Bake Shop - Double Chocolate Chip cookies - Oct. 12, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Tate's Bake Shop
Gluten Free - Double Chocolate Chip Cookies
Very Good
Weight: 2 oz. (56.6 g.) / 7 oz. (200 g.) in total package
Calories: 280 calories in 4 cookies
Cost: $4.99 (estimate) for 1 package
Purchased from: Piazza's Fine Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #12 of Chocolate and Gluten Free Cookies Theme Week(s).

Tate's Bake Shop (Southampton, NY) is based in a charming village in the Hamptons. It will be a while before I can make it out to Southampton, but that is the beauty of food. It allows us to travel via our palette and imagination.

The company's Double Chocolate Chip Cookies were a hit, possessing all the qualities I look for in a crispy-style chocolate gluten-free cookie. My checklist is below.

• Good balance between crispy and chewy - Yes, 95% crispy, 5% chewy
• Holds together without an excess of vegetable gum(s), not too crumbly - Yes
• Slight buttery flavor and texture - Yes (contained butter)
• Quality ingredients list - Yes; first ingredient listed was chocolate chips (bonus points)

These chocolate + chocolate chip cookies were just the right thickness (i.e. not too thick or thin) for the optimal buttery crunch. And the tiny hint of salt was perfect.