Trader Joe's - Mint Hot Cocoa Ornament + Maxine's Heavenly Chocolate Peppermint Cookies - Dec. 24, 2022

Chocolate(s) of the Day

Trader Joe's

Mint Flavored Hot Cocoa Ornaments

Good ++ - Good +++

Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 2.12 oz. (60 g.) (estim.) for total ornament

Calories: 150 calories (estimate) for 1/2 ornament + milk

Cost: $N/A - holiday gift (Thank you Trudi!)

Purchased from: N/A - holiday gift (Trader Joe's)

Maxine's Heavenly

Super Soft Chocolate Peppermint Cane Cane Cookies

Good + - Good ++

Weight: 2.44 oz. (69 g.) / 7.2 oz. (284 g.) in total box/package

Calories: 300 calories in 3 cookies

Cost: $6.99 for 1 box/package

Purchased from: Farm Fresh to You CSA delivery box, added item

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

Today (Christmas Eve) was chocolate-filled this year. This is the second post (of two) for today features two chocolate items left out for Santa. 

The first item featured was a 70% Belize Bourbon Barrel Aged dark chocolate from Dick-Taylor Craft Chocolate (Eureka, CA)--enjoyed by adults before Santa's arrival. 

Trader Joe's Mint Hot Cocoa Ornament

This pretty, shiny rose-hued ornament was submerged in pot of hot milk on the stove. After melting, the inside contents were revealed: tiny marshmallows inside the hollow center. 

The taste (when incorporated into the hot (whole) milk) was chocolate-y, creamy and satisfying with a subtle (just the right) touch of mint.

Extra points for attractive packaging and fun presentation/preparation steps--and the "magical" transformation from holiday ornament to hot chocolate treat.

(This was likely part of a larger packaged set. No packaging to refer to for ingredients.)

Maxine's Heavenly Chocolate Peppermint Candy Cane Cookies

Maxine's Heavenly Cookies were gluten free, soft and slightly chewy. (A gluten-free oat blend (whole grain oats, oat flour) was the number one ingredient.)

Embedded chunks of dark chocolate and bits of candy cane gave these soft baked cookies layers of holiday flavor and well-integrated, satisfying texture(s).

These were left out on a plate for Santa, along with Maxine's Heavenly Super Soft Gingerbread Cookies (also gluten-free, but with no chocolate). 

Ingredients: Gluten Free Oat Blend (oats, oat flour, oat fiber); palm fruit oil (Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) Certified; Chocolate Chunks (organic cane sugar, chocolate liquor, cocoa butter); white rice flour; organic coconut sugar; organic coconut nectar; dates; candy cane pieces (cane sugar, organic rice syrup, peppermint oil, colored with red cabbage, purple carrots); water; cocoa powder; organic gum acacia; flaxseed; sunflower lecithin; peppermint extract; sea salt; baking soda.

Allergen-related information: Contains: Tree Nuts (coconut).

Zotter - Merry Christmas Milk Chocolate filled w/ spiced marzipan, cinnamon hazelnut praline (bar) - Dec. 18, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Zotter 
"Merry Christmas" Milk Chocolate filled with spiced marzipan and cinnamon hazelnut praline (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 2.47 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 380 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $7.99 (estimate) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Zotterusa.com, online order

Welcome to Day #9 of Chocolate and Hazelnuts Week, including a few European holiday entries. It's that time of year, when virtual travel via a chocolate tasting experience is as fine as any other gift I can imagine.

Today's "Merry Christmas" Milk Chocolate bar was filled with layers of marzipan and cinnamon hazelnut praline. It was created by Zotter, made in Austria, and distributed by Zotter US LLC (Fort Myers, FL). 

This fragrant bar was filled with holiday scents including cocoa, marzipan and cinnamon. There was also a slight fruitiness (sweet currant and raspberry jam, with orange/lemon peel) nestled in with faint nut notes. 

Flavor followed fragrance with chocolate, marzipan, nuanced spices (cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, vanilla, cloves, pepper), nut and fruit (light, sweet citrus, berry) notes. The hazelnuts were present (part of the hazelnut brittle layer), but were overshadowed a bit by the spiced marzipan layer.

I enjoyed this lovely Christmas confection with a side dish of roasted hazelnuts and sliced, ripe fuyu persimmon with a sprinkle of cinnamon and a sip of Frangelico. Hazelnut holiday perfection.

Ingredients: Organic, fair traded cane sugar; organic marzipan (organic almonds, organic sugar, organic invert sugar syrup); organic, fair traded cocoa mass; organic, fair traded cocoa butter; organic, fair traded hazelnuts; dry whole milk; organic orange juice concentrate; organic glucose syrup; organic orange juice; dry skim milk; butter (cream); organic, fair traded cinnamon; organic ginger; organic, fair traded dark brown cane sugar; organic soy lecithin; salt; organic cardamom;  vanilla bean powder, cloves, pepper, lemon oil, organic orange oil"

Allergen-related information: "Contains almonds, hazelnuts, milk, soy. Manfactured on equipment that processes other tree nuts, peanuts, eggs, and sesame."

Zotter - Sweet Christmas Greetings - Dark Chocolate 70% filled with hazelnut praline, brittle (bar) - Dec. 16, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Zotter

"Sweet Christmas Greetings" - Dark Chocolate 70% filled with hazelnut praline and hazelnut brittle (bar)

Good ++

Weight: 2.47 oz. (70 g.) in total bar

Calories: 400 calories in 1 bar

Cost: $7.99 for 1 bar (free shipping, part of larger order)

Purchased from: Zotterusa.com, online order

Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate and Hazelnut Theme Week.

Today's "Sweet Christmas Greetings" Dark Chocolate 70% filled with hazelnut praline and hazelnut brittle (bar) was made in Austria and distributed by Zotter Chocolates US LLC (Fort Myers, FL).

Aroma notes included: hazelnut biscuit (cookie) dipped in a thick sweet dark chocolate mocha beverage.

A smooth, creamy ultra-dark tasting (70%) chocolate covering allowed for more flavor depth and contrast with a sweet, nutty center.

Inside this Christmas holiday-themed, filled chocolate bar was a fragrant, praline slightly flaky, crunchy and authentically nutty praline-style layer melded with a hazelnut brittle layer. A winning combination of flavors that harmonized together without tasting overly sweet, despite sugar being the number one ingredient. 

Ingredients: Organic, fair traded cane sugar; organic, fair traded cocoa mass; organic, fair traded hazelnuts; organic, fair traded cocoa butter; organic hazelnut oil; organic soy lecithin; organic, fair traded dark brown cane sugar; salt; organic vanilla bean powder; organic, fair trade cinnamon.

Allergen-related information: "Contains almonds, milk, hazelnuts, soy. Manufactured on equipment that processes other tree nuts." (Certified Organic.)

Dandelion Chocolate - 70% Hacienda Azul, Costa Rica 2016 Harvest (bar) - Dec. 24, 2020

Chocolate of the Day

Dandelion Chocolate

70% Hacienda Azul Costa Rica 2016 Harvest (bar) 

Good ++

Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) / 2 oz. (56 g.) in total bar

Calories: 150 calories (estimate) in 1/2 bar

Cost: $8.95 for 1 bar

Purchased from: ZombieRunner, Palo Alto, CA

Buenos Dias a todos. Good day to you all, Happy Christmas Eve, and welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate and Costa Rica Theme Week.

What's it like to celebrate Christmas in Costa Rica? A traditional, hearty Christmas Eve meal might consist of tamales, roast pork, potatoes, rice, vegetables and eggnog, with a piece of tres leches cake for dessert. 

I replicated part of this meal today (roasted chicken tamales, potatoes, vegetables and a reasonable facsimile of eggnog with grated nutmeg. But, being able to enjoy tasty Costa Rica dark chocolate bars (featured today and this week) was a true gift. Costa Rica has continued to produce more and better cacao and chocolate--thanks to great farmers, chocolate makers and a growing knowledge of successful growing, fermenting, roasting and other techniques.*

This rich, smooth dark chocolate had a smooth, sophisticated complexity with a true dark chocolate (chocolate torte/cake) flavor and a naturally sweet taste (fig cookie) with balanced fruit acidity/tartness (cherry), and a few fleeting background notes--including very faint, fleeting spice and clean green/floral notes. 

Ingredients: Cocoa beans and cane sugar

*E.g., Dandelion Chocolate and others have deepened their relationships with farmers in growing countries. Dandelion notes for this bar offered insight(s) into some of the depth and complexity in this bar when they mentioned different batches of cacao beans with different roasting profiles that were combined/used to make this bar.

Note: This bar was eaten past its expiration date. So my apologies to Dandelion if this review could have been even greater with a fresher bar.

Ocho Caramel and Reese's milk chocolate peanut butter filled trees - Dec. 25, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Ocho
Organic Caramel Trees - Milk Chocolate
Good +
Weight: 1.16 oz. (33 g.) / 3.88 oz. (110 g.) in total package
Calories: 150 calories in 3 pieces
Cost: $1.99 (estimate) for 1 package
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Reese's
(The Hershey Company)
Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter - Tree stuffed with Reese's pieces
Good
Weight: 1.1 oz. (31 g.) in 1 small package
Calories: 160 calories in 1 package
Cost: $0.79 for 1 package
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #4 of Holiday Tea and Spirits Theme Week.

Decorating holiday trees this week, and hiking outdoors with friends and family inspired the choice of two filled chocolate "trees" on Christmas Day. It was also a beautiful day outdoors today, with live trees and lit up trees of all kinds, everywhere.

Hope you all enjoyed the holidays.

Ocho Caramel Trees
The individually-wrapped, diminutive Milk Chocolate Caramel Tree from Ocho was oozing with fresh, authentic-tasting caramel. And the chocolate tasted authentic and relatively high-quality as well. Did I mention these were Organic as well?

Ocho, based in Oakland, CA, was an early player in the healthier candy bar market, with offerings that not only lacked artificial colors or preservatives, but also were organic and better tasting than their packaged candy ancestors.

The Reese's* Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Tree

Reese's small novelty holiday tree was filled with colorful, candy-coated, crunchy Reese's pieces. Stuffing the "ornaments" inside the peanut butter tree, made for a sweeter, crunchier tasting experience than the standard peanut butter cup.

*The H.B. Reese Candy Company is a subsidiary of Hersheys (The Hershey Company, Hershey, PA). The two companies became one in the early 1960s.

Merry Chocolate Christmas - Chocolate Covered Tangerines, Advent Calendar - Dec. 25, 2018

Chocolate(s) of the Day: 

Nature to Go

Dark Chocolate Covered Tangerines

Good

Weight: 2 oz. (56.6 g.) / 6 oz. (170 g.) in total package

Calories: 240 calories in 1/3 package (2 servings)

Cost: $ missing information

Purchased from: missing information

Friedel

Advent Calendar - 24 Milk Chocolate Figurines

Good

Weight: .10 oz. (3.1 g.) / 2.65 oz. (75 g.) in total package

Calories: 15 calories in 1 piece

Cost: $N/A - gift (Thank you Bill!)

Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Merry Christmas to all who celebrate!

Dark Chocolate Covered Tangerines
As children, we found tangerines in our stockings on Christmas morning. Today's dark chocolate covered tangerine pieces from Nature To Go (distributed by Food Castle Inc. (Vernon, CA)) recalled those childhood memories.

Working with preserved citrus and chocolate can be tricky. The pieces of dried tangerines enrobed in dark chocolate didn't quite match the illustration on the front of the package (they were more compressed in dried form), but were fun to try nonetheless.

Advent Calendar

Chocolate advent calendars were also fun growing up. Although there was the problem of six children remaining patient, and taking turns opening the tiny doors with chocolate items behind them. And it took the wisdom of Solomon to figure out how to split one small treat six ways. (No wonder they were retired after a few years.)

Even though the last Advent Calendar door is traditionally opened on Dec. 24th (Christmas Eve), I waited until Christmas morning to reveal the last of 24 milk chocolate figurines, an image of old St. Nick himself. The tiny Santa milk chocolate tasted better than most chocolate novelty items, and was gone in a flash.

This Friedel Advent Calendar was made in Germany, Produced by Rubezahl Schokoladen GmbH.

Divine - Milk Chocolate Christmas Shapes; Moo Free Organic Santa Bar - Dec. 26, 2017

Chocolate(s) of the Day: 

Divine Chocolate Inc.

Milk Chocolate Christmas Shapes 

Good
Weight: 1.6 oz. (45 g.) / 3.2 oz. (90 g.) in total box of 12 shapes/pieces

Calories: 240 calories in 6 shapes/pieces

Cost: $3.99 (estimate) for 1 box of 11 pieces

Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Moo Free Limited/Moo Free Chocolates 

Hammy Hamster Santa bar

Good 

Weight: 1.13 oz. (32 g.) / 3.6 oz. (103 g.) in total package of 4 

Calories: 187.2 calories (per label) in 1 package/piece

Cost: $5.50 for 1 box of 4 different pieces

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

Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate, Holiday Spices and Maple Theme Week. 

Christmas was yesterday, but there was holiday spiced tea and two Christmas chocolate items left: Milk Chocolate Christmas Shapes from Divine Chocolate Inc. (Product of The Netherlands; distributed via Divine in Washington, D.C.), and a Mini Moos Hammy Hamster Organic Santa Bar from Moo Free Limited (Reading, UK).

Divine Chocolate
Divine Chocolate is co-owned by cocoa farmers and has specialized in fair trade chocolate bars.

Today's 26% cocoa Milk Chocolate Christmas Shapes included a snowman, a Christmas tree, a snowflake, a candle, a wrapped present with a bow, and a flower/rose.  These festive shapes were a bit sweet for me, but were fun novelty items.

Moo Free
Moo Free is known for their milk (moo) free chocolates that are also free of other allergens. (They use rice milk instead of dairy milk.) This Organic Santa bar was gluten free, dairy free and vegan.

Today's Hammy Hamster* Santa was the last of four individually-wrapped chocolates from a Merry Moos Christmas selection box opened many months ago. Despite being from last season, this Santa had held up fairly well.

*Each bar from this Mini Moo holiday series featured a cartoon animal. The wrapper for this Santa was adorned with the image of a yellow hamster (Hammy Hamster). 

Valenza Chocolatier - Clove and Cucidati Chocolates - Dec. 25, 2016

Chocolate(s) of the Day:

Valenza Chocolatier
1.) Clove - Good +++
2.) Cucidati - Very Good
(from a 6-piece Italian Holiday Cioccolato assortment box)
Weight: .8 oz. (22.6 g.) (estimate) in 2 pieces
Calories: 120 calories (estimate) in 2 pieces
Cost: $15.00 - part of a 6-piece holiday assortment box
Purchased from: Valenza Chocolatier, Costa Mesa, CA

Buon Natale and Merry Christmas to all from Chocolate Banquet!
I hope today you enjoyed some of the true sweetness of this holiday.

I felt grateful to spend today with family and friends, and to unwrap and savor these two wonderful holiday chocolates from Valenza Chocolatier (Costa Mesa, CA). Both were inspired by Italian cookies.

Clove
The first piece, a Clove chocolate, was based on a Sicilian clove chocolate cookie and contained "clove, cinnamon and allspice, 41% milk chocolate and 61% dark chocolate." It was a warm spicy chocolate, with well-balanced (subtle, baked cookie) flavor. The clove was present without being too strong and there was almost a hint of something with alcohol.

The domed dark chocolate bonbon shell was topped with holiday sparkles—perfect for Christmas.

Cucidati
Cucidati (little bracelets*) are Italian fig cookies. Today's Cucidati chocolate channeled the best of the flavors found in these flavorful cookies. It looked a bit like a humble truffle, but it was anything but. At the heart of this chocolate was a center packed with Italian holiday flavors: chocolate, figs, allspice, cinnamon, candied orange peel, honey and raisins.

This confection was hand-rolled in 61% dark chocolate and finished with cocoa powder. It was a grown-up and sophisticated chocolate with a hint of fig paste filled cookie and tasted like holiday spices and childhood memories.

We drove to neighboring towns to see Christmas lights. I enjoyed a small cup of hot chocolate with Amaretto to help brace against the cold. If the weather were warmer, I would have been tempted to have a small glass of Aperol (Italian orange-flavored liqueur/apertif) over ice with these chocolates.

*Some Cucidati fig cookies are sliced in such a way that they could look like a series of small, joined bracelets. (The fig paste filling for these cookies may show in between the "bracelets"; and the fig filling may occasionally also contain ground dates.)

Valenza Chocolatier - Christmas Eve chocolates - Dec. 24, 2016

Chocolate(s) of the Day: 


Valenza Chocolatier

Barolo bonbon
(part of 6-piece Holiday Italian Cioccolato Sleeve assortment box)
Good+++-Very Good
Weight: .4 oz. (11.32 g.) (estimate) in 1 piece
Calories: 60 calories (estimate) in 1 piece
Cost: $15.00 - This piece was part of a 6-piece assortment box
Purchased from: Valenza Chocolatier, Costa Mesa, CA

Nocciole bar
(part of a 3-bar holiday bar set)
Good +++-Very Good
Weight: .775 oz. (22.5 g.) / 3.1 oz. (90 g.) in total bar
Calories: 116 calories (estimate) in 1/4 bar
Cost: $N/A - sample
Purchased from:

Welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate and Italian Holiday Theme Week, where we're celebrating the holidays with a holiday red wine-infused confection and a milk chocolate Nocciole (hazelnut) chocolate bar—from Valenza Chocolatier (Costa Mesa, CA).

Valenza Barolo Bonbon
Today's Barolo chocolate was from Valenza's Holiday Italian Cioccolato* Sleeve 6-piece assortment box. This Italian inspired collection was filled with rich holiday flavors.

Barolo is an Italian red wine made from the Nebbiolo grape in the Piedmont region of Northern Italy (not far from where excellent Piedmont hazelnuts are grown I must add).

Today's Valenza Chocolatier's Barolo holiday chocolate was constructed of a pate de fruit layer atop a 61% dark chocolate ganache, and covered with dark chocolate. The concentrated, layered flavors and textures were well-executed and delicious. This Barolo bonbon was a 2017 Good Food Awards finalist.

Valenza Holiday Bars - Nocciole
Today I also sampled one of a trio of Valenza chocolate bars (hazelnut, nibs and sesame) that were packaged together for the holidays.

The bar I tried was a 41% milk chocolate Nocciole (hazelnut) Bar loaded with roasted hazelnuts from the Piedmont region of Northern Italy and seasoned with a light sprinkle of Sicilian sea salt. These Piedmont PGI or IGP** hazelnuts are known for their fine quality.

Red Wine and Hot Chocolate
Today's Barolo chocolate reminded me of a hot item featured on numerous food blogs and in the New York Times. Mixing a good red wine (like a Barolo) with hot (drinking) chocolate (dark chocolate, milk, nutmeg, allspice, clove, mandarin peel and other spices. I had my doubts, but it was better than expected. And I drank the whole cup.

*Cioccolato is the Italian word for chocolate; and unfortunately this holiday assortment is already sold out for this year's holiday season.

**Piemonte IGP is a protected geographic designation and the term refers only to hazelnuts grown in a specific region of Piedmont Italy. 

Taza Peppermint Stick Bar; + Smokin XO Hot Pants - Dec. 26, 2015

Chocolate(s) of the Day: 

Taza Chocolate
Peppermint Stick bar
Good ++
Weight: 1.25 oz. (35 g.) / 2.5 oz. (70 g.) in total bar
Calories: 200 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $3.49 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Whole Foods Market, Los Altos, CA

Today was Day #5 of Chocolate, Smoke and Fire Theme Week—with a post-Christmas chocolate double feature.

The first chocolate was the Peppermint Stick 60% dark stone-ground chocolate bar from Taza Chocolate (Somerville, MA). It was full of authentic flavor, and robust, slightly crunchy texture, from organic ground peppermint stick and cacao nibs.

This bar was made with direct trade and Non GMO verified ingredients, and was gluten free and pareve.

XO Baking Co.
Gluten Free Chocolate Cake - Gourmet Cake Mix
Good ++
Weight: unknown 
Calories: unknown
Cost: $5.99 (estimate) for 1 box of mix
Purchased from: HomeGoods, Santa Clara, CA

This second chocolate of the day came from a cake mix. I added some smoke-infused olive oil and a small pinch of alderwood smoked sea salt to this mix. In finished form, these cupcake-sized, chocolate cakes were cooked in blue jean "muffin top" silicone cooking molds ("Fred" brand), that humorously (and rather accurately) depicted holiday overindulgence.

This smokey chocolate cake was great topped with smoked almond ice cream. Perfect dessert for those who love umami flavors.

The gluten-free Chocolate Cake mix was from XO Baking Co. (Woodland Hills, CA).

The content and images in this post belong to ChocolateBanquet.com.

Trader Joe's - Uncured Bacon Ganache Bar - Dec. 25, 2015

Source: Trader Joe's website

Chocolate of the Day: 

Trader Joe's
Uncured Bacon Ganache Bar
Good ++ - Very Good
Weight: 1.5 oz. (42.5 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) in total bar
Calories: 220 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $1.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Trader Joe's, Mountain View, CA

Today was Day #4 of Chocolate, Smoke and Fire Theme Week.

Merry Christmas today to all those who celebrate!

Today we continue with chocolates that have smokey and/or fiery flavors. Santa must smell like a smoke-cured ham for days after visiting all those chimneys on Christmas Eve. I don't know of too many ham chocolates (honey-baked smoked ham bar anyone?), but bacon is a relatively popular inclusion.

This Uncured Bacon Ganache Bar from Trader Joe's (Monrovia, CA) was filled with a chocolate, caramel and slightly smoky flavored bacon ganache. It was nicely balanced and not too sweet. I'm a sucker for alder wood smoked salt (and umami flavored foods in general), so this filled 70 percent cacao bar was an enjoyable gift this morning.

The content and images in this post belong to ChocolateBanquet.com.

Flour Chylde - Buche de Noel cake - Dec. 22, 2015

Chocolate of the Day: 

Flour Chylde Bakery
Buche de Noel cake
Good ++
Weight: unknown
Calories: unknown 
Cost: $32.00 for 1 cake
Purchased from: Flour Chylde Bakery (phone order, farmers market pick-up)

Welcome to Day #1 of Chocolate, Smoke and Fire Theme Week.

Today's chocolate was a holiday treat—a Buche de Noel from Flour Chylde Bakery (Novato, CA). This gluten-and dairy-free version of a holiday classic was a carefully rolled chocolate sponge cake filled with vanilla frosting and drizzled with fudge icing.

The Buche de Noel (or yule log) cake is designed to look like a large wooden log that traditionally is burned on Christmas Eve. The chocsimile of this log may have a "branch" or two (or candy mushrooms) sprouting from its cake form. The frosting is often textured to look more like tree bark; and the cake is occasionally dusted with powdered sugar "snow."

I've wanted to make this Buche de Noel cake; however, its roll-and-fill construction process looked daunting. I decided it would be better to buy one from an experienced gluten-free bakery like Flour Chylde.

Well balanced chocolate and vanilla flavors dominated, but there was a faint twinkle of holiday spice that I couldn't quite pin down—pumpkin spice, rum raisin, or sugar plum dust? I'm not sure. (The cake did contain some pumpkin.)

Happy Winter Solstice to all! Progressively lighter days will be here soon.

The content and images in this post belong to ChocolateBanquet.com.

Moonstruck Chocolate - Dark Chocolate Rocky Road Santa - Dec. 24, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Moonstruck Chocolate Co.
Dark Chocolate Rocky Road Santa Claus
Good ++
Weight: 2.5 oz. (70.75 g.) / 3.35 oz. (95 g.) in total package
Calories: 375 calories (estimate) in 2.5 oz. (70.75 g.) portion
Cost: N/A - gift (thank you Toni!)
Purchased from: N/A - gift



Today was Day #7 of Chocolate and Hazelnut Theme Week, and Day #1 of Chocolate and Lemon Theme Week. (My theme weeks often overlap, especially when/if there is a promising seasonal or flavor triad like today.)

A red night shirt I used to have many years ago read: "Dear Santa, I want it all." Well, when it comes to chocolate, and many other things, I certainly have an abundant life indeed and feel very grateful this year to be able to celebrate this holiday season with friends and family.

The fresh-tasting, Dark Chocolate Rocky Road Santa Claus from Moonstruck Chocolate Co. (Portland, OR) was a perfect centerpiece for the lemon and hazelnut cookie plate to be left out near the fireplace for the Big Man to arrive this evening. It was loaded with little marshmallows and bits of pecan, as could be seen from the back view (pictured at right).

Happy Christmas Eve to all who celebrate. Hope you're all snug and warm.

Riegelein Confiserie - Rocking Horse - Dec. 17, 2014

Chocolate of the Day:

Riegelein Confiserie
Rocking Horse
Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 5.12 oz. (145 g.) in one package/horse
Calories: 150 calories (estimate) in 1 oz. (28.3 g.) piece
Cost: $3.79 for 1 horse
Purchased from: Crossroads Specialty Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #7 of Chocolates in Toyland Theme Week.

The chocolate of the day was this red and gold foil wrapped Rocking Horse from Riegelein Chocolate (Cadolzburg, Germany)

Chocolates with natural ingredients (i.e. made without artificial flavors or colors) just taste better. And this milk chocolate (30% cocoa, 14% milk solids) rocking horse was no exception. The inclusion of cocoa butter rather than hydrogenated vegetable oils, e.g. was an improvement over some novelty milk chocolates.

Granted higher quality chocolates tend to be a bit more expensive; but I will happily pay a bit more for better chocolate, especially if these chocolate toys are for children.

Ingredients for today's sweet, smooth rocking equine: Sugar, cocoa butter, whole milk powder, cocoa mass, sweet whey powder, emulsifier: soy lecithin, natural vanilla.

Santa's Treats - Fun 'n Games maze; Venchi cigar - Dec. 16, 2014

Chocolate(s) of the Day: 

Santa's Treats
Fun 'n Games Double Crisp
OK+ - Good
Weight: .25 oz. (7 g.) / 2.5 oz. (71 g.) in total package
Calories: 37 calories (estimate) in 1/4 oz. piece
Cost: $0.49 for 1 item
Purchased from: lost receipt (CVS?)

Today was Day #6 of Chocolate in Toyland Theme Week, and I celebrated with two chocolates: one for all ages, and one for grown-ups.

The first chocolate was a Fun 'n Games Double Crisp -- a 30% milk chocolate rectangular, edible maze from Santa's Treats (distributed by CVS Pharmacy, Inc.).

The second chocolate today was a chocsimile of a Venchi Cuba, Cacao Aromatico, cigar, made in Italy.

Venchi S.p.A.
Venchi Cuba, Cacao Aromatico chocolate cigar
Good ++ - Very Good
Weight: 1.17 oz. (33.3 g.) / 3.52 oz. (100 g.) total cigar
Calories: 176 calories (estimate) in 1/3 cigar
Cost: $8.79 for 1 cigar
Purchased from: Crossroads market, Palo Alto, CA

I'm not a smoker, but I made an exception for today's "toy" chocolate cigar from Venchi S.p.A. (Italy).

Today I hit a home mortgage pay-off milestone. Hurray. This called for celebrating with a generously sized, fine-flavored dark chocolate "Cuban" cigar made with cacao from New Guinea and ground Piedmont hazelnuts. It was dark, nutty, slightly fudgey and smoky, and entirely delicious.

Santa's Treats - Tuff Trucks - Dec. 15, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Santa's Treats
(distributed by CVS Pharmacy, Inc.)
Tuff Trucks
OK - Good
Weight: .3 oz. (8.49 g.) / 2.5 oz. (71 g.) in total package
Calories: 45 calories (estimate) in 1 small bite of truck
Cost: $0.99 for 1 package
Purchased from: CVS Pharmacy, Mountain View, CA

Today was Day #5 of Chocolate in Toyland Theme Week.

The Santa's Treats* front loader style novelty truck in this Tuff Trucks package was "Hard at Work Making Candy Fun."

This milk chocolate flavored truck would be a fun toy to play with for a day or two; however, as for eating it... It was awfully sweet. (Cocoa was the fourth ingredient listed, after sugar, hydrogenated vegetable oil and whey.)

*This Santa's Treats item was distributed by CVS Pharmacy, Inc.

Milk Chocolate Trivial Pursuit; Niagara Tools - Dec. 13, 2014

Chocolate(s) of the Day: 

Choc-In-The-Box
Trivial Pursuit (chocolate cards)
Good
Weight: .3 oz. (8.5 g.) / 4.8 oz. (136 g.) in total package/box
Calories:  44 calories (estimate) in 1 piece
Cost: $4.99 for 1 box/package
Purchased from: CVS Pharmacy, Mountain View, CA

Welcome to Day #3 of Chocolates in Toyland Theme Week, where I scout out possible chocolate holiday gifts.

These chocsimiles* of Trivial Pursuit cards include actual trivia questions (with answers on the flip side). And, after everyone is familiar with the questions, and you grow bored with them, you can eat them. Very practical.

Know someone who likes carpentry or making things? Another potential stocking stuffer might included the following tool set:

Milk Chocolate Took Kit
Niagara Chocolates
Good
Weight: .75 oz. (21.2 g.) / 3.75 oz. (106 g.) total package
Calories: 110 calories (estimate) in 1 tool (saw)/piece
Cost: $3.19 for 1 package of 5 pieces/tools
Purchased from: Orchard Supply Hardware, Mountain View, CA

This Milk Chocolate Tool Kit made by Niagara Chocolates (Cheektowaga, NY), a SweetWorks Company (Buffalo, NY). included a milk chocolate hammer, saw, screwdriver, wrench and pliers. I tried the milk chocolate saw.

Most popular commercial milk chocolates are fairly sweet with a consistent chocolate or chocolatey flavor; I would say this about both today's chocolates. Fun replicas and clever package design are the primary attributes with almost all chocolate games and toys I've found so far.

*Chocsimiles are chocolate facsimiles of people, animals, places or things.

Gamesformotion - Candy Land Chocolate Edition - Dec. 12, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Gamesformotion
Candy Land - Chocolate Edition
Good
Weight: .176 oz. (5 g.) / 5.4 oz. (154 g.) in total package
Calories: 26.5 calories (estimate) in 1 piece
Cost: $9.99 in total box/game
Purchased from: CVS Pharmacy, Mountain View, CA

Today was Day #2 of Chocolates in Toyland Theme Week.

Candy Land, a popular children's board game from Milton Bradley was a childhood favorite and chocolate was a favorite childhood flavor. Together, in today's chocsimile* of the board game from the mid-1900s, this novelty item evoked a certain amount of candy-sweet nostalgia.

Candy Land -- the Chocolate Edition -- consisted of a game board, 4 paper pawns, and 32 milk chocolates (two-sided playing "cards") that allow players to race around the board; and one golden trophy (round gold foil covered medallion).

Today's Candy Land game was made by Gamesformotion (in Deventer, Netherlands).
The company, through licensing agreements, also produces chocolate editions of other popular games, such as Monopoly, Trivial Pursuit, Twister, Scrabble, Pictionary, etc.

The milk chocolate square (inside a purple tile marked playing "card" wrapper) was eaten before I could advance to the next purple square on the board; but it was fun to play this game.

*A chocsimile is a chocolate facsimile of a person, animal, place or thing.