Kad Kokoa - Andaman Blue (bar) - Nov. 15, 2023

Chocolate of the Day

Kad Kokoa 
Andaman Blue (bar)
Good +
Weight: .97 oz. (27.5 g.) / 1.94 oz. (55 g.) in total bar
Calories: 165 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $13.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Chocolate Covered, San Francisco, CA

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

Kad Kokoa - Andaman Blue

Today's Andaman Blue (bar) was from Kad Kokoa (Bangkok, Thailand). This bean-to-bar maker is dedicated to offering chocolates made with local (Thai grown) cacao beans, including some bars with Thai-inspired flavor inclusions.

This blue-gray hued (white) chocolate was a tribute to the beautiful, blue Andaman Sea--located west of Thailand.

Aroma notes for this bar included: sweet white chocolate, seed/grain (rice, very faint sesame*), faint coconut milk, and very faint botanical (green). 

The relatively smooth bar had a slightly grainy texture (finely ground toasted rice).

Flavor notes included: white chocolate, subtle coconut milk, rice (mostly textural), and a very faint green note (perhaps the blue spirulina, used for coloration). Overall it had a relatively gentle, sweet flavor, in part due to the absence of cocoa solids.

Nature's Organic Ice Cream - Chocolate Chocolate Chip 

Later, to ensure I had a daily dose of cocoa solids, I enjoyed a scoop of Chocolate Chocolate Chip ice cream from Nature's Organic Ice Cream (Fremont, CA), and a small handful of Thai spiced peanuts.

This local northern California, San Francisco Bay Area-based ice cream maker offers a few exotic southeast Asian and floral flavors as well. They offer high-quality ice cream flavors (dairy and non-dairy options) that don't contain extra additives (e.g. gums or carrageenan). (Thank you!) They also use organic ingredients in this chocolate flavor.

Ingredients: Cocoa Butter, Coconut Milk Powder, White Sugar, Toasted Rice, Blue Spirulina

Allergen-related information: "Made in a facility that handles nuts, dairy, and gluten."

*There was no sesame in this chocolate. Like many tasters (think wine, coffee, craft beer tasting), I may smell or taste things that may activate sense memories, or detect substances that are similar to, but don't reflect exact/literal ingredients. People have different memories and abilities in what they taste, so your experience may differ from mine.

Bubbies - Cookie Dough Ice Cream Bites - Aug. 20, 2022

Chocolate of the Day 

Bubbies

Cookie Dough Ice Cream Bites 

Good ++

Weight: 2.68 oz. (76 g.) / 8 oz. (228 g.) in total package/box of 6

Calories: 260 calories in 2 pieces

Cost: $3.99 for 1 box of 6 pieces

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

Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate and Rice Theme Week, and Day #1 of Chocolate and Hawaii Theme Week.

Today's Cookie Dough Ice Cream Bites (frozen dessert bites consisting of vanilla chocolate chip ice cream inside a rice-based cookie dough) were manufactured by Bubbies Hawaii (Bubbies Homemade Ice Cream and Desserts Inc.). The company is based in Phoenix, AZ, but got its start making ice cream in Hawaii in 1985.

These bites had a satisfyingly complex melt and texture. The outer rice dough was firm yet pliable--a well-executed rich cookie dough with some of the pillowy, springy-chewy mochi texture one finds in frozen mochi desserts.

The cold, creamy vanilla chocolate chip ice cream interior blended well with the cookie dough exterior. The taste resembled a frozen ice cream cookie sandwich, but with a more cohesive and conveniently pliable cookie component--a design that prevented sudden rupture and dribble ice cream confection accidents.

Ingredients: Cookie dough (rice flour, butter, brown sugar, tapioca syrup, chocolate flakes [sugar, unsweetened chocolate, cocoa butter, whole milk powder, milkfat, natural vanilla flavor], sweetened condensed milk [milk, cane sugar], cane sugar, xanthan gum, vanilla extract, sunflower oil, natural flavor). Vanilla ice cream (ice cream mix [nonfat milk, cream, cane sugar, locust bean gum, guar gum], chocolate chips [sugar, unsweetened chocolate, cocoa butter, dextrose], egg yolk, vanilla extract).

 

Allergen-related information: Contains milk, eggs. Produced in a facility that processes peanuts, tree nuts, and soy. 

 

Yasso - Coffee Chocolate Chip Frozen Greek Yogurt (bars) - July 14, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Yasso, Inc. 
Coffee Chocolate Chip - Frozen Greek Yogurt (bars)
Good ++
Weight: 3.5 fl. oz. (103 mL) / 14 fl. oz. (414 mL) in total package of 4 bars
Calories: 100 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $5.50 (2 for $11.00) for 1 package/box of 4 bars
Purchased from: Safeway, Mountain View, CA

Yasso, Inc.
Coffee Poppables - Naturally Flavored Frozen Greek Yogurt
Good ++
Weight: .68 fl. oz. (20 mL) / 4.08 fl. oz. (120 mL) in total package of 6
Calories: 50 calories in 1 piece
Cost: $5.50 (2 for $11.00) for 1 package of 6 pieces
Purchased from: Safeway, Mountain View, CA

Welcome to Day #13 of Chocolate and Coffee Theme Week, and Happy Bastille Day* to all who celebrate this holiday. Summer weather has prompted a series of items this week from the frozen/ice cream sections of local stores.

Today's Coffee Chocolate Chip Naturally Flavored Frozen Greek Yogurt (bars) and Coffee Poppables were manufactured for Yasso, Inc. (Boulder, CO). The company produces a line of frozen snacks including bars (plain and chocolate covered), ice cream-style sandwiches and poppables.

Coffee Chocolate Chip bar

The frozen coffee bar had a light coffee/mocha scent, an easy melt and creamy texture. An authentic coffee flavor lingered into the finish. The generous smattering of small chocolate chips had just the right melt and accessible chocolate flavor. (The chips were neither too hard or waxy, nor too soft). 

Coffee Poppable

The second yogurt treat--a dome-shaped, frozen Coffee "Poppable"--had more textural contrast than the Coffee bar. It had a thin, softly crunchy outer dark chocolate shell (with just the right texture), a creamy coffee frozen yogurt interior, and some crispy quinoa bits. 

At 50 calories a pop, these were a relative caloric bargain.

Both these Yasso coffee + chocolate greek yogurt treats ("ice cream upgraded") were creamy, appealing and sweet, without being too sugary. 

Coffee Chocolate Chip (bar) Ingredients: Nonfat milk, greek yogurt (nonfat milk, ultrafiltered nonfat milk, cultures), sugar, chocolate flavored chip (powdered sugar (sugar, cornstarch), coconut oil, cocoa processed with alkali, cocoa, soy lecithin, vanilla extract), milk protein concentrate, maltodextrin, cream, coffee extract, locust bean gum, guar gum, natural flavor.

Allergen-related information: "Contains milk and soy." "Processed in a facility that uses tree nuts, eggs, peanuts and wheat."

Coffee Poppables Ingredients: Nonfat milk, dark chocolate flavored coating (coconut oil, sugar, cocoa powder processed with alkali, chocolate liquor, soybean oil, soy lecithin, vanilla extract), sugar, greek yogurt (nonfat milk, ultrafiltered nonfat milk, cultures), cream, milk protein concentrate, crisp quinoa, maltodextrin, coffee extract, locust bean gum, guar gum, natural flavor.

Allergen-related information: "Contains milk and soy." "Processed in a facility that uses tree nuts, eggs, peanuts, and wheat."

*Bastille Day, also known as French National Day (La Fete Nacional), is a holiday celebrated in France and many of its territories, to commemorate the storming of the Bastille (prison) on July 14, 1789. This event is often cited as a turning point in the French Revolution. Similar to the 4th of July (Independence Day) in the U.S., this public holiday is often celebrated with fireworks in the evening.

Base Culture - Chocolate Chip Brookie - Apr. 4, 2022

Chocolate of the Day

Base Culture
Chocolate Chip Brookie
Good +
Weight: 2 oz. (57 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 250 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $0.99 (sale) for 1 bar
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #11 of Chocolate Snacks Theme Week. 

Today's "Chocolate Chip Brookie" was manufactured by Base Culture, LLC (Clearwater, FL). The company offers a variety of gluten-free, grain-free and "pure paleo" products.

This refrigerated, gluten-free, snack (with 5 g. of protein and made with paleo ingredients) was part cookie and part brownie bar--thus the name "brookie".

The square-shaped snack had a baked brownie and chocolate chip cookie aroma when opened, and featured the textures and flavors of both treats. 

The texture of this brookie was satisfying/substantial and relatively soft and moist (given it was bought in the freezer section). 

Overall, this combination snack was clever, tasty and relatively complex--with layered flavors. Some bites had more brownie flavor, and other bites tasted more like chocolate chip (cookie). I also could pick out some cacao flavors (faint earthiness in the dark chocolate, from either the brownie batter portion and/or the chocolate chips). 

And, last but not least, this honey-sweetened snack was not overly sweet (thank you!).

Ingredients: Honey, eggs, cashew butter, unsweetened chocolate, coconut flour, coconut oil, soluble tapioca fiber, coconut sugar, almond butter, tapioca flour, cocoa powder, vanilla extract, sea salt, baking soda.

Allergen-related information: "Contains egg, almond, cashew, coconut. Manufactured in a facility that also processes: pecans. May contain nut shells, pieces or bits."

Haagen-Dazs - Heaven Cold Brew Espresso Chip Ice Cream + Coconut Cones - Oct. 30, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Haagen-Dazs 
Heaven Collection - Cold Brew Espresso Chip Light Ice Cream
Good + 
Weight: 1/3 cup (60 g.) / 14 fl. oz. (414 mL) in total container
Calories: 110 calories in 1/3 cup serving (1/2 suggested serving)
Cost: $1.99 for 1 container
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Sprouts Farmers Market
Coconut Cones 
Good ++
Weight: .636 oz. (18 g.) / 5 oz. (144 g.) in total package/box of 8 cones
Calories: 90 calories in 1 cone 
Cost: $3.99 for 1 package of 8 cones
Purchased from: Sprouts Farmers Market, Mountain View, CA

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate and Waffle Theme Week, including several waffle (ice cream) cone-related chocolates.

Today's Haagen-Dazs* Cold Brew Espresso Chip Light Ice Cream was part of the company's* "Heaven Collection" (with approximately half the fat, and lower calories). 

Typically low-fat or low-calorie ice creams contain extra ingredients, such as one or more vegetable gums. Thankfully this light ice cream flavor did not. (Haagen-Dazs has, historically, offered high-quality ice creams with shorter ingredient lists.)

This espresso ice cream had a creamy texture and relatively subtle roasted coffee and chocolate chip flavors. 

Ingredients: Ultra-filtered skim milk, skim milk, cream, tapioca syrup, cane sugar, chocolate (cane sugar, unsweetened chocolate, cocoa butter, milkfat, soy lecithin, vanilla extract), egg yolks, coconut oil, coffee, Vitamin A palmitate. 

Allergen-related information: "Contains milk, egg and soy ingredients" 

Coconut Cones
I paired today's ice cream with some great-tasting, waffle-style ice cream cones. These gluten free and dairy free Coconut Cones were made in Thailand and sold in the U.S. under the Sprouts Farmers Market label.

The cone was large enough to fill with the Haagen-Dazs Coffee Chip ice cream along with (on top of) a layer of toasted walnut pieces, toasted coconut chips + dark chocolate pieces. 

I loved the short ingredient list (see below) for these honeycomb patterned waffle-style cones, as well as the crispy texture and authentic coconut (milk and sugar) taste. For a (gluten-free) ice cream cone, it had surprisingly delicious, rich flavor. 

There were no vegetable gums, stabilizers or other extraneous ingredients. (And thanks to very secure packaging, not one cone was broken.)

Ingredients: Coconut milk (extracted from coconut meat), rice flour, coconut sugar, egg, sea salt.

Allergen-related information: "Contains: tree nuts (coconut), egg."

*Haagen-Dazs was once an independent company. Pillsbury bought Haagen-Dazs back in 1983. Later, in 1999, Pillsbury merged with Nestle. According to a Reuters news story (in 2019), Nestle owns the rights to Haagen-Dazs in the U.S., while General Mills sells the brand "in non-U.S. markets." This ice cream was listed as being distributed by "Nestle Dreyer's Ice Cream Company" in Oakland, California.

Note: For waffle cone fans, Haagen-Dazs also offered (at the time of this write-up) a Strawberry Waffle Cone flavor as part of their Heaven Collection (with "chocolatey cone pieces"). I would have gladly featured this flavor today, the waffle cone pieces contained wheat (this flavor was not gluten-free).

Graeter's - Black Raspberry Chocolate Chip Ice Cream - Aug. 27, 2021

Chocolate of the Day

Graeter's Ice Cream Co. 
Black Raspberry Chocolate Chip Ice Cream
Good +
Weight: 2/3 cup (144 g.) / 1 Pint (473 mL) in total container
Calories: 390 calories in 2/3 cup serving
Cost: $8.49 for 1 container
Purchased from: Piazza's, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #5 of Cold Chocolate Theme Week, featuring frozen and refrigerated items with chocolate.

Today's Black Raspberry Chocolate Chip Ice Cream is from Graeter's Ice Cream Co. (Cincinnati, OH). 

The family-owned company's origins stretch back five generations to 1870. They still use a "French Pot Process" where small batches are made in small, very cold pots (and stirred by hand with a paddle, if the picture on the website is correct).

I have fond childhood memories of eating black raspberry chocolate chip ice cream in the back yard in the summer. So, I may be biased. I really enjoyed this version--made with real black raspberries grown in Oregon's Willamette Valley. (The company cites today's flavor as their "signature" and "most beloved" flavor.)

Tart sweet, dark berry flavor (and lovely dark berry color) harmonized with a sweet creamy base (cream is the first ingredient listed) and dark chocolate chips that were dark enough to create a pleasing, satisfying contrast.

Ingredients: Cream, milk, cane sugar, black raspberry puree, chocolate chips (sugar, chocolate liquor processed with alkali, cocoa butter, expeller-pressed non-GMO soy oil, milk fat, soy lecithin, natural flavors), skim milk, eggs, carob bean gum, guar gum, citric acid.

Allergen-related information: "Contains milk, egg, and soy." "Gluten Free" and "Star D (dairy) Kosher Certified"

Sejoyia Foods - Coco-Roons, Chocolate Chip - Apr. 7, 2020

Chocolate of the Day: 

Sejoyia Foods
Coco-Roons Chewy Cookie Bites
Chocolate Chip
Good
Weight: 3 oz. (85 g.) in 1 package
Calories: 455 calories in 1 package
Cost: $1.99 for 1 package
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's Chocolate Chip Coco-Roons (Chewy Cookie Bites) were from Sejoyia Foods (Louisville, CO).

Certified Gluten-Free, Organic, Paleo, Kosher and Non-GMO Project Verified, these chewy vegan coconut bites were studded with chocolate chips and had a certain freshness and buttery fruitiness about them. The fresh taste was aided by sturdy, sealed (and re-sealable) packaging.

Ground cashews provided a bit of light nuttiness and protein balance to the blend. And small doses of maple syrup, vanilla and sea salt rounded out these bites, making them satisfying and not too sweet (thank you!).

Coconut was the featured flavor (these bites contained coconut, coconut sugar and extra virgin coconut oil); however, the natural coconut flavors were not overwhelming.

Ingredients: Organic Coconut, Organic Cashews, Organic Coconut Sugar, Organic Maple Syrup, Organic Unsweetened Chocolate, Organic Natural Vanilla Flavor, Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil, Sea Salt.

Bobo's Chocolate Chip Oat Bar - Feb. 4, 2020

Chocolate of the Day: 

Bobo's
Chocolate Chip Oat Bar
Good
Weight: 3 oz. (85 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 340 calories in 1 bar (2 servings)
Cost: $ missing information
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's Bobo's Chocolate Chip Oat Bar was from Simply Delicious, Inc. (Boulder, CO).

This hearty, gluten free, vegan and Non-GMO bar was chock full of oats.* The bar could be split in half and shared, with plenty for each recipient to sink their teeth into.

The texture was relatively soft and chewy; it was sweet without being overpoweringly so (thank you); and chocolate chips added some micro bursts rich chocolate flavor.

*Ingredients: Organic whole grain rolled oats, brown rice syrup, organic coconut oil, organic cane sugar, chocolate chips (sugar, chocolate liquor, cocoa butter, vanilla extract), vegetable glycerin, salt, xanthan gum, vanilla extract, vitamin E (for freshness).  

Enlightened - Cold Brew Coffee Chip ice cream bars - May 24, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Beyond Better Foods, LLC
Enlightened Cold Brew Coffee Chip bars
Good
Weight: 3.75 fl. oz. (110 mL) (70 g.) in 1 bar / 15 fl. oz. (440 mL) in box of 4 bars
Calories: 90 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $3.79 for 1 box of 4 bars
Purchased from: Piazza's Fine Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate, Coffee and Vanilla Theme Week, and Day #1 of Chocolate and Flowers Theme Week.

Today's Enlightened Cold Brew Coffee Chip frozen bars were manufactured for Beyond Better Foods LLC (Bronx, NY). Small espresso chips with a hint of chocolate were embedded in a smooth coffee ice cream base.

This cool, frozen bar had a mild coffee-mocha flavor without a lot of chocolate to it. (In fact, the second entry for today was a 70% cacao chocolate bar with rose and vanilla (see post that follows this one). And this second bean-to-bar chocolate entry supplies the chocolate and vanilla flavors that are less present with this ice cream bar while providing a segue into a chocolate and flowers theme week.)

The Quest for a Lighter, Better Ice Cream
The Enlightened Cold Brew Coffee ice cream bar exemplified the perennial quest of suppliers to come up with good tasting, yet somehow healthier//better ice cream. In fact the tagline for today's bars read: "The Good-For-You Ice Cream."

Recent iterations of light ice cream often have more protein, fiber and less sugar. A step in the right direction (or back to basics) one might conclude—even if the ingredients* list is quite long.

One of today's bars contained 7 grams of protein and only 5 grams of sugar (plus erythritol and monkfruit extract). And, if one is counting calories, this bar contained only 90 calories in 1 bar.

*Ingredients: Skim milk, milk protein isolate, erythritol (natural sweetener), non-GMO soluble corn fiber, coffee, cream, cane sugar. Contained 2 percent or less of vegetable glycerin, dutched cocoa, coconut oil, carob gum, guar gum, mono and diglycerides, monk fruit extract, natural flavor, ghee, corn starch, soy lecithin

Cosmik Ice Cream - Mexican Chocolate Chip - Jan. 1, 2019

Chocolate of the Day: 

Cosmik LLC
Cosmik Ice Cream - Mexican Chocolate Chip
Good

Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) in 1 bar/serving

Calories: 155 calories in 1 bar/serving 

Cost: $4.95 for 1 package

Purchased from: REI, Mountain View, CA 

Happy New Year, and welcome to the first day of 2019—and Day #7 of Crunchy Chocolate Theme Week.

Which organic, chocolate confections are most ready to eat and ready for adventure? Given that chocolate is a great food for explorers of all types, that may be a tough question to answer. Less messy are more portable are often criteria when choosing chocolate on the go.

Today's Mexican Chocolate Chip freeze-dried ice cream from Cosmik LLC (Margaretville, NY) certainly qualifies for consideration. This bar of premium, organic, freeze-dried ice cream had superior flavor and texture than previous freeze-dried ice creams we remember from ancient backpacking and camping trips. 

The freeze-dried ice cream* was, like its progenitors, sealed in an air-tight pouch to preserve freshness (and would be prone to breakage if heavier items were dropped upon it). However, the fresh cream and light chocolate and cinnamon notes signaled something better, especially in the embedded, flavor-rich small chocolate spiced chunks/chips.

This dessert was paired with "Crunchies" freeze-dried mixed fruit pieces (bananas, strawberries and blueberries) that also had a light airy crunch and natural flavors. It was a fairly cold, winter day; however, this festively cool dessert, strangely, helped keep us warm.

*Freeze-dried ice creams debuted in the later half of the 1900s, and were marketed to backpackers and hikers, and to those wanting to store food for long periods without refrigeration. In some cases, the resulting lightweight shards tasted more like foamed, dried sugar than ice cream. However, freeze-dried foods including ice creams, developed when men were first launched into space, were a novelty when they first appeared. And they reduce the weight of a backpack by several precious pounds during a long trek.

May all your 2019 adventures be sweet ones.

Munk Pack - Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip protein cookie - Nov. 29, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

Munk Pack Inc.
Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip protein cookie
Good +
Weight: 2.96 oz. (84 g.) in total cookie
Calories: 360 calories in 1 cookie
Cost: $2.99 for 1 cookie
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #6 of Cookies with Chocolate Theme Week.

Today's vegan, gluten free breakfast included this Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip soft-baked, protein (18 grams) cookie from Munk Pack Inc. (Greenwich, CT). The addition of peanut butter gave this cookie a delicious, sweet nutty flavor.

This Bar Saves Lives - Chocolate Chip bar - July 30, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

The Bar Saves Lives
(This Kid Saves Lives)
Chocolate Chip bar
Good
Weight: 1.1 oz. (32 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 130 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $1.00 for 2 bars
Purchased from: Grocery Outlet Bargain Market, Palo Alto, CA

Welcome to Day #9 of Chocolate Chip Week.

Just when we were ready to move on to Costa Rica Theme Week, we stumbled on another chocolate chip item. Often happens. As we live in an abundant chocolate world.

Today's Chocolate Chip with a cause* bar was from This Bar Saves Lives (Culver City, CA). It was a chewy, granola-style bar with mini chocolate chips, and coated with chocolate on one side.

*The company is helping to combat childhood malnutrition with small nutrition packs that can be given to children and families in need in Haiti and Africa.

Enlightened - Black Cherry Chocolate Chip ice cream - July 29, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

Beyond Better Foods, LLC

Enlightened 

Black Cherry Chocolate Chip ice cream 

Good

Weight: 1/2 cup (72 g.) / 1 Pint (473 mL) in total container

Calories: 90 calories in 1/2 cup serving

Cost: $2.99 for 1 container

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

Welcome to Day #8 of Chocolate Chip Week.

Today's Enlightened Black Cherry Chocolate Chip ice cream, from Beyond Better Foods, LLC (Bronx, NY), was part of a line of low-fat ice cream pints and bars containing less sugar and more protein and fiber. Today's pint clocked in at only 360 calories (90 calories per 1/2 cup serving).

Granted, the list of ingredients was longer than some other favorite brands, but it could have been worse. Except for the carob and guar gums it looked relatively appealing. And, did I mention it included less sugar?*

The texture, taste and finish of this ice cream was quite good.

*That's a plus. It would be interesting to taste ice cream without any sweeteners. This ice cream was sweetened with erythritol and a wee bit of cane sugar.

Nature's Path Foods - Dark Chocolate Chip waffles - July 28, 2018

Chocolate of the Day:

Nature's Path Foods Inc.
Dark Chocolate Chip Gluten Free and Wheat Free (waffles)
Good
Weight: 3.7 oz. (105 g.) / 7.4 oz. (210 g.) total box of 6
Calories: 330 calories in 3 waffles
Cost: $4.99 (estimate) for 1 box of 6
Purchased from: missing information

Welcome to Day #7 of Chocolate Chip Week.

Today's (frozen) Dark Chocolate Chip Gluten Free waffles from Nature's Path Foods Inc. (Blaine, WA) made for an indulgent Saturday morning breakfast.*

Heated in a non-stick pan, and finished with a topping of melted chocolate (sauce), chopped almonds (and fresh peach slices on the side), these organic waffles provided a quick, delicious breakfast fuel for an adventure with friends.

*Apologies to Nature's Path. This box was squished into a full freezer; and, sadly, the box became a bit compressed at both ends.

Bart's Bakery - Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies - July 25, 2018

Chocolate of the Day:

Bart's Bakery

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Good +

Weight: 1.13 oz. (32 g.) / 6 oz. (170 g.) in total box

Calories: 132 calories in 8 cookies

Cost: $4.99 (estimate) for 1 box of approx. 45 cookies

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

Welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate Chip Week.

Today's Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies from Bart's Bakery (Los Angeles, CA) were part of a larger product line described as "Bart and Judy's The Best Chocolate Chip Cookies in the World."

These small cookies were relatively light and crispy-crunchy with a light peanut butter and chocolate touch. They were made with real butter, fresh eggs, "Bart and Judy's Proprietary Gluten Free Flour Blend" and Belgian chocolate chips.

At only "11 calories each" these provide a relatively light cookie snack. The box contained two individually-sealed packets, permitting smaller servings while prolonging freshness.

Larabar - Limited Edition Strawberry Chocolate Chip bar - April 7, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

Small Planet Foods, Inc.
Limited Edition Larabar Strawberry Chocolate Chip bar
Good+
Weight: 1.6 oz. (45 g.) / 8 oz. (226 g.) in total box of 5 bars
Calories: 190 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $3.99 (estimate) for 1 box of 5 bars
Purchased from: Target Stores, Mountain View, CA

Welcome to Day #6 of Chocolate and Strawberry Theme Week.

Today's Larabar Limited Edition Strawberry Chocolate Chip bar from Small Planet Foods, Inc. (Minneapolis, MN) was constructed with a relatively short list of ingredients: Dates, Almonds, Semisweet Chocolate Chips, Strawberries, Apples, Cocoa Powder and Sea Salt.

The original Larabar fruit and nut bar line was launched in May 2000 by founder Lara Merriken.

Natural tasting, not too sweet and very satisfying, this gluten-free, dairy-free, Non-GMO and vegan bar had balanced, rich dried fruit, cocoa and strawberry flavor.

Living Raw - Power Mint Patty - Chocolate Chip - March 19, 2018

Chocolate of the Day: 

Living Raw

Power Mint Patty - Chocolate Chip

Good + 

Weight: .84 oz. (24 g.) in total bar

Calories: 140 calories in 1 package 

Cost: $3.29 for 1 package

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

Welcome to Day #10 of Chocolate and Mint Theme Week.

Today's PowerMint Patty (Chocolate Chip flavor) was from Living Raw (Franklin, TN).

This single patty was a variation on the PowerMint Patty (Original Dark flavor) featured two days ago, with slightly less chocolate and slightly more mint-infused "coconut butter" visible in the filling.

It was, like its PowerMint Patty sibling, sweetened with coconut sugar; vegan, paleo friendly, gluten free, dairy free and soy free; and was made using fair trade and Non GMO ingredients.

Know Foods - Chocolate Chip Donuts - Dec. 28, 2017

Chocolate of the Day: 

Know Foods
Know Better Donuts - Chocolate Chip
Good+
Weight: 2.66 oz. (76 g.) / 16 oz. (454 g.) in total package of 6
Calories: 200 calories in 1 donut (+ frosting)
Cost: $9.99 (estimate) for 1 package of 6 donuts
Purchased from: Draeger's Market, Los Altos, CA

Welcome to Day #9 of Chocolate, Holiday Spices and Maple Theme Week(s).

Today's Chocolate Chip Know Better Donut, from Know Foods (Atlanta, GA), looked a little lonely; so it received some homemade "frosting" (made of organic cream cheese, maple (syrup), cinnamon and spices).

This baked good looked like a cross between a bagel and a donut, and appeared to be far healthier than most donuts, even with a rich topping.

Know Foods is building a brand for itself based on products like these Know Better Donuts, billed as: "...natural, non-GMO, grain/gluten free*, high protein, high fiber, low carb and low sodium—and have a near zero sodium index..."

Other health stats of note:

• 8 grams of fiber per donut
• 12 grams of protein per donut
• 6 grams net carbs per donut

Sounds good. These donuts were made with almonds* instead of grains. And the donut tasted better than many gluten-free baked goods. It was substantial and, refreshingly, not too sweet. (It did use allulose, a relatively new sweetener that we know little about.)

The company used Enjoy Life ("vegan, soy, nut, dairy and GMO free") chocolate chips in these donuts, and has plans to incorporate their own chocolate chips in the future.

*Ingredients: water, almonds, chocolate chips (cane sugar, unsweetened chocolate, cocoa butter), apple puree, allulose, organic prebiotic fiber, flax seeds, dried egg whites, apple cider vinegar, organic coconut flour, chia seeds, organic flax flour, coconut oil, leavening (Potassium Bicarbonate), organic sea salt. Contains: egg and tree nuts