Carolina's Chocolate - Las Abuelas - rich chocolate with hints of raisin 78% Cacao & Pasilla Negra Chile (bar) - Mar. 21, 2026

Chocolate of the Day

Carolina's Chocolate
Las Abuelas - rich chocolate with hints of raisin 78% Cacao & Pasilla Negra Chile (bar)
Good ++
Weight: 1.5 oz. (42.5 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) in total bar
Calories: 225 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $9.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: AJ's Market, Scottsdale, AZ

Bienvenidas a (welcome to) Day #5 of Chocolate & Mexico Theme Week.

Today's Las Abuelas (the grandmothers) rich chocolate with hints of raisin 78% Cacao & Pasilla Negra Chile (bar) was from Carolina's Chocolate (Mesa, AZ).

Carolina pays tribute to her two grandmothers with this chocolate and others she makes. 

Aroma and flavor notes for today's bar included: smooth textured and smooth tasting dark chocolate, slightly savory chilies and subtle warm spice (vanilla).

I enjoyed the authentic, balanced chili and cacao flavors. It reminded me of rustic, stoneground chocolate with chilies and spices that you might find in Mexico -- only more finely ground into a very smooth dark chocolate bar form.

Ingredients: Cacao, Pure Cane Sugar, Cocoa Butter, Sunflower Lecithin, Vanilla, Pasilla Negra and Ancho Chili.

Allergen-related information: Produced in a facility that processes tree nuts.

Ladera Foods - Chocolate Almond Granola - March 23, 2019

Chocolate of the Day:

Ladera Foods
Chocolate Almond Granola
Good+
Weight: 1.06 oz. (30 g.) / 11 oz. (312 g.) in total package
Calories: 130 calories in 1 serving
Cost: $6.99 for 1 package
Purchased from: Safeway, Palo Alto, CA

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

Today's Chocolate Almond Granola was made by Ladera Foods (San Mateo, CA).

It was sweet and chocolate-y, and the oats and almonds helped balance this sweetness out. The maker claims that at 4 grams of sugar (per 1/4 cup serving), the granola contained "40% less (sugar) than leading brands." We believe it. Granolas can be very sweet.*

Note the position of the brown sugar in the ingredients list (below). It's much further down the list. Ingredients: whole grain oats, slivered almonds, maple syrup, olive oil, cocoa powder, brown sugar and salt. It had a light crunchiness and texture, and rich flavor to it.

*Today's granola was based on a family recipe; and their offering is created in the San Francisco Bay Area. Most granola cereals/snacks are oat-based.

When we grew up in the Bay Area, a family we knew had developed their own recipe they developed in 1968 for a three-ingredient granola (oats, butter and brown sugar). 

Their dad lightly stirred these three ingredients together in a frying pan on the stove. Their kitchen smelled like oatmeal cookies. Today's granola is likely healthier without the butter. However, we're also glad our first taste of granola was imbued with good memories from a friend's kitchen, where most granolas were based on homemade recipes as well.

Wallick Family Bourbon Balls - Dec. 29, 2016

Chocolate of the Day: 

Wallick Family Bourbon Balls
Good +
Weight: 1.3 oz. (37 g.) (estimate) in 3 pieces
Calories: 189 calories (estimate) in 3 pieces
Cost: $N/A - holiday gift
Purchased from: N/A - holiday gift; thank you Trudi!

Welcome to Day #6 of Spirited Chocolate Week.

The holidays are linked in my mind with traditional family recipes, ones that have been handed down for generations. Today's Wallick Family Bourbon Balls originated from such a recipe.

Thank you Trudi Wallick-Horrocks for not only keeping your family recipe for Bourbon Balls alive, but also creating a gluten-free version. (Many recipes call for crushed vanilla wafers; these Bourbon Balls were made using gluten-free wafers.)

As soon as I un-screwed the Ball jar that held these balls, my nose was greeted with a strong authentic bourbon aroma. These cocoa confections, given an extra sparkle after being rolled in sugar, were flavorful, soft, and slightly lighter in weight and texture than one might expect. And they were perfect for the holidays.