ChocolateBet: March 25, 2011

Chocolate of the Day:
1 package
Just Born, Inc.
Peeps - Dark Chocolate Covered Marshmallow Peep
Good +
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.)
Calories: 120 calories
Cost: $0.75
Purchased from: Walgreens, in San Pablo, CA

Peeps! A springtime tradition. Walgreens was stocked with rows of little pink, green and blue marshmallow chicks. Today's Dark Chocolate Covered Marshmallow treat was filled with sweet, yellow marshmallow chick filling. 

ChocolateBet: March 24, 2011

Chocolate of the Day:
2 pieces
Trader Joe's
Dark Chocolate Roasted Pistachio Toffee
Good + - Very Good
Weight: 1.16 oz. (33 g.) / 7.5 oz. (212 g.) total container
Calories: 180 calories
Cost: $3.99 total
Purchased from: Trader Joe's, in Mountain View, CA

Today was Day #7 of Chocolate and Nuts Theme Week. Trader Joe's has a nice selection of chocolate items in their stores that I've visited. These dark chocolate pieces were rich and sweet with crunchy roasted green pistachio pieces outside and golden toffee inside. So, thank you to the chocolate/candy buyers at the company's Monrovia, CA, headquarters -- or wherever this group might be located -- for making such a wide variety of good chocolates available over the years.

ChocolateBet: March 23, 2011

Chocolate(s) of the Day:

1 package
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (distributed by)
Great Value Indulgent Trail Mix
Good - Good+
Weight: 2 oz. (57 g.) (sold in package of 8)
Calories: 300 calories in 1 package
Cost: $ --
Purchased from: Wal-Mart, in American Canyon, CA

Today was Day #6 of Chocolate and Nut Theme Week. Some school friends and I used to make our own trail mix. Many interesting things were thrown into a bag, without any measuring. But, the common denominator in my trail mixes seemed to be nuts and chocolate-containing items, and dried apricots (since they were grown locally and widely available).

Now pre-packaged trail mixes are easy to find, such as today's Great Value Indulgent Trail Mix, that contained "white chocolatey" drops, chocolate drops, peanut butter drops, almonds, peanuts, cashews, golden raisins and cranberries.  I found these at a Wal-Mart, while I was out taking a hike on the San Francisco Bay Trail a few months back. There were 8 small bags packaged together in a cardboard box, plenty to last for several hikes, with enough leftover to pour into a cocktail glass and enjoy later.

I also tried a second mix. Details below.

1 serving
Trader Joe's (distributed by)
Nuts About Raspberries and Chocolate Trek Mix
Good +
Weight: 1.1 oz. (30 g.) serving/ 12 oz. (340 g.) total bag
Calories: 150 calories in 1 serving
Cost: $3.99 total bag
Purchased from: Trader Joe's in Mountain View, CA

Later in the day, I enjoyed 1 serving (see second cocktail glass) of Nuts About Raspberries and Chocolate Trek Mix, distributed by Trader Joe's. This bag of (Kosher) mix contained peanuts, almonds, raspberries, and Belgian chocolate chips. It was not quite as sweet (or caloric); and it was quite good.

So, whether you are trekking, hitting a trail somewhere, or just relaxing, I hope you enjoy whatever mix you're in.

ChocolateBet: March 22, 2011

Chocolate of the Day:
1 piece
See's Candies
Maple Walnut - Dark Chocolate
Good + - Very Good
Weight: .6 oz. (17 g.) / 16 oz. (454 g.) total box
Calories: 80 calories for 1 piece
Cost: $16.60 for a dark chocolate 1 lb. assortment box
Purchased from: Park Pharmacy, in El Sobrante, CA

Today was the fifth day of a Chocolate and Nut Theme Week. When I bought this 1 pound assortment box of dark chocolates (part of a fund-raising effort), I figured there must be some chocolate and nut candies inside that I hadn't tried yet. And there was at least one -- a Maple Walnut piece with a buttercream and English Walnut filling, covered in dark chocolate.

Since there was no piece of paper or "legend" explaining what different chocolates were, I had to eat a few (not reflected here) first to discover this one. When we had a box of See's Candies in my family's house where I grew up, siblings (who will go unnamed) often cheated and punched holes in the bottom of chocolates to determine flavors. A little guide would be helpful here; and it makes me wonder why one was not included. Perhaps every box is a little different.

See's is based in South San Francisco, CA, and makes a variety of chocolates, using real butter and cream. The tagline on the box reassures me that See's Candies are "A Happy Habit." OK, I'll buy that.

ChocolateBet: March 21, 2011

Chocolate of the Day:
1 bar
Organic Nectars
Nut 'Milk' Chocolate - Raw Cacao Bar
Good + - Very Good
Weight: 1.4 oz. (40 g.)
Calories: 230 calories
Cost: $ (no info)
Purchased from: (no info)


Today was Day #4 of Chocolate and Nut Theme Week.

The Organic Nectars Nut 'Milk' Chocolate Raw Cacao Bar was dairy free, vegan, USDA Organic, and contained no gluten or soy. The nut milk bar was made with organic coconut palm sugar and raw organic cashews, and remained very fresh tasting after even a few months in my chocolate vault.

This bar was eaten on the go, on the way to take a nice long walk in a park by the San Francisco Bay.

ChocolateBet: March 20, 2011

Chocolate of the Day:
1 piece
Hawaiian Host
Chocolate Covered Macadamia Nuts (Milk Chocolate)
Good
Weight: .357 oz. (10 g.)/ 5 oz. (142 g.) total box of 14 pieces
Calories: 57 calories
Cost: N/A - gift from mom and dad
Purchased from: N/A - gift from mom and dad

Happy first day of Spring to you all.

One of the best things about a Hawaiian Host box of (Milk) Chocolate Covered Macadamia Nuts is the bright, sunny cover with the tropical flowers and palm tree silhouettes. I say this because it's been gray and stormy here this past week (see clouds above my umbrella, at right). I'll take all the island sunshine I can get.

Overshare for the day: Chew chocolate and nut pieces (and raw carrots) thoroughly. And while doing so, avoid talking or being around someone who's telling jokes that make you suddenly inhale or laugh.

Today was Day #3 of Chocolate and Nuts Theme Week.

ChocolateBet: March 19, 2011

Chocolate of the Day:
1 piece
Cocoa Pete's
Nuts So Serious
Good +
Weight: .625 oz. (17.6 g.)/ 2.5 oz. (70.7 g.) total 4 piece bar
Calories: 94 calories (estimate)
Cost: $ not known
Purchased from: not known

Today was Day #2 of Chocolate and Nuts Theme Week, and Cocoa Pete's hazelnut butter, pistachio and milk chocolate creation -- dubbed Nuts So Serious -- was pulled from my chocolate vault just for this very occasion.

Here are some nuts so serious photos of this product, including one piece doing a wheelie (top right), a box/bar being juggled, and a box/bar on a cat.