Mama Ganache Dark Chocolate Skull - Oct. 31, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Mama Ganache Artisan Chocolates
Fair Trade, Organic Dark Chocolate Skull
Good
Weight: .566 oz. (16 g.) / 1.7 oz. (48.11 g.) (estimate) for 1 skull
Calories: 84.9 calories (estimate) for 1/3 skull
Cost: $2.59 for 1 skull
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #6 of Chocolate, Date and/or Fig Theme Week -- and, more important, it was Halloween, an important "date" to celebrate -- eating chocolate.

And what better way to celebrate than an Organic, Dark Chocolate Skull from Mama Ganache (San Luis Obispo, CA) that called to mind Halloween as well as the Day of the Dead (El Dia de Los Muertos).

Made from rich, slightly earthy tasting, organic 70% dark chocolate, this skull was decorated with white chocolate eyes, and very straight, white chocolate teeth.

Halloween was also a good day for making spooky faces with bits of dried fruit and nuts. Pin these facial features on pumpkins, if you dare. Dates made great eyeballs, or little, fat "fingers." I enjoyed the date eyeballs today, with dried papaya and chocolate chips (for pupils). Piped cream cheese can also be used for the whites of the "eyes." Nothing fancy, just fun. 

John and Kira's - Chocolate Figs - Oct. 30, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

John and Kira's
Chocolate Figs
Very Good +
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 3 oz. (85 g.) total box of 6 figs
Calories: 135 calories (estimate) for 2 figs
Cost: $ N/A - part of larger "tower" (combination of boxes)
Purchased from: John and Kira's (online order)

Today was Day #5 of Chocolate, Date and/or Fig Theme Week.

Any dessert item that blends figs + chocolate + cream + whiskey (or sherry, or port) is one I'd hasten to try. (Add a pinch or either vanilla or cinnamon, and I might float away into the heavens momentarily.) So, no surprise, I loved these Chocolate Figs from John and Kira's (Philadelphia, PA).

The company started with imported, organic dried Calabacita (little pumpkin) figs from a small family farm in Spain, and filled them with a smooth chocolate, whiskey-infused dark chocolate (Valrhona) ganache (filling). The final step: figs were dipped up to their necks in 62% dark chocolate. Just two of these were surprisingly rich and satisfying and would make a great end-of-meal dessert.

JohnAndKiras.com

These pumpkin shaped chocolate figs also reminded me of all the pumpkins and carved jack-o-lanterns I've been seeing in my neighborhood this week. Tomorrow is Halloween, one of the biggest chocolate holidays of the year in the U.S. Happy Halloween Eve to all.

Note: John and Kira's was also selling a box of seasonal chocolate pumpkin caramels this month -- one option was to order a box of these in a coach (reminiscent of Cinderella's enchanted coach that turned into a pumpkin at midnight). Image at left, from John and Kira's website.

Kimmie - DateMe's chocolates - Oct. 29, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Kimmie Candy Company
DateMe's
OK+ - Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 2.7 oz. (76.5 g.) total container
Calories: 150 calories (estimate) in 1 oz. (28.3 g.) serving
Cost: $2.50 for 1 container
Purchased from: Visitors Center, Incline Village, NV

Today was Day #4 of Chocolate, Date and/or Fig Theme Week.

These DateMe's -- chocolatey covered, candy-coated, date pieces -- from Kimmie Candy Company (Reno, NV) were "Made in Nevada" proud. I bought these at a visitor's center in Lake Tahoe recently.

Gluten-free, these DateMe's were crunchy and crisp in a way that most wheat-free/wafer-free chocolate candy items usually aren't, which was nice. The dates provided a bit of extra fruity sweetness, making this candy a bit too sweet overall for me; however, this will be fine for some.

The glossy, beige rounds were attractively speckled with brown (like little round eggs), and might look attractive in a small serving dish, or an edible nest.

Portola Valley Girl Scouts - chocolate barks - Oct. 28, 2013

Chocolate(s) of the Day: 

Portola Valley Girl Scouts
Dark Chocolate bark with hazelnuts, figs, cranberries
Good
Weight: .33 oz. (9.43 g.) / 6 oz. (169.8 g.) for 2 bags
Calories: 50 calories (estimate) for .33 oz. serving (2 bites)
Cost: $6.00 for 2 bags (one dark chocolate, one white chocolate)
Purchased from: Portola Valley Girl Scouts, Portola Valley, CA

Today was Day #3 of Chocolate, Date and/or Fig Theme Week.

Recently, I attended a Bird Discovery Day in Portola Valley, CA. In addition to information and exhibits by the Audubon Society; live birds (a bald eagle from the Palo Alto Junior Museum and Zoo + chickens); bird coloring sheets; stuffed birds; and other interesting bird-related activities, the local Girl Scouts chapter were there selling treats.

The troop was selling marshmallow treats in the shape of tiny birds nests and bird eggs, cupcakes, cookies, and chocolate bark with nuts and dried fruits.

This evening I had a bit of the Scouts' homemade dark chocolate bark with hazelnuts, dried figs and cranberries, as well as a bite of their white chocolate bark with pistachios, dried apricots and cranberries. Both were colorful and fun.

Thank you Girl Scouts! I remember selling cookies many years ago when I was a young Scout. I hope you still receive merit badges for activities. I would have loved getting a badge for chocolate making. (I loved those merit badges.)

Moon Over Nigeria mix - Oct. 27, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Wild Mountain Raw Foods
Pocket Snacks - Moon Over Nigeria
Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) / 2 oz. (57 g.) in total package
Calories: 140 calories in 1/2 package
Cost: $3.99 for 1 package
Purchased from: Country Sun Natural Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #2 of Chocolate, Date and/or Fig Theme Week.

What is "Moon Over Nigeria" and what does it have to do with chocolate, dates or figs? A product moniker like this conjures up exotic imagery of moonlit evenings in foreign lands.

However, most of the ingredients in today's Pocket Snack blend from Wild Mountain Raw Foods (Gunnison, CO) originated closer to home. Organic sprouted sunflower seeds; organic figs; local raw honey; wild stinging nettles. Organic, raw bali cocoa powder and nibs, and cinnamon, added some rich flavor, warmth and international cachet to this mix.

The result: a crunchy, crumbly, mixture of natural ingredients that was a healthy, not-too-sweet snack to munch on during the day.

Also, for those restricting their wheat intake, suffering from a peanut allergy, or choosing a vegan diet, this snack was "processed in a gluten-free, peanut free, animal free facility."

NudeFood Chai bar - Oct. 26, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Crystal River Organics
NudeFood - Spicy Chocolate Chai bar
Good
Weight: 2.5 oz. (72 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 330 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $2.65 for 1 bar ($30 for 12-bar box)
Purchased from: Abe's Market (online order)

Today was Day #1 of Chocolate and Date/Fig Theme Week.

A generous dose of date syrup, organic chocolate chips, dates, tapioca syrup, and organic candied ginger made this NudeFood Spicy Chocolate Chai bar from Crystal River Organics (Boulder, CO)  moist, chewy and very sweet.

A "Hanuman" chai spice blend included ginger, cardamom, turmeric, saffron and other spices. Cinnamon, vanilla, sea salt, and other spices helped round out the blend.

Madre Chocolate - Cinnamon Mac nut spread - Oct. 25, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Madre Chocolate
Cinnamon Daddy Mactella spread
Good + - Very Good
Weight: .5 oz. (14.1 g.) / 3.9 oz. (109 g.) total jar
Calories: 75 calories (estimate)
Cost: $11.99 for 1 (4 oz.) jar
Purchased from: Madre Chocolate (online order)

Today was Day #7 of Chocolate and Cinnamon Theme Week.

This flavorful Cinnamon Daddy Mactella spread, created by Madre Chocolate (Oahu, HI), came straight from Hawaii -- and was made from Hawaiian Hamakua cacao; Kona organic cinnamon; Kona macadamia nuts; and Hawaiian vanilla and sea salt. A bit of hazelnut oil enhanced the mild nutty taste from the ground mac nuts.

The chocolate base flavor was strong and pure and wasn't drowned out by too much sugar -- a big plus when you have quality chocolate with complex, bold fruit/acid notes that kick in after the first bite begins to melt in your mouth.

This spread would be delicious in a flaky pastry, as a ganache/filling, or on a piece of toast. However, I can envision many other uses*. Just eating a spoonful, a la carte, now and then would be pleasant as well. Aloha.

Other suggestions on Madre Chocolate site: warm slightly and use on vanilla pannacotta or ice cream; use as a cake filling.