ChocolateBet: May 1, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:

1 bar/serving
Sultans Turkish Delight
(Rose Flavour - Covered in Milk Chocolate)
Very Good - I like floral and chocolate flavors together, so I enjoyed this.
Wt: 1.75 oz. (50 grams)
Calories: 200 calories
Cost: $ 1.59
Purchased from: Piazza's Fine Foods, in Palo Alto, CA

I'm happy to add Turkey to the list of countries of origin for the chocolates I've eaten. (This small bar is a "Product Of Turkey," and is distributed by British Wholesale Imports - a company based in Westlake Village, CA.)

Chocolate in the News
---------------------------
Pregnant women are told it might be healthy to eat dark chocolate.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,353399,00.html
Apparently the cardiovascular benefits of eating moderate amounts of dark chocolate extend to those women who are expecting as well; and a daily dose of the dark stuff appears to significantly cut risks of women developing preeclampsia. (This according to a Yale study published in the May 2008 issue of Epidemiology.)

Also, Happy May Day (May 1) all. One custom on this day (at least in some areas of the world) is to leave a May Day basket with fresh flowers and sweets for family members/friends/others. So, I applaud those people who include chocolate items in their baskets/gifts. I dimly remember my elementary school class walking/skipping around a Maypole out on an asphalt playground years ago, and making paper woven baskets in our classroom. However, I don't remember whether chocolates were involved or not. Enjoy.

ChocolateBet: April 30, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:

1 serving
Orchard Valley Harvest
Gourmet Nuts and Caramels
Very Good
Wt: 1/4 cup (42 grams); 12 oz. (340 grams) total container
Calories: 210 calories/serving
Cost: $7.29 total
Purchased from: Safeway, in Palo Alto, CA

These chocolate covered pieces were fresh-tasting and fun. You had the opportunity to guess which kind of nut you might be biting into from the shape of the chocolate. Cashew? Almond? Pecan? Macadamia? Walnut? Or... Caramel?

OK, I'm dragging my feet here - I'm still eating chocolate and nut items, and I'm supposed to be starting a Chocolate and Meat Theme Week this week. Maybe in another day or two...

ChocolateBet: April 29, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:

1 serving
Gelato Classico
Chocolate Hazelnut ice cream
Very Good - tasted like Nutella ice cream
Wt: 1/2 cup (123 grams) serving; 1 pint total (473 ml.)
Calories: 290
Cost: $4.79 total container
Purchased from: Whole Foods, in Cupertino, CA

Well, technically, my Chocolate and Nut-themed week ended yesterday; but I had bought a few more items with chocolate and nuts in them, as part of an advanced planning and buying nut-frenzy last week. So, I'm extending my week by a day or two. So, this would be Day #8...of Chocolate and Nut week.

ChocolateBet: April 28, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:

1 serving/biscotti
Pamela's Products
Chocolate Walnut Biscotti
Very Good (especially for a gluten-free version of biscotti)
Weight: 28 grams
Calories: 120
Cost: $3.29/pkg.
Purchased from: Whole Foods Market, in Cupertino, CA

This is, technically, the last day (Day #7) of Chocolate and Nut Week. However, I may have to extend the current theme week at least one more day, to include a chocolate and nut-related item that involves ice cream. Then I think I will have hit all the major chocolate and nut food groups: chocolate candy, trail mix, bars, cookies, brownies, and ice cream.

ChocolateBet: April 27, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:
1 serving
Whole Foods
Gluten-Free Walnut Brownies
Very Good+
Wt: ~ 2 oz. (57 grams)/16 oz. (1 lb.) or 452 grams in total pkg.
Calories: ~ 270 calories
Cost: $12.39 total pkg. (yikes)
Purchased from: Whole Foods, in Cupertino, CA

And today is Day #6 of Chocolate and Nuts Week on the blog here. These brownies are good. Brownies are one of the few baked goods that seem to taste just fine when regular (wheat) flour is replaced by a gluten-free flour replacement blend. I can't say the same with all other gluten-free breads and cakes.

ChocolateBet: April 26, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:

1 serving (~ 3 Tbps)
Planters
Trail Mix - Nut and Chocolate
Very Good
Wt: ~33 grams/srvg; 6 oz. (170 grams) total
Calories: 160 cals.
Cost: $2.00 (sale)
Purchased from: Safeway, in Palo Alto, CA

It's Day #5 of Chocolate and Nut items on the blog here. Trying to pick something each day that represents a different chocolate-food-group.

ChocolateBet: April 25, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:

1 serving
Chuao Chocolatier
Caracas - Dark Chocolate Bar with Almonds, Hazelnuts and Pistachios (60% cacao)
Very Good - Yum - I enjoyed this very nice quality blend of ingredients, and being able to clearly taste each type of nut.
Weight: 1.5 oz. (40 grams); total bar = 3.52 oz. (100 grams)
Calories: 211 calories in 1 srvg.
Cost: $6.99 total bar
Purchased from: Whole Foods Market, in Cupertino, CA

Welcome to Day #4 of Chocolate and Nut Week.

This Chuao bar was a nice find. I was grumbling a bit because some of the other choices this week had nut bits ground down so finely that it was difficult to taste the actual nuts. This was not the case here.

Other nut-related items
I was hoping to submit an online order for a box of frozen Nutty Buddy ice cream cone desserts, but it looks like there are only one or two small outfits (e.g. Purity) that carry these any more; and I couldn't find someplace that will ship to my zip code in time for Chocolate and Nut week here. So the Nutty Buddys will have to wait.