ChocolateBet: December 11, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:

1 serving
Sanders Candy
Milk Chocolate Honey Roasted Peanut Bark
Good - Good +
Weight: 1.4 oz. (40 grams)/ 6.5 oz. (184 grams) in total box
Calories: 220 calories (estimate) for one 1.4 oz. serving
Cost: $ 6.99 for total box
Purchased from: Central Market, in Plano, TX

Today's offering was from Sanders Candy (Clinton Township, MI). Milk chocolate was "swirled with" fresh honey roasted peanuts (a tasty combination) and resulting, sweet bark pieces were arranged in this long, rectangular box.

ChocolateBet: December 10, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:

6 pieces/1 box
Bissinger's
Salted Margarita Caramels
Good + - Very Good
Wt.: 2.2 oz. (62 grams)
Calories: 225 calories in 6 pieces
Cost: $7.99 total box (6 pieces)
Purchased from: Central Market, in Plano, TX

I've enjoyed salted caramels infused with lavender, rosemary, and other flavorings. The Margarita (tequila extract and slight citrus) flavor gave these Bissinger's chocolate covered caramels an interesting twist, and blended authentically with the salt crystals on top.

ChocolateBet: December 9, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:

3 pieces
C. J. Olson Cherries
Dark Chocolate Cherry Almond Clusters
Good + - Very Good
Wt.: 1.1 oz./6 oz. total bag/pkg.
Calories: ~ 152 calories for 3 pieces
Cost: $ 8.65 for total bag/package
Purchased from: TC Temp books, Airport shop, at San Jose, CA (SJC) airport

ChocolateBet: December 8, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:

4 pieces
Halloren/G. F. Handel's
Brandy Beans
Very Good
Weight: 33 g./7 oz. (200g) total box
Calories: 140 calories for 4 pieces
Cost: $ 7.99 for total box (24 pcs.)
Purchased from: Central Market, in Plano, TX

I was in the Dallas, TX, area, traveling on business, and I decided to buy dinner from a supermarket in the area. I went to the Central Market, chain of stores in Texas. It was a large store - sort of a cross between a Whole Foods Market (another chain that originated in Texas) and a deluxe indoor farmers market.

These bittersweet chocolates (made in Germany) were shaped a little like "beans" and were filled with brandy flavoring. These beans made up 1/2 of my dinner back at the hotel. It was wonderfully relaxing.

ChocolateBet: December 7, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:
2 items
Baskin Robbins
Individual "turkey" (frozen) - vanilla ice cream w/ chocolate cookies & frosting
Good - fun novelty item
Wt.: ~ 6 oz. ? (estim.)
Calories: ~ 360 cals. (estimated)
Cost: $ 3.19 for each "turkey"/$12.76 for an order of 4
Purchased from: Baskin Robbins (No. 137), in Palo Alto, CA

This year Baskin Robbins was featuring a large ice cream turkey, and smaller individual ones. I bought a tiny flock of 4 individual turkeys (2 chocolate, 2 vanilla) to try today. They're cute to look at. I couldn't eat the little chocolate cookie parts - which looked good, but these were fun to eat and to share, nonetheless.

ChocolateBet: December 6, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:

1 serving - 3 pieces
Jelly Belly Candy Company
Sunkist Chocolate Raspberry Fruit Gems
("Naturally Flavored Soft Fruit Candy Coated with Dark Chocolate")
Good + - Very Good
Wt.: ~1.28 oz. (37 g.)/ 3.2 oz. (90g) total bag
Calories: "30" calories per serving (Note: This sounds too low for 3 pc. srvg. I'm calling them to double-check whether this is correct.)
Cost: $1.95 for total bag/package
Purchased from: Village Stationers, in Palo Alto, CA

Jelly Belly is perhaps most well-known for their jelly beans, but a few of their items also contain chocolate and/or cocoa powder.

The company opens their facility in the Fairfield, CA, area (a few hours away from where I live) to visitors; and one of these days I'll get up there for a tour.

ChocolateBet: December 5, 2008

Chocolate of the Day:

1 bar
Snickers/Mars, Incorporated
Snickers Nut'n butter Crunch
("Milk Chocolate, Peanuts and Creamy Peanut Butter taste")
Very Good +
Weight: 1.71 oz. (48.5 grams) in 1 bar
Calories: 250 calories
Cost: $~.69?
Purchased from: ? (need to find receipt)

All variations of the original Snickers bar (part of Mars) have been good. That is, in part, due to the power of chocolate and peanuts and/or peanut butter in this case.