ChocolateBet: November 24, 2009

Chocolate(s) of the Day:

Chocolate #1
3 pieces/coins
Steenland Chocolate BV
Milk Chocolate Coins of the World
Good - Good +
Weight: .535 oz. (15 g.) in 3 pcs./2.5 oz. (70 g.) in total 14-piece package
Calories: 80 calories (estimate)
Cost: $1.99 for total package/mesh bag of 14 coins
Purchased from: Cost Plus World Market, in Mountain View, CA

Chocolate #2
1 large coin (Liberty)
Steenland Chocolate BV
Chocolate Reserve Pack - Milk Chocolate Coins
Chocolate Coins of America (3 Large Size Coins)
Good +
Weight: 2.03 oz. (57.4 g.)/6.01 oz. (147 g.) total pkg. of 3 large coins
Calories: 304 calories (estimate) in 1 large coin
Cost: $7.99 for total package of 3 coins
Purchased from: Cost Plus World Market, in Mountain View, CA

Today was Day #7 of chocolate money theme week, and I was still finding new and different chocsimiles of coins and bills. I liked the pictures of travel destinations on the Steenland Coins of the World (the flip side had imprints of various continents). I chose to eat three coins picturing destinations I haven't visited yet, cementing my intentions with chocolate.

The second Steenland Chocolate choice for today was a giant Liberty $50 gold coin from a Chocolate Reserve Pack of 3 giant coins. Yes, I was investing in my reserves -- my fat reserves.

ChocolateBet: November 23, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:
1 bag (5 coins)
Palmer (R.M. Palmer Co.)
Premium Milk Chocolate Gold Coins
Good +
Weight: 0.81 oz. (23 g.) in 1 bag
Calories: 121 calories (estimate)
Cost: $0.89 for 1 mesh bag of coins
Purchased from: Walgreens, in Palo Alto, CA

In keeping with chocolate money theme week, today we have...more chocolate coinage. This little yellow mesh bag from Palmer contained chocolate versions (chocsimiles) of the following coins:
1.) Two Canada dollars
2.) One U.S. Kennedy dollar
3.) Two Israeli 5 Shekel coins

ChocolateBet: November 22, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:

1 small bag of 7 pieces/coins
Palmer (R.M. Palmer Co.)
"Milk Chocolate Coins of All Nations"
Good
Weight: .81 oz. (23 g.) in total small mesh bag of 7 "coins"
Calories: 121 calories (estimate)
Cost: $?
Purchased from: ?*

Today was Day #5 of Chocolate and Money Theme Week. The tradition(s) of using chocolate money to celebrate holidays is a long one. Chocolate coins are used for Hanukkah gelt and dreidel games, to celebrate Chinese New Years, and Christmas, to name a few. Palmer's chocolate "Coins of all Nations" contained facsimiles (chocsimiles) of two U.S. pennies; three 5 Kronors; and two 1 Euros.

*Note: I found these chocolate coins in my chocolate stash. Unfortunately, they had become separated from the receipt and place of purchase information.

Today I also tried Yogi Tea's Mayan Cocoa Spice Tea (which does contain actual cacao ingredients). It was quite good. I was given this tea bag to try by my sister, when I was staying at the Double K Ranch in Southern California a few weeks ago.

ChocolateBet: November 21, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:

3 pieces
Manischewitz
Magic Max's Milk Chocolate Coins
Good - Good +
Weight: .4 oz. (11 g.)/.53 oz. (15 g.)
Calories: 60 calories (estimate)
Cost: $0 (gift)
Purchased from: N/A - gift (thank you to Elise)

I placed this mesh bag of chocolate coins on my computer keyboard (see image), to show size. Fortunately, it's cooler in November, so this placement did not result in instant chocolate coin fondue.

ChocolateBet: November 20, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:
4 pieces
Streit's
Kids Milk Chocolate Coins
Good - Good +
Weight: .53 oz. (15 g.) for 4 coins
Calories: 75 calories (estimate)
Cost: $0 (gift)
Purchased from: N/A gift (Thanks Elise)

Today I enjoyed more simulated wealth via chocolate -- with gold foil-wrapped chocolate coins from Streit's, a company based in Israel. I've wanted to do a chocolate money theme week for some time. And I'd been building up a few chocolate bills and coins in my chocolate storehouse for just such an occasion. Thank you to Elise for making this possible.

ChocolateBet: November 19, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:
3 pieces
Laica S.p.A.
Milk Chocolate $$$
Good
Weight: ~ 1 oz. (28.3 g.)/2.82 oz. (80 g.) in total pkg.
Calories: 150 calories (estimate)
Cost: $0 (gift)
Purchased from: N/A - gift (thank you to Elise)

Yesterday I scarfed down a 100 Grand. Today, I ate $110 of chocolate...in milk chocolate bills, that is. In a nod to our global ecosystem, this chocolate currency in U.S. denominations was made in Arona, Novara, in Italy. I'd like to think I'm just doing my part to keep the economy going.

ChocolateBet: November 18, 2009

Chocolate of the Day:
1 fun size (mini) bar
Nestle
100 Grand bar
Good - Good +
Weight: .79 oz. (22.3 g.) in 1 fun size/mini bar
Calories: ~ 118 calories (estimate)
Cost: $ (part of a Halloween candy assortment bag)
Purchased from: Walgreens, in Palo Alto, CA

Well, who wouldn't want 100 Grand? The name has a ring of prosperity to it. This small bar is the last of the miniature Nestle chocolate bars in my Halloween candy bowl. (It contains "Chewy Caramel $ Milk Chocolate $ Crispy Crunchies"...I like the dollar signs instead of ampersands.) Now, I'm down to a few non-chocolate gummy skeleton items, which will evaporate slowly and mysteriously over time.