Kohler - Original Buttery Terrapins - June 5, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Kohler Co.
Original Buttery Terrapins
Very Good
Weight: 1.7 oz. (48 g.) / 3.4 oz. (96 g.) in total box of 4 pieces
Calories: 260 calories for 2 pieces
Cost: $11.99 for a box of 4 pieces
Purchased from: Kohler Co. (online)

Today was Day #5 of Chocolate and Butter Theme Week.

These rich, buttery terrapins from Kohler Co. (Kohler, WI) did not disappoint. Layers of fresh* tasting, quality ingredients -- chocolate, pecans and buttery caramel were visible with each bite.

Kohler produces a line of terrapins (chocolate turtles) that includes today's Original Buttery, as well as Blackstrap, Java and Cranberry flavors.

*Fresh is key when it comes to caramels.

Lucerne Foods - Gluten Free Brownies - June 4, 2014

Chocolate of the Day:

Lucerne Foods Inc.
Gluten Free Chocolate Brownie Mix
OK + - Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) / 16 oz. (454 g.) total box of mix
Calories: 130 calories for 1 brownie
Cost: $3.99 for 1 box of mix
Purchased from: Safeway, Palo Alto, CA

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

These Eating Right Gluten Free Chocolate Brownies from Lucerne Foods, Inc. (Pleasanton, CA) were relatively chocolatey and attractive looking. Made from a mix, I added fresh eggs and butter (a little extra butter actually).

Early versions of commercially available gluten-free cakes and brownies ran the risk of being slightly dry and crumbly. These brownies hung together well -- almost unnaturally well, while still retaining a somewhat moist, slightly spongy texture. It may have been the touch of xanthan gum, a binder used in gluten-free baked goods.

I debated whether to add some buttercream frosting to this batch of brownies, and decided against it. Too much sugar. However, spreading a little salted butter across the top was not out of the question.

Nut 'n Bean - Chocolate Chip Cookie Almond Butter - June 3, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Nut 'n Bean
Chocolate Chip Cookie Almond Butter
Good
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3) g.) / 8 oz. (227 g.) in total jar
Calories: 190 calories (estimate) in approx. 2 TB serving
Cost: $8.00 (estimate) for 1 jar
Purchased from: Nut 'n Bean table at Palo Alto Farmers Market, Palo Alto, CA

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

There are many kinds of butters. The nut butter selection has expanded considerably in the past several years where I live. So, one can buy not just almond butter, but many different kinds of almond butter now.

Today's Chocolate Chip Cookie Almond Butter from Nut 'n Bean (Hayward, CA), purchased at a local farmers market, did capture the flavors of a chocolate chip cookie with a hint of coconut. It was good spread on bread or toast (or, in my case, gluten free bread).

If you like these buttery cookie and coconut flavors, you can take this cookie on toast concept one step further by garnishing your toast with chopped organic coconut butter toffee and almonds. Too much? Perhaps. This isn't an episode of "pimp my toast" after all; however buttery flavors are seductive.

Patric Chocolate - Browned Butter Bar - June 2, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Patric Chocolate
Browned Butter Bar
Good + - Very Good
Weight: .766 oz. (11.6 g.) / 2.3 oz. (65 g.) in 1/3 bar
Calories: 115 calories (estimate) in 1/3 bar
Cost: $10.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Chocolate Garage, Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #2 of Chocolate and Butter Theme Week.

Butter has become more popular in recent years, as reports have surfaced that margarine isn't as healthy as it was once thought to be, and fats were deemed to be perhaps not quite the death knell that they were made out to be either. But, then again, a good solid majority of Americans continued their love affair with butter, without paying much attention to grim warnings.

Butter lovers now have something else to celebrate -- some new butter and craft chocolate combinations, such as today's glossy Browned Butter Bar from Patric Chocolate (Columbia, MO).

Dark chocolate with browned butter, brown sugar and sea salt. That's it. This bar was well balanced with fruit acid and tangy flavors from the chocolate and brown sugar and rich brown butter notes.

Kohler Chocolates - Peanut Butter bar - June 1, 2014

Chocolate of the Day:

Kohler Original Recipe Chocolates
Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter bar
Good
Weight: 1.5 oz. (43 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 240 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $3.79 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Piazza's Fine Foods, Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #7 of Chocolate and Peanut Butter Theme Week, and Day #1 of Chocolate and Butter Theme Week.

This smooth (55% cacao) Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter bar from Kohler Co. (Kohler, WI) uniformly melded deep milk chocolate, peanut butter, sea salt and butter in every bite.

Nut 'n Bean - Bacon Chocolate Peanut Butter - May 31, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Nut 'n Bean
Bacon Chocolate Peanut Butter
Good - Good +
Weight: 1 oz. (28.3 g.) (estimate) / 8 oz. (227 g.) total jar
Calories: 190 calories (estimate) in 2 Tbsp.
Cost: $9.00 (estimate)
Purchased from: Nut 'n Bean table at Palo Alto Farmers Market, Palo Alto, CA

Holy breakfast on toast Batman. This peanut butter spread had it all, or at least all the good stuff, like bacon and chocolate. It was soft and easy to spread, and I liked the chewy bits of savory bacon that were interspersed throughout. The chocolate gave it an added richness, without making this peanut butter too sweet.

Gently trowel some of this spread onto your bread of choice, add a lettuce leaf and a slice of extra bacon), or some chopped peanuts. Serve with a small glass of fresh-squeezed orange juice on the side and you can talk yourself into calling this combination a balanced meal.

Ingredients: peanuts, grapeseed oil, dairy free 51% chocolate, bacon and sea salt.

Patric Chocolate - Spicy Thai Peanut bar - May 30, 2014

Chocolate of the Day: 

Patric Chocolate
Spicy Thai Peanut bar
Good - Good +
Weight: 1.15 oz. (32.5 g.) / 2.3 oz. (65 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 172 calories in 1/2 bar
Cost: $9.00 for 1 bar
Purchased from: The Chocolate Garage, Palo Alto, CA

Today was Day #5 of Chocolate and Peanut Butter Theme Week.

Patric Chocolate (Columbia, MO) produces a line of bean-to-bar, craft chocolate, single origin and flavored bars -- including limited release bars like today's Spicy Thai Peanut bar that I bought from The Chocolate Garage in Palo Alto, CA.

The base chocolate for this bar -- made from organic cacao beans and organic cane sugar -- had bright, fruit/berry notes that managed to shine through, even with Thai-inspired flavor additions like ginger-infused sugar crystals, roasted peanuts and habanero sea salt, competing for attention. The bar was soy and gluten free.

I envisioned eating this bar with spicy peanut butter sauce over chicken and rice, with pad thai and mango salad on the side.