i blog for chocolate

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This will fix you right up!

I know that some of you only come to this blog for the chocolate.

Now that you have eaten all your kids’ Easter candy, you are looking for another fix.

I discovered a show recently called, “Little Chocolatiers.” I forgot they were little people as they made a bust of a man’s head out of chocolate.  It was somewhat bizarre because the company that commissioned it thought it would be a great way to boost morale.  I am thinking that a Target gift card would have worked, but there probably was something very satisfying about biting off your boss’ ear.  They don’t bleep out all the bad words, so I won’t probably watch it with the kids.  But you can just mute the TV and drool.  That can’t hurt anything right?

More chocolate. . .

So my friend Lori got a homemade ice cream churn for her birthday.  Normally I am not an ice cream fan.  I go for baked goods, but in the summer I will make an exception.  And it has felt like summer lately, hasn’t it!!

Another exception I make in the summer  is that I might choose another flavor over chocolate. One of VERY few exceptions to my rule:  any other flavor is just a waste of calories.

But my mom’s homemade peach ice cream is to die for.  It goes along with the whole SC/palmetto freak/we really are the peach capital of the world NOT Georgia vibe I grew up with. Here is some proof of our peach passion. 

Yes, it does look like a hiney, but you know what they say, “Nothing could be finer than to be in Carolina. . .”

But back to chocolate.

My second favorite flavor of homemade ice cream is Oreo.  My recipe for this is found on page 290 of the school cookbook.   (If you missed purchasing the best cookbook EVER, I heard a rumor that they are reprinting it this fall.  Better get your name on the list now.)

And also here is the link to the recipe in my personal online cookbook.  http://www.tastebook.com/recipe_books/432078-DISH-

I know you are making plans right this minute to whip up a batch this weekend as you choke down one of those unpopular jelly beans because it is the only thing sweet left in the house.  Don’t worry—chocolate and the weekend are coming soon!!

Who Knew???

There is a day for everything else–why not one for CHOCOLATE? 

Wait a minute–I thought every day was CHOCOLATE DAY????

To celebrate National Chocolate Day, I am assembling a few of my favorite things.  All chocolate, of course. 

First, a memory.

When Matt and I went to Hawaii 10 years ago (was it really 10 years. . .wow I need a new travel agent)  we dined at Roy’s.  When we sat down the waiter asked us about dessert. 

I thought, “Now this is my kind of restaurant.”

All that green stuff  is just the pathway to dessert without guilt. 

We ordered a chocolate lava cake.  We had to order it at the beginning of the meal, so it could be perfectly timed to arrive at our table completely molten and delicious. 

Since then we have seen many imitations.  But Roy’s emblazened a special place in my mind as the restaurant who truly cares about what their customer really wants–dessert.

Now to celebrate this year I am preparing something entirely easy yet sinful.  It is called a Chocolate Chip Candy Bar Cake. I have never made it before but it sounds kid friendly and yummy.  (It is on page  337 of our school cookbook if you have one.)  The recipe is below.

And here is another freebie–the recipe for a knock-out:  Missippi Mud.   Ally’s favorite.  More than one step, but worth it. http://find.myrecipes.com/recipes/recipefinder.dyn?action=displayRecipe&recipe_id=1646476

Last, but not least here is my little-black-dress-of-chocolate-desserts.  You know the one you go to when you need something that makes you look great or at least like a good cook.  I can take no credit–It’s Robin’s recipe. (OK maybe I take full credit if she is not in the room. . .)  It is also in the school cookbook on page 446.  It is a one bowl wonder, and I made these to rave reviews last weekend.  Enjoy!

Now, if you made it this far in the post you deserve some chocolate! 

Leave a comment on ANY of my blog posts on National Day of Chocolate before 10:00 PM and you will be entered to win a year’s supply of chocolate.  (That means 365 pieces to add to your stash, and we are talking the good stuff here!!) May the best chocolate lover win!

Chocolate Chip Candy Bar Cake

1 pkg chocolate chip cookie dough
1 6 oz pkg chocolate chips
1/2 c peanut butter
1 c crumbled candy bar (Your choice.)

Grease 9×13 pan. Preheat oven to 375. Slice cookoie dough and press into pan. Bake 10-15 minutes or until done. Immediately top with chocolate chips and spread over entire cookie. then spread peanut butter over chocolate chips. Top with your favorite candy bar. (I will just put peanut butter on half for the picky ones.)

Robin’ s Speedy Brownies

2 c sugar, 1 ¾ c plain flour, 1 c oil, 5 eggs, 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp vanilla, ½ c cocoa, Semi-sweet chocolate chips

Add all ingredients in a large mixing bowl, beat well with electric mixer.  Pour into greased 9×13 pan.  Sprinkle with chocolate chips.  Bake for 30 minutes at 350.

I admit it.  I may have a problem.

I first saw signs of this problem when I realized that the new flip top on the big bottles of Hershey’s chocolate syrup was a life changing invention for me.

Then on our vacation this year, another sign.

My son, Jack,  gave me a Hershey Bar.  He bought it for me at the canteen at First Landing State Park where we went crabbing near Virginia Beach.  Unfortunately, it melted.   All those lines that make it so easy to break apart and eat “just one more square” were gone. Of course, I didn’t want the chocolate to go to waste, so I popped it into the freezer for another day. 

We remembered that it was in the freezer as we are walking out the door to go home.  I started to peel it open as we drove out of the parking lot.  I heard a voice from the back asking what all children ask from the time they leave the comfort of the womb:  “Can I have some?” 

I looked down at the bar.  It was not divided into easily shared squares anymore.  One end was really thick, and I had already decided that I would have to lick the other end off the wrapper.  So I was contemplating how to split it up.

My husband, however, took my contemplation for hesitation.  He thought I didn’t want to share my chocolate.  So he announces to the kids, “You know your mom may not have even had kids if she had known that she would have to share her chocolate with you.” 

There isn’t even a glimmer of truth in his statement.

Yet I have to admit, I didn’t realize how many times my kids would actually want my chocolate.

But maybe my problem is not my selfishness but the actual quantity of chocolate necessary to get through a normal day.  There are those days when I catch myself  thinking that a piece of chocolate will turn this whole awful day around.  And it usually does for the seconds that  I stop the madness to savor some chocolate. 

Maybe my real problem is that I  just don’t stop long enough or often enough to savor all the good things right in front of me.

And chocolate definitely is one of life’s GOOD things!