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Chocolate!

Chocolate, As Prescribed By the Doctor

by Joi on February 17, 2010

Nothing but love. I’ve got nothing but love for Dr. Al Sears right now. He has the following to say about a close, dear friend of mine, Chocolate:

If you ate chocolate on Valentine’s Day, I have some news for you. You don’t have to feel guilty.

In fact, I have evidence that you may have cut your risk from dying of a stroke nearly in half.

Two studies give us great news about chocolate.

The first study found that people who ate one serving of chocolate per week were 22% less likely to have a stroke.

The second study found that people who ate 50 grams of chocolate once a week were 46% less likely to die following a stroke than those who didn’t eat chocolate.

About 80% of strokes occur when there isn’t enough blood getting to the brain.3 Your brain is starved of oxygen and nutrients and begins to die immediately.

Chocolate helps to counteract that in two ways. It’s rich in antioxidants and helps to increase circulation.

Flavonoids fight silent inflammation, which is the leading cause of chronic diseases such as cancer, heart disease, stroke, dementia, and many others.

You can find flavonoids in vegetables, tea, and red wine, but cocoa has more flavonoids. In fact, dark chocolate contains up to four times the antioxidants found in tea.

The good doctor… well, let’s just go ahead and call him the grand doctor… has this advice for finding the best sources of chocolate:

Look for chocolate that contains 70% or more cocoa. This is the ingredient that contains health benefits.

Check how much sugar is added to the chocolate you choose. Keep it as low as possible. But choose sugar over artificial sweeteners or chocolate labeled “sugar free.”

Beware of other chemicals in the chocolate. Choose a brand that has pure ingredients and no chemical additives.

Make chocolate your special treat of choice once a week.

You can find good quality chocolate at a health-food store. More and more it’s finding its way into grocery and drug stores. Read the label to be sure of the quality and content.

Only one problem, when he says to make chocolate your “special treat of choice once a week…” don’t you imagine that he meant once an hour?

Source: Dr. Al Sears

Outstandingly Delicious and Healthy Snacks for Game Day

by Joi on January 15, 2010

One of our biggest pitfalls as a family trying to eat healthy foods is snack time. I make healthy meals and, even when we eat out, we make healthy choices. But when we’re watching football games, basketball games, baseball, Survivor, The Biggest Loser, or anything else on TV – we love our snacks.

Also – aside from my youngest daughter and our cats – the members of my family come and go all day and night. It can be exhausting for us homebodies watching them come and go. I’ve noticed that they all love to snack along their journeys… fuel for the road, I suppose. I try to keep healthier options in the kitchen and dining room for them to grab. Sure, we’ll have various forms of chocolate at any given time – I won’t even try to deny that. Besides, you’d smell the chocolate on my breath and call me out.

I always remind people that chocolate…

Is actually good for you – nutritionists sing the praises of dark chocolate almost as much as I do
Chocolate makes the world go round
Chocolate is sexy

So, you can count on this kitchen always, always, always boasting plenty of chocolate goodness just as surely as there will always be a coffee pot ready to play . The coffee will warm your body as the chocolate warms your mood. But potato chips, soft drinks, and fried, greasy crap has been exiled from our home.

Nuts are also remarkably good for you, so I keep several candy dishes filled with different kinds of nuts and nut blends. The largest candy dish is currently holding chocolate covered raisins and chocolate covered nuts. Another has almonds, which are a huge hit in my family.

Recently, I happened upon a combination that blew me completely away: Mariani Vanilla Yogurt Raisins and walnut pieces. I keep these yogurt covered raisins on hand because I’m totally addicted to them. They are ridiculously delicious. They had commandeered a large candy dish and I couldn’t find a spot for a bag of walnut pieces I’d just brought home from the store. So, I tossed the walnuts in with the yogurt covered raisins. When I passed by, I’d either pick out the raisins or the walnuts until I saw my husband grab a mixture and put them in his mouth. In an unsettling display of monkey-see/monkey-do, I jumped over and tried it for myself.

Holy deliciousness, Batman!!!

The combination reminds me of one of my favorite cookies, Iced Oatmeal Cookies. For whatever reasons, the vanilla-flavored yogurt, the raisins, and the walnuts make a powerhouse combination that convinces your mind that you’re eating the best Iced Oatmeal Cookie ever made. With less calories.

Try different combinations of nuts and dried fruit with your snackers… but, whatever you do, try the Vanilla-Flavored Yogurt-Covered Raisins paired with Walnuts first. It’ll blow you smack away. These yogurt-covered raisins are also outstanding when eaten with fruit such as pineapple wedges, grapes, strawberries, raspberries (!!!), blueberries, blackberries, and so on.

Below is a great recipe for Trail Mix Bars from Mariani – makers, not only of the yogurt covered raisins I eat like a cat with salmon, but also makers of many outstanding dried fruits and other snacks. Look for them on the shelves at your grocery store. In my favorite store, they’re located in the health food section.

Mariani Trail Mix Bars Recipe

2 cups margarine
2 cups brown sugar
2 cups white sugar
4 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
4 cups flour
2 tsp. baking powder
2 tsp. baking soda
6 cups mixture of Mariani Premium Banana Chips – crushed, raisins, mixed nuts, and chopped, Mariani Premium Mixed Fruit.
3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
3 cups granola

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Mix margarine, brown sugar, and white sugar until creamy. Add eggs and vanilla. Sift together flour, baking powder and baking soda, and add to butter and egg mixture. Stir in trail mix, oats, and granola. When mixed, drop spoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet and bake for 15 minutes.

For more healthy recipes from Mariani, see their website.

Did you know that walnuts are very good for your brain? Click the link to learn how!

Green & Black’s Organic Chocolate: Happy Valentine’s Day Indeed!

by Joi on January 6, 2010

As you know, Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. And if you’re anything like me, if it’s a special day, you HAVE to have great chocolate and plenty of it. Actually, I have to have great chocolate every day, but I digress.

Chocolate doesn’t get any better than Green & Black’s Organic Chocolate – which is why I write about it so frequently here on Get Cooking:

Green & Black’s Organic Chocolate Give Us Reason to Celebrate

Green & Black’s Organic Chocolate: As Chocolate as Humanly Possible

Green & Black’s Organic Chocolate is Still the Best Chocolate on Earth

Green & Black’s Organic Chocolate Has Done it Again and I Love Them

Obviously, I’m hooked. There’s one thing you’ve surely noticed about me by now and that’s that I am extremely Brand Loyal. If I find a brand of chocolate (Green & Black’s), shredded and sliced cheese (Sargentos), Gourmet Cheese (Beemster’s), dishwashing liquid (Dawn), etc. that never lets me down – I never let it down. I stick with it and I praise it to the hilt.

Green & Black’s Organic chocolate most definitely fits this bill. Take it from the world’s most addicted chocoholic – this is top of the line, delicious, creamy chocolate.

We all know that chocolate is a necessity year round, but Valentine’s Day is custom made for it. Nothing says “You’re Special” better than the gift of premium organic chocolate. Just in time for Valentine’s Day, Green & Black’s has introduced its first U.S. exclusive flavor to its family of premium organic chocolate bars. Green & Black’s new Peanut bar is a blend of premium 37% milk chocolate with a delectable combination of caramelized peanuts and a hint of sea salt.

How over-the-top incredible does that sound?!?!

Below is an outline of chocolate-y wonderful ideas for celebrating Valentine’s Day the way it was intended to be celebrated. These ideas are courtesy of Green & Black’s and I hope you’ll let them inspire you to go all out this Valentine’s Day.

Whether you’re single and celebrating with a group of friends or planning a romantic evening for two, Green & Black’s has enlisted Micah Carr-Hill, their Head of Taste, to create a romantic menu for an unforgettable Valentine’s Day!

Singles: Wine and Chocolate Pairing Party

This year, avoid the crowded restaurants and host an intimate wine and chocolate pairing party that your closest friends won’t soon forget. Your guests will fall in love with the latest wine pairings just for Valentine’s Day including:

Green & Black’s Toffee and Zinfandel

Chocolate, toffee and wine…three of life’s great pleasures. It’s never truer than when pairing the rich, dark-fruit characters in the wine accentuate the chocolate’s buttery sweet toffee flavors.

Green & Black’s White and Chardonnay

This may just be the world’s perfect pairing. The silky smoothness, creamy texture and vanilla finish of Green & Black’s White is perfectly complemented by the tropical fruit and hint of oak in a classic Chardonnay.

Green & Black’s Dark 85% and Syrah

Intense! This is the only way to describe the pairing of Green & Black’s Dark 85% and a rich Syrah. The complexity and sturdy structure of the wine softens and enhances the dark, intense chocolate.

Couples: Romantic Chocolate Tasting for Two

There’s nothing better than chocolate to set the mood for a romantic evening for two. Candles and rose petals are great, but nothing will show your special someone they’re the sweetest than a passionate chocolate tasting. Take these tips for an at-home chocolate tasting from Green & Black’s:

Conduct the tasting like you would a wine tasting
Choose up to six of your favorite flavours to taste
Start with the lightest variety (White) and finish with the darkest (Dark 85%)

Green & Black’s is a chocolate that makes no compromises. The great tasting chocolate made from the world’s finest organic ingredients also gives back to the environment.

In celebration of the launch of the new Peanut bar, Green & Black’s is offering a special $1 off coupon for customers. Visit www.greenandblacks.com for a downloadable coupon which can be used at select retailers, including Target.

************

Target is pretty much my home away from home, so it’s where I get all of my Green & Black’s chocolate candy.

A Site and Blog to Go NUTS Over

by Joi on July 8, 2009

Pecan Caramel Chocolate Turtles Gift Box

You pretty much know my culinary passions by now – coffee, chocolate, nuts, cheese, buttermilk, cream cheese, coconut, tea, onion rings, salads, paninis, and dessert (all desserts, thank you very much). Sure there are plenty of others I adore, but the group I just named? I live for them.

Something I’ve always noticed about this group, however, is this: Quality matters. Whether it’s coffee beans, chocolate, cheese, or cashews – know this, you almost always get what you pay for. If you’re serious about what you cook and feed your family, then you HAVE to be serious about where you get your ingredients and staples from.

To that end, I want to tell you about a fantastic site for those of you who love nuts as much as I do: Superior Nut Store.com. I’m the sort of nut fanatic who stands at the counter eating walnuts out of the bag as she crumbles them into her cookies, bread, fudge, or whatever. This sort of passion for all things nutty pretty much identifies me and I love Superior Nut Store’s dedication to making a nut lover’s world go round.

On Superior Nut.com you can find tins, gift baskets, boxes, peanut butter topping (Yum!), dried fruit, towers, and countless other beautiful gifts. You should keep this website in mind not only for Christmas gifts but also for cooking during Thanksgiving and Christmas. There are also some spectacular goodies that would make Back to School less brutal and Halloween more funtastic.

In an effort to totally destroy what’s left of my willpower, Superior Nut Store has combined two of my greatest loves: chocolate and nuts – and they’ve done it in ways that makes me weak in the knees. At the top of the post is the Pecan Caramel Chocolate Turtles Gift Box (Rich, smooth caramel is combined with hand picked premium Pecans and is topped with Milk Chocolate. - Superior Nut Store.com). Yeah, I knew you’d like to see that staring you in the face. I figure if I’m going down, I’m taking y’all with me.

You’ll noticed I’ve included another picture for you below. It’s the Almond Butter Crunch (Fresh Butter is simmered with Roasted Almonds to Create a Mouth Watering Toffee, we then dip it into a rich Milk Chocolate and Top it With More Roasted & Chopped Almonds. Our Old Fashioned Almond Butter Crunch is truly unique and absolutely Irresistible! – Superior Nut Store.com). And you’re welcome.

You’ll also want to check out Superior Nut Store’s blog for some killer recipes. I’ve printed out quite a few that I intend to cook asap. But first things first, I’m taking a candy break. Must have something chocolaty and nutty….

Almond Butter Crunch

Seeds of Change Organic Chocolate is Ridiculously Delicious

by Joi on April 30, 2009

Seeds of Change Organic Chocolate Candy

I’d love to introduce you to a wonderful new friend of mine… well, actually, several new friends of mine. They’re pictured above. Gorgeous, right? They’re the delicious, chocolat-astic Seeds of Change Chocolate bars and you’ll love them as much as I do. If you could smell my breath right now, you’d know JUST how much I love them.

Seeds of Change Organic Chocolate Candy

From the Seeds of Change Web Site:

Seeds of Change® was founded in 1989 with a revolutionary mission: To make organically grown seeds available to gardeners and farmers, while preserving countless heirloom seed varieties in danger of being lost to the “advances” of modern industrial agriculture.

As we recognized the need to preserve and promote organic seeds, we also saw the opportunity to create organic foods that were inspired by the notion that great taste and sustainability can go hand in hand. And…the Seeds of Change Organic Brand was born.

But we knew we had to do more than just create delicious organic products to preserve the very soil beneath our feet. So we began donating 1% of our net sales to promote sustainable organic farming initiatives worldwide.

At Seeds of Change, we believe that making responsible choices today makes a better world tomorrow. That’s why everything we do and make has the future of our world in mind. For 20 years, Seeds of Change has been inspiring change for a better world. Learn more about our Research Farm and our sustainable organic farming initiatives, as well as what you can do to make the world a better place.

Seeds of Change Organic Dark Chocolate with Coconut

From my chocolate-coated taste buds:

Mmmmmm! You know me, there are several areas in which my knowledge is legendary and passionate: Cooking with Buttermilk, animal welfare, coffee, tea, chocolate, old movies, the Food Network, coconut, cookbooks, gladiola flowers, cats, polar bears, UK basketball, St. Louis Cardinals baseball, and raising perfect daughters. Chocolate has been on my list of expertise since I was about as tall as a dachshund.

Seeds of Change chocolate bars are as passionate about being chocolate as I am about being a chocoholic. Not only can you can taste their passion in every single bite, you can smell it the second you open one of their candy bars. When I opened the Dark Chocolate with Coconut bar (it was first since it combines two passions in one!), I let out a happy, happy sigh. The smell was so exotic and intoxicating – it smelled like chocolate on vacation. Can you even imagine how Heavenly that is?!?! Get this – it tasted even better. I- I love it when chocolate vacations in Hawaii and takes me along.

Seeds of Change Organic Milk Chocolate with Puffed Grains

The Chocolate with Puffed Grains is another favorite. It tastes a lot like Krackle bars – just a lot fatter and even more chocolaty. I couldn’t try the Dark Chocolate with Mango and Cashews because of a fierce allergy to mango, but my daughters tell me that it’s beyond sensational. They put it away like crazy, so I’m guessing it’s fantastic.

The Milk Chocolate bars are SO creamy you just get lost in the experience. They’re absolutely amazing. And the Dark Chocolate with Cherries and Vanilla bars are much, much, much better than you’d expect. They’re what Chocolate covered cherries would be if they turned themselves into candy bars and threw on a little vanilla for good measure. Delish!

I’m saving the Dark Chocolate for last because dark chocolate has become something of an obsession with me. Once you get hooked on Dark Chocolate, there’s no going back. Seeds of Change Dark Chocolate has a glorious 61 percent cocoa and I’ll tell you why that turns me on so: Eating Dark Chocolate is very good for you. It contains potent antioxidants that destroy free radicals in your body. These free radicals are associated with cancer and heart disease. In the fantastic book, The Denim Diet by Kami Gray, she points out that not all dark chocolate is equal. The higher the cocoa content, the better for you. Each of the Seeds of Change Dark Chocolate bars (Dark Chocolate with Coconut, dark Chocolate, and Dark Chocolate with Cherries and Vanilla, and Dark Chocolate with Mango and Cashews) have a staggering 61 percent of cocoa.

Personally (and remember, I’m nothing if not an expert in the field of chocolate), I think this is a great percentage. Higher percentages often take a little “getting used to.” This is absolutely perfect.

What does the symbol printed on the chocolate mean?

This symbol is The Seeds of Change mandala and is an ancient symbol of abundance and vitality known as The Seed of Life. Beautiful and delicious.

Where can you buy Seeds of Change Chocolate candy?

According to their web site, Seeds of Change Organic Chocolates are available at Whole Foods and other fine stores. Keep an eye out for them in your favorite grocery stores, as they are adding retailers to their list. I’ll let you know as soon as I find them in my own haunts. Of course, you can always just buy them online. It’s hard to beat that for convenient.

By the way, remember Mother’s Day is just around the corner, followed closely by Father’s Day – so load up and add some of the best chocolate in the world to their gift bags. They’ll thank you from the bottom of their hearts (which you’ll help protect if you include the dark chocolate varieties). Mom and Dad will be so thankful, they may never bring up that dented bumper or broken heirloom vase again. Or the broken curfews, or the crayon on the walls, or the time you embarrassed them in front of the preacher….

Well, they’ll thank you from the bottom of their hearts….

Seeds of Change Organic Chocolate Candy

Green & Black’s Organic Chocolate Candy Gives Us Even More to Celebrate

by Joi on April 22, 2009

Green & Blacks Organic Chocolate Candy

Spring is one of my favorite times of the year – everything just comes to life and there seems to be absolute, unspoiled beauty everywhere you look. What a PERFECT time of the year to celebrate Earth Day (today!) and Mother’s Day.

Green & Black’s Organic Chocolate – the chocolate that makes no compromises – is offering some great ideas to observe both holidays.

Green & Black’s chocolates allow you to make eco-friendly choices while not compromising on life’s everyday indulgences. This is seriously, seriously delicious chocolate.

This year, in honor of Earth Day, Green & Black’s is offering a downloadable widget with daily tips on how to live green and black –respecting the earth while indulging in the best things it has to offer.

Some tips include:

While cooking for friends at your next dinner party, shop at your closest farmers’ market. Buying from local farms puts money back into your community, plus the produce will be fresher than items transported across the country.
On your next vacation, book a hotel that’s LEED-certified. The certification stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and is a national standard for builders looking to make a smaller impact on the environment.
Go to DineGreen.com to determine how eco-conscious your favorite restaurant is. The Green Restaurant Association offers various certification levels, based on criteria like whether a restaurant buys locally or composts its waste.

Be inspired by these eco-friendly ideas when celebrating Mother’s Day on May 10.

Treat Mom to an indulgent gift that also treats the environment.

If Mom can’t live without her morning cup of coffee or tea (guilty!), buy her a travel mug from her favorite coffee shop. She can travel to work in style while reducing the number of paper cups she uses.
Get Mom a chic metallic or cloth-covered case in which to carry her lunch; pack it with healthy snacks, like homemade granola, or a square or two of Green & Black’s organic chocolate.
Set-up a window box herb garden for Mom in the kitchen. Sprigs of fresh rosemary, parsley, and mint help make dishes more vibrant.

And you can never go wrong with treating Mom to a gift of delicious chocolate. Give Mom a variety of her favorite chocolate flavors – wrap up three to four bars of Green & Black’s organic chocolate in a bow for an affordable and delectable gift Mom can indulge in.

Green & Black’s offers 12 chocolate flavors ranging from light to dark chocolate. Traditional varieties include White, Milk, and Dark, while the more unique flavors are Maya Gold, Ginger, Espresso and new Toffee.

If you would like more information about Green & Black’s or to download the widget please visit www.GreenandBlacks.com.

Susan’s Chocolate Fudge Recipe

by Joi on March 4, 2009

There’s a great little article in the February issue of Guideposts titled Sweet Solution. It’s a beautiful, motivational story about a woman who shares a great, great passion of mine – chocolate! Click HERE for the story.

Below is one of Susan Mazzone’s delicious recipes. It’s for chocolate fudge and my mouth is already watering.

SUSAN’S FUDGE RECIPE
3/4 cup marshmallow cream
1-1/2 cups white sugar
2/3 cup evaporated milk (little more if needed)
1/4 cup butter
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup milk chocolate chips
2 cups dark chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped nuts
1 tsp vanilla extract

Line an 8 x 8 inch pan with parchment paper. Set aside.

In a large saucepan over medium heat, combine the first five ingredients. Bring to a boil. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring constantly.

Remove from heat and pour in chocolate chips. Stir until chocolate is melted and mixture is smooth. Stir in nuts and vanilla, and try to keep your fingers out of it! Pour into your prepared pan and chill in the refrigerator for about 2 hours until firm.

I know what I’ll be having for dessert tonight!

By the way, if you don’t already subscribe to or read Guideposts Magazine – you’re really missing out on a fantastic little magazine. There are stories that’ll make you cry and laugh (often at the same time), words that’ll challenge you, and people who’ll change your life. As if we could hope for more, there are also amazing, amazing recipes. You can find a slew of them on their website as well: Guideposts.com (I’ve linked you directly to the recipes because I’m cool like that.)

A Chocolate Work of Art

by Joi on December 20, 2008

Assorted Chocolate Bars Photographic Print
Buy at AllPosters.com

I just wrote a post on my Mental Fitness Blog about Chocolate, of all things. This personal, delicious obsession of mine actually does more than just make me all kinds of happy. It increases blood flow to the brain. How cool’s that?

I found the glorious work of art, above, online a few minutes ago and was so impressed (and aroused) that I had to share. I mean, there’s art – then there’s art!

You know what’s sad? I can identify them. On a related note, have you gotten a chance to try Green & Black’s Organic Chocolate yet? I have never, in my whole life, been a fan of dark chocolate – but, after reading about its health benefits, I decided to give it a try. Except, this time, I decided to try it with top quality chocolate. Green & Black’s dark chocolate is now something I have to have every single day. It’s amazing.

A Paula Deen Chocolate Cake that’ll Melt Your Eyes

by Joi on June 10, 2008

Okay, how delicous does Chocolate Cake look?!!

The Paula Deen 32-oz. Double Chocolate Gooey Butter Cake is waiting for you – all chocalatey, gooey, nutty, and delicious! Cooking.com ships this glorious cake frozen, so all you have to do is meet it at the door and invite it in for dinner!

From the Website:
Paula’s Double Chocolate Gooey Butter Cake is made with only the finest and the freshest ingredients using Paula’s “signature” recipe. This dense chocolate cake, with soft walnuts and crusty topping, is richly enhanced with gooey chocolate filling.

Shipped to arrive during the business week–orders placed on Fridays and the weekend are not shipped until the following business day.

This cake and a little vanilla ice cream (extra points if it’s homemade) could spell out a ridiculously delicious way to end a meal. Oh, heck, it could spell out a ridiculously good reason to just skip the meal and pig out on cake!

I am so there.

Oh! Nuts and Oh! Candy and Oh! My!

by Joi on May 6, 2008

Ohhh man! Have I got a website to tell you about? Well, actually it’s not so much the website that has me purring Ohhhh man as much as it is what the website can hook you up with.

How do Pecan Caramel Chocolate Clusters sound to you? How about Roasted Cashews? Or Toffee Pecan Cinnamon Buns. I hate to brag, but I have a Pecan Caramel Chocolate Cluster in my mouth right now and I’m not even lying. Mmmmm, if this candy were any better I’d….. Never mind, it couldn’t be any better.

You’d think that the rich, delicious caramel or the always perfect pecans would steal the show with this candy, wouldn’t you. That’s what I thought, too, until I took the first (of many!) bite. The chocolate is some of the most amazing chocolate I’ve ever tasted in my life. I have no unearthly idea why it’s so spectacular, but I’ve never tasted any better. It is just unbelievably delicious – it tastes exactly like chocolate was meant to taste.

I just went back to scour the website for more chocolate goodness and it didn’t take me long to find EXACTLY what I’m ordering next: Chocolate Covered Pretzels! Click the link to see all of the glorious varieties. I also was amazed to see that my newfound heroes have Gourmet Coffee Beans as well. Into the shopping cart, caffeine!

If I can get my mind off of Chocolate for one minute (notice I said mind and not mouth), I want to also tell you about their roasted cashews. They’re amazingly delicious fat little bits of Heaven. They’re perfect right out of the bag, but if you need a chocolate fix…stat!…. they’re danged amazing dunked in melted milk chocolate. Just melt the choclate in a crock pot on low, then carefully dip each fat little cashew in the chocolate bath (I’m so jealous..). Place them on waxed paper and allow them to “set.”

So good you won’t believe it.

Last but not least, I’ve also tried the Toffee Pecan Cinnamon Buns candy. These little devils are unlike anything you’ve ever had, this I promise you. Personally, I love mine alongside a great cup of coffee – the flavors just go together in such a way that my head gets all swimmy. The cinnamon flavor on the candy compliments the coffee and the coffee returns the favor…or should I say, flavor. Halfway into the experience, you’d swear you were enjoying a Toffee Pecan Candy with a cup of gourmet cinnamon-flavored coffee.

You HAVE to check this website all the way out and jump in with both hands and mouth open. Do like I’m doing, trying a few things out at a time. I WILL make my way through everything connected to chocolate, nuts, and coffee. Sure, it’ll take me a while because they have so many varieties, but I don’t mind – really, I don’t.

Did I tell you how unbelievably amazing this chocolate is? I did? Oh, okay, then I’ll just take my candy and head to the deck….

*** If you want the best chocolate imaginable, or roasted cashews that’ll take your breath away, and/or candy that that’ll make you happy to be alive, check out Oh! Nuts.com - talk about delicious Mother’s Day gifts! You might want to go ahead and get “Dad’s” too while you’re there, Father’s Day isn’t that far off.

Also, be sure to keep this website in mind when other holidays and special days roll around: Christmas, Halloween, Valentine’s Day, Easter, Anniversaries, Birthdays, Graduation, Weddings, Showers, Fourth of July picnics, my birthday… I’m just sayin’…first day of school, last day of school, big games, small games – oh! nuts, you get the idea.