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ChocZero: Sugar Free Chocolate Squares (Perfect for the Keto Diet)

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ChocZero Sugar Free Chocolates Review

ChocZero Sugar-Free Chocolate Squares

One of my greatest passions in life is chocolate. If I weren’t so allergic to pain, I’m fairly certain I’d get one tattoo – the word CHOCOHOLIC (all caps, non negotiable) somewhere on my person.  I mean, the world deserves to know what they’re dealing with.

True Story: 10-12 years ago (time flies when you’re eating chocolate), I literally made a couple of New Year’s Resolutions that I knew, beyond a shadow of doubt, that I’d be able to keep. It was half playing-around with my daughters and half let’s see what it feels like to actually keep New Year’s Resolutions throughout the year. What were the things I knew I’d stay loyal to?

  1. Tell my family… including cats, naturally… that I love them everyday (awwwwwww).
  2. Read from an Agatha Christie mystery daily. I read and re-read her mysteries and have been in the midst of reading one for half of my life.
  3. Eat chocolate every single day.

10-12 years later and I’m still going strong. With each. Please don’t ask about learning to speak Italian, drinking more water, never drinking sweet tea, or learning to play the piano. Thank you.

I was recently sent ChocZero Chocolate Squares in exchange for telling you about them. My first thought was, “Yay! Chocolate!” but then I began to worry… after all, I am as big of an expert when it comes to chocolate as is possible. I know chocolate. I breathe chocolate. So, I started to worry that I might not be able to give a raving review of the chocolate!

What worried me? Well, the fact that it is… are you sitting down… sugar free. That concerned me – but, strangely enough, it shouldn’t have. In fact, the fact that these chocolates aren’t overly sweet actually allows you to taste the chocolate better.

That, y’all, is a very positive thing.

ChocZero Sugar Free Chocolates

ChocZero Sugar-Free Chocolate Squares

ChocZero uses a zero-calorie, low carb natural plant called monk fruit to create delectable chocolate that’s low carb and sugar-free. Indulge in some more chocolate minus the sugar crash and extra calories. Whether you’re on the keto diet or simply hoping to reduce your sugar intake, ChocZero has savory options to fit a healthier lifestyle.

Perfect for the Keto Diet or “Lazy Keto” Diet (or anyone cutting back on sugar)

While my family doesn’t strictly follow the Keto Diet, I do incorporate A LOT of Keto recipes and philosophies into our meals. Cutting back on carbs is important to me but cutting back on sugar is far more important. I regularly eat potatoes but am trying very hard to cut as far back on sugar as I possibly can. ChocZero makes it easier to enjoy chocolate, thanks to their monk fruit sweetener.

My favorite way to enjoy these ChocZero Sugar-Free Chocolate Squares is given below the deliciousness….

ChocZero with Ghee and Salt

As I’m sure I’ve mentioned on the food blog before, I am a Ghee FANATIC. I saute’ chicken tenders in it, melt it for popcorn, slather it on toast… it has a flavor that, as far as I’m concerned is nearly as addictive as chocolate.

Soooo, it was just a matter of time before my two worlds collided – with a little salt thrown in for good measure.

Every single day, I take a square of chocolate (dark, usually but medium is just as delicious), add a little ghee on top, then sprinkle the whole shebang with pink Himalayan salt or sea salt. It has to be one of these and the reason is a very technical one… they look cooler.

Very technical.

The absolute best ghee on the market is Ancient Organics Ghee. Trust me on this one – I’ve tried them all and, for whatever reasons, no other ghee even come close.

My beloved Ghee and ChocZero make an unbeatable team and I do believe I’ll get up from here and have one. Oh, heck let’s make it two, want to?

ChocZero Sugar Free Chocolates, Ghee and Pink Himalayan Salt


Gourmet Gift Baskets: Beautiful Choices for Easter Gift-Giving!

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Gourmet Gift Baskets Easter Basket
I’ve written about King of Pop popcorn and Gourmet Gift Baskets before on Get Cooking and I’m delighted to have the chance to do so again. I was recently sent an adorable Easter Basket in exchange for telling you about the Easter Baskets and sets on Gourmet Gift Baskets (which often include deliciousness from King of Pop). There are beautiful gifts for everyone of any age… a lot more creative than the ones you find in stores.

As you can see from the pictures, this particular gift basket, the Classic Easter Bunny Gift Basket includes an adorable stuffed rabbit (very good quality, too), chocolate candies, delicious popcorn, Peeps (a HUGE weakness of mine… I mean to tell you, I am a serious Peeps fanatic), and Laffy Taffy.

Gourmet Gift Baskets Easter Basket
If you have children in your life (or, if we’re being honest here… if you have a pet lover with a sweet tooth in your life), this gift basket makes a beautiful gift idea. I mention pet lovers because one of our cats has fallen head over fluffy tail in love with the rabbit and can often be found taking a nap with her head in its lap. As a matter of fact, she also LOVES the thick box the gift basket came in, the green ribbon that was on the basket and the basket, itself!

Between my sweet tooth and her love of FUN, we have enjoyed this gift basket more than any 8 year old would have!

From Gourmet Gift Baskets: There are certain things that are essential to Easter morning, like beautiful toys and irresistible chocolate. So, in this wonderful basket, we brought together all of those classic elements to create the perfect holiday gift! Complete with bright sweet candies and chocolates, crisp handcrafted popcorn, and a gorgeous stuffed bunny, this lovely arrangement will make Easter morning absolutely unforgettable!

Gourmet Gift Baskets Easter Basket
Gourmet Gift Baskets always come in excellent condition and they are extremely reliable and FAST. FAST is always good when sending gifts! Their gifts are always creative and go the extra step… you know the one… the extra step that takes you from feeling “good” about a gift you’ve given to feeling “great” about a gift you’ve given.

Click the following link to see more Easter Gift Baskets from Gourmet Gift Baskets – they have gift baskets in a wide variety of styles with plenty of different contents. The price range is also great, so you can find pretty much just what you’re looking for.

Their “gifts” can even be used to put your Easter meal together! It’d be a beautifully simple and simply beautiful way to provide extra desserts and/or snacks…. with very little effort on your part.

Some of the Easter and Spring Gifts Available:

See Gourmet Gift Baskets for more gift baskets for Easter, Birthdays, Christmas, and every other special occasion you can think of.

Gourmet Gift Baskets Easter Basket

Merci Goodness! Merci Finest European Chocolates Review

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Merci Chocolates

Merci Finest European Chocolates

I was recently sent a box of Merci Finest European Chocolates to review and I’ve been in chocolate Heaven ever since.  Now remember, I’m a bona fide chocoholic – in every sense of the word – so I know my chocolates. You could blindfold me and feed me 50 different chocolates (would it help if I begged?). I’d be able to classify them in three categories:

  1. Premium
  2. Next Best Thing
  3. Last resort…. but still chocolate, so keep ’em coming.

After just one bite into a Merci Chocolate, I realized that if it were in the lineup, I’d need a 4th category called, I’ve Now Forgotten Every Chocolate I’ve Ever Met…

Yes, as a matter of fact, Merci Chocolates are that darn good. They’re creamy, delicious, and take you to a whole other world… one covered in chocolate.  A chocolate world where crime, pain, illness, taxes, and pop music don’t exist.  No one gets older, no one gets angry, an no one ever ever ever has a bad hair day.  Say it with me now, Merci Goodness!

Merci Chocolates

  • Finest Assortment of European Chocolates
  • Name that means thank you
  • 20 pieces of rich, indulgent, individually wrapped chocolates
  • A delightful gift especially for expressing gratitude

The box shown above is their 8.8 oz box of heavenly chocolates. You can find this box on Amazon, but the best deal can be found by clicking the following link. For just a small amount more, you get TWO boxes and, trust me, you’ll want at least that many. See Merci European Chocolates, Assortment, 8.8-Ounce Boxes (Pack of 2).

Merci Chocolates are the Finest Assortment of European Chocolates with a brand name that literally means thank you!  I can’t think of a better way to say thank you (or I love you, or happy birthday, or happy anniversary, or Merry Christmas, or Holy Cow You’re the Bee’s Knees….) than with these amazingly delicious chocolates.

I suppose that’s why Merci Chocolates are a top gift-giving chocolates.  The gift giver and the receiver know that Merci chocolates are  made with the finest ingredients available. What’s more, each box is beautifully packaged and features 20 pieces of rich, incredibly delicious, individually wrapped chocolates. With seven flavor varieties, including Dark Mousse, Hazelnut-Almond, Dark Cream, and Praline-Crème, Merci Chocolates will flat blow you away.

Valentine’s Day is less than a week away.  Why not give your Valentine a gift that’ll rock their world?

Also keep Merci Chocolates in mind for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Christmas, and any day when you want to show someone how much you care.  They’d also be outrageously appropriate for saying Thank You when someone has a “thank you” coming.

Sure, thank you cards are nice, but thank you chocolates are MUCH better!  Not. Even. Close.

Merci Chocolates Review

16 Tasty Year Round Uses for Candy Coated Almonds

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I recently had the pleasure of reviewing a bag of Oh Nuts Candy Coated Almonds.  Being a complete nut fanatic, I couldn’t wait for the bag to arrive in the mail. When it did, it took me all of 2 seconds to tear into it. I was probably on my third candy coated almond before the mail carrier was off of our street.

I have no shame when it comes to nuts, coffee, chocolate, or catfish. No shame whatsoever.

My mind has been buzzing over the many uses for these wonderful and beautiful candy coated almonds. I’m afraid that the pictures here just don’t do them enough justice. They’re so bright, shiny, and colorful!

Below are just some of the ways I’ve come up with for enjoying these little lovelies.

  1. Celebrate March Madness with your favorite team’s colors. I bleed UK Wildcat’s blue and white, so I use the blue and white ones for gameday snacking. Leave the delicious candy coated almonds in candy dishes, throw them in a bowl with fresh popcorn, or use them to spell out your team’s initials on top of a cake.
  2. Use colorful candy coated almonds in Easter baskets and/or as Easter decorations.
  3. During baseball season, choose the colors of your favorite team. I’d have St. Louis Cardinals’ colors in baskets, candy dishes, bowls, etc.
  4. These beautiful candy coated almonds would make excellent wedding favors. There are countless wedding favor bags and boxes available.  Simply order candy covered almonds in the chosen wedding colors and fill the bags/boxes.
  5. These are perfect for snacks at the office. Keep the bag in your desk drawer and you’ll have healthy snacks readily available throughout the day.
  6. Fourth of July? Red, white, and blue candy coated almonds would be gorgeous on cupcakes, cakes, and cookies.
  7. You could use these almonds as favors at a baby shower, much as you would a wedding.  There are colors available that make me instantly think of baby showers: pink, blue, yellow, white…
  8. Speaking of pink, activities and fund raisers for breast cancer awareness would be a perfect fit for the beautiful pink candy coated almonds.
  9. A bag or two of candy coated almonds would be delicious additions to gift baskets, whether it’s for Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, birthdays, or Christmas.
  10. Send a few bags to your favorite college student.  We all love to send treats to those we love and, quite frankly, Oh Nuts products are PERFECT for this. Nuts travel well and won’t spoil or get “messy” like a lot of other treats. As a bonus, they’re as healthy as they are delicious!
  11. Use beautiful red and white candy coated almonds in heart-shaped candy dishes as part of your Valentine’s Day decor.  Give some as gifts to your favorite valentine as well.
  12. Choose red, green, white, gold metallic or silver metallic  for Christmas decorating. They’d be beautiful additions to fruit baskets.
  13. Orange and Black Candy Coated Almonds are perfect for Halloween!
  14. St. Patrick’s day cupcakes call for green candy coated almonds.
  15. NFL fans can choose their team’s colors for tailgating snacks.
  16. The metallic colored almonds (see #12) are also ideal for New Year’s Eve AND silver or gold wedding anniversaries.

White Candy Coated Almonds

Health Benefits of Almonds:

  • Since almonds are a plant based food, they contain no cholesterol.
  • Almonds are loaded with protein, fiber, calcium, magnesium, potassium, vitamin E and other antioxidants and phytochemicals.
  • Studies show that just 3 ounces of almonds a day can actually lower a person’s cholesterol by 14 percent. 14 percent!
  • When we munch on healthy snacks, like nuts, we stay away from unhealthy and harmful snacks like chips. That, alone, makes them worth their weight in gold.