The Earl of Chocolate?

Dr. Kate Lovemen, a lecturer at the University of Leicester's School of English, has discovered 350-year-old recipes collected by the Earl of Sandwich.  The recipes are for an iced chocolate beverage similar to what we would think of as a frozen mocha type drink. If you don't know your chocolate history, the earliest form of chocolate was consumed as a drink. Cacao beans were used as forms of payment, tributes to gods, and symbols of wealth. 

I had no idea that the Earl of Sandwich was a chocoholic until reading this article. Since freezing chocolate in the 17th century was somewhat of a process, some thought it to be unwholesome and could have negative health effects. The Earl's remedy? Drink hot chocolate a half hour after consuming cold chocolate! Genius! 

READ the rest of the article here. Warning: it may make you crave one of these:

Peanut Butter Cup Fudge

Like the rest of the world, I've been sucked into the Pinterest black hole and can't get out (not that I want to.) I've pinned everything from fuzzy kittens to classroom supplies. It's only right that I devote a board to Chocolate Emergency. However, I didn't want to be one of those people who pin 100 recipes on Pinterest and then never try anything. Therefore, this past week I made this simple yet scrumptious peanut butter cup fudge that I found on Pinterest. It's very easy and is the perfect combo of peanut butter and chocolate.

22 Reese's Peanut Butter Cups (I used 18 regular sized cups and half a bag of the small ones)

3 cups semi sweet chocolate chips

1  14oz can of sweetened condensed milk

Line a 9x9 pan with foil. Place Reese's cups in rows to line the bottom of the pan. Melt the chocolate chips and condensed milk over low heat until it is blended together. Be sure not to cook the chocolate. Pour over the lined Reese's Cups. Crumble remaining peanut butter cups and sprinkle them on top of the fudge while it is still a little warm. Lightly press them into the fudge. Refrigerate until firm. 

Let me know what you think of this recipe. Enjoy. 

Back to School

I don't know why every year I am surprised that summer has come to an end. But, alas, I've been attending countless meetings this week in preparation for the maniacs kiddos to arrive on Monday. While it was (and still is) hard to wake up early in the morning, I am excited for another year. I feel refreshed and prepared.

This morning, just as I was preparing for lunch, one of my incoming students and her mother were in to tour the building and find her classrooms. Mom had thoughtfully bought the most glorious slice of triple chocolate layer cake for me, and one for each of my teammates, too. Her rationale was that "everything is better with chocolate." I have a feeling we'll get along just fine. If this is any indication of how my year will go, then I am optimistic. Although as with any other school year, I will have a stash of chocolate in my desk drawer for chocolate emergencies. 

Be sure to follow me on Pinterest for more chocolate recipes and mouth-watering photos! 

Chocolate and Peanut Butter Pop Tarts

Boy do these grocery stores know how to market products! I ran into the grocery store last week for only one thing. And well, we all know how that goes. The one thing I went in for was NOT Chocolate and Peanut Butter Pop Tarts but indeed, that's what I came out with. For that I have the woman behind me in line to thank. I was in line, resisting the urge to pick up the Pop Tarts when the woman behind me was just as blown away at the genius creation as I was. She, however, did not fight the urge, and when she asked if I saw them, she insisted I get a box too. Well there went my self-control. I had to have a box.

The chocolate graham cracker-like outside is soft and sweet. The chocolate icing on top is sweeter, and the peanut butter inside is the sweetest. The peanut butter could use a little bit more peanut. It is more of a buttery taste. However I really enjoyed these, and would recommend eating them warm, instead of right out of the package. I don't often eat Pop Tarts, but these are good. 

Tiramisu

Anthony and I celebrated our first anniversary at Lidia's restaurant tonight. This is where we had our first date almost 6 years ago! Oddly enough they sat us at the same table as our first date. Here's a pic of our dessert! I know it's not a lot of chocolate, but it was certainly delicious. 

A big THANK YOU to my sweet mother-in-law for surprising us and picking up the tab. ::love:: 

Annnd... We're Back!

Whew! Hello Chocolate Emergency! Where have you been for the last year and a half? Oh yeah! LIFE! Here's the quick top 10 list of the past year and a half in no particular order.

10. I am now a teacher! This is my dream job. I teach 7th grade English Language Arts. And I never thought I would say this, but I love middle schoolers! Huh! Who knew? This is also the perfect job because even though I am busier than I can imagine during the school year, I can blog during the summer.

9. I bought a new car! I bought a Honda CR-V, and her name is Charlotte. 

8. I am fostering kittens again. I've had 3 litters in the past year. My current litter is the smallest batch I've ever had. They are 3 weeks old. Meet Vinny:

7. As evidenced above, I am still an orange cat lover. Ben is now 4 years old! 

6. My good friend Yasmina and I just finished a 3 day fruit and veggie cleanse. I have not have chocolate for 3 days! Yoi! 

5. Anthony and I are taking our long-awaited honeymoon next month! Palm trees, here we come! 

4. Anthony took me to the Melting Pot for my birthday this year! Does he know me or what?! 

3. I made these:

2. Besides one small pipe bursting in the basement, our home is perfect. Anthony and I still love our little house in Brentwood.

1. Anthony and I got married!

More to come! 

Local Chocolate

Anthony and I recently bought our dream home near Pittsburgh. I was at a local grocery shop a few weeks ago and in the checkout lane they had candy made from a local chocolatier. Never one to pass up a new chocolate, I picked up a chocolate dipped Oreo from Esther's Homemade Candy.

It is America's favorite cookie dipped in a healthy amount of delicious milk chocolate. The chocolate is very smooth and melts in your mouth. This is definitely a chocolate I think could stand on its own in a bar. It doesn't need the oreo to be tasty.  Satisfies my chocolate emergency for sure.  And I'm proud to live in a community that makes delicious chocolate!