Xchocol'art

Here is a company who is doing everything right. Xchocol'Art is a family-owned business who produces chocolates that are ranked among the best in the world.  Xchocol'Art uses only the finest organic and fair trade chocolate. The whole chocolate making process is completely transparent. Just check out their website to see how it's done.  Even their packaging is all made from recyclable materials.

I was recently in Carmel, IN to visit my brother and sister-in-law and their new baby. We went to the local farmers' market where I discovered this little gem. Joann was as sweet as could be and genuinely wanted me to try her chocolate. Here's what I tried:

 

I had to get caramels while in Carmel, Indiana, right? These little passion fruit caramels were divine! The passion fruit caramel was delightfully sweet and tangy and the perfect pairing with 60% dark chocolate. The whole piece is incredibly smooth and satisfying (although I did eat both myself - research for the post, people). The chocolate is good enough to be eaten solely by itself too. I'd LOVE to try more of this line. I like them on Facebook, and you should too! Perhaps the fact that it is organic and fair trade helps me to eat it with a clean conscience. Whatever the reason, I may not know art, but I know what I like. And I like Xchocol'Art. 

International Chocolate Day

As if you or I needed another reason to eat chocolate today, allow me to provide one. It's International Chocolate Day. According to the NCA (National Confectioners Association) September 13 is herby declared a chocolate holiday. After attempting to do a little research on the holiday for this post, I couldn't find much... then I thought, ehhh, who cares! It's a chocolate holiday. I think I know how I will be celebrating. Now is a good time to start a new tradition.

I have the best students ever. One of my students made me s'mores brownies. Another one brought me a dove chocolate bar. All because they know how much I love chocolate. Boy, do they know me or what! They all get As :)

Happy holidays.

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::