September 22, 2008
I’m always skeptical when I see chocolate and it isn’t expensive. (I’ve mentioned before that I am a bit of a chocolate snob). So I had low expectations for the Chocolate Drizzled Caramel Corn from The Popcorn Factory. I figured the popcorn would be fine (because that’s their specialty) but that the chocolate would taste cheap. I could not have been more wrong!
I had ordered a variety pack of different types of popcorn, candies, and cookies. As soon as I opened the tin, I headed straight for the chocolate. I’m ashamed to admit that I didn’t even share with my kids. I actually ate the entire bag of it before anyone else even knew I had it! I seriously thought about ordering more immediately so that I could have it by the next weekend. The contrast of the chocolate and the popcorn made it an addictive combination that I couldn’t manage to put down.
What I love about The Popcorn Factory is that you can find an assortment for any occasion. You can order plain old bags when it is just for snacking. Or you can order tins and baskets for any holiday. Their shipping is fast and reasonable. Whether you are looking for a treat for your family or a gift for friends, you should absolutely give the Chocolate Drizzled Caramel Corn a chance.
September 2, 2008
I’m always looking for ways to satisfy my chocolate sweet tooth without packing on the pounds. Today I saw JELL-O Sugar Free Dark Chocolate Pudding Snacks. At 60 calories and only 1.5g of fat, I knew that I had to try it.
The pudding snacks come 6 to a package and must stay refridgerated. Although I often eat my pudding with a dollop of fat free Cool Whip, I decided to eat the dark chocolate pudding straight so that I could appreciate the flavor. Good choice! The pudding was creamy and thick–perfect for someone who craves chocolate after almost every meal. Although I can’t say that it was much different than their regular sugar free chocolate pudding, it definitely seemed a little darker, a little less sweet.
If you are watching your sugar intake or your waistline but still love chocolate, you should definitely check out the newest sugar free treats from JELL-O. You can indulge every day and not feel the least bit guilty.
P.S. The Dark Chocolate Raspberry was as delicious as the Dark Chocolate!
August 26, 2008
I have been seeing Target’s chocolate collection, choxie, for months but never tried it. The other day on a whim I decided to grab a sampler and see how it compared to more expensive chocolates.
I bought the Cocktail Truffle Collection, which contained 6 different flavors: Milk Chocolate Cosmo, White Chocolate Pina Colada, Dark Chocolate Appletini, Milk Chocolate Margarita, Dark Chocolate Peach Bellini, and Dark Chocolate Martini.
The box itself was nice looking but not expensive. Nice enough to give along with another gift or as a little “thank you” gift but not Valentine’s Day quality or anything like that. The inside of the box was a little bit cheaper looking.
I started with the Dark Chocolate Peach Bellini because dark chocolate and peach bellinis are, separately, two of my favorite things. It was really good. Not cheap tasting at all. And a nice mix of flavors. It was probably my favorite in the box. I was least looking forward to the White Chocolate Pina Colada because I’m not much of a white chocolate eater. But the sprinkle of coconut on the top helped me overlook the white chocolate. The only one that I was not too pleased with was the Milk Chocolate Margarita. They tried to capture the salt taste and it just didn’t work for me.
Overall, I have to say that I would buy them again and would buy them for a friend. The “alcohol” flavor in each was minimal, especially compared to true liquor filled truffles. Each was topped with either a sprinkle or a dusting of something, making each individual piece look special.
I haven’t seen these available online, so you would not be able to order them for a gift. But I would assume you can pick them up in any Target store (mine was a Super Target). Next time I will try a different assortment of more traditional flavors…maybe some caramel and pecan. I am certain that I will be eating choxie again!
August 23, 2008
Tonight we had dinner at Cheeseburger in Paradise for the sole reason that I was hungry for Chocolate Nachos. The first few times that I ate there, I completely avoided the Chocolate Nachos on the menu because they just didn’t sound right. After eating them once, I was hooked!
If you have never seen the Chocolate Nachos before, they are alternating wedges of flour tortillas and chocolate tortillas, drizzled with hot fudge, strawberry pieces, and sprinkles–served with different flavors of ice cream for dipping. They have to be one of my favorite desserts ever!
After sharing the platter with my family, I decided to head home and find the recipe for them online. Every recipe is online, right? Wrong! I can’t find a recipe anywhere for the Chocolate Nachos at Cheeseburger in Paradise. I’ve found a couple of different clues (one being a tortilla company that makes chocolate tortillas for sale in food service). Another clue was that I found powdered sugar residue on a couple of the tortillas.
As close as I can figure, you need to either buy the chocolate tortillas from Tumaro’s Gourmet Tortillas (which seem to be sold wholesale only) or make them yourself. I did find a recipe for making chocolate tortillas that looks moderately possible. While they are still hot, sprinkle them with powdered sugar to create a glaze when they cool. Then drizzle with your toppings.
