Posted by Lindenblüte on October 12, 2006, at 8:27:50
In reply to Re: a hole that chocolate won't fill » Lindenblüte, posted by ClearSkies on October 11, 2006, at 15:59:34
> Chocolate is definitely prescribed in your situation, Linden. I prefer to weep into a bar of Cadbury's, but I believe that Toblerone will do just as well. As if you're like my husband, in desperate times a squirt of Hershey's syrup will do until you can get to a corner shop.
> ((((Linden))))My Hershey's syrup is this god-awful sugar free version I bought cause it was on sale. I don't know what to do with it. it's barely edible.
I can buy Cadbury's at the local shop on the corner. Haven't tried it in a while. My recollection is that they make a very creamy milk chocolate, no?
> Last week I thought I was being clever when I bought several bars and put them in the fridge for emergencies. Who would have thought that not a day would pass before I had to take that little hammer and break the glass to get to my stash?
When I came back from Germany in August, I had about 1 kg of chocolate bars in my fridge. I gave away about 300-400 grams. I just finished the last one last week. It was a monstrouous Milka bar- 300 grams.
It's time to stock up again. All I have left is half a bar of Lindt orange intense. It's good, but it's important to keep a reserve.
Some things I have noticed.
1: Daily chocolate consumption- high quality is more satisfying than a snickers bar. Because it's more satisfying, I can consume a smaller quantity. This is why I keep dark chocolate on hand. A square or two of the orange intense will be enough for me for an evening treat.
2: exotic flavors: Since I'm not allowed wine or beer or other things, I enjoy exploring the subtleties of chocolate. In the USA right now, there is a surge of interest in gourmet chocolate bars. It's really a very reasonable indulgence. a large bar costs 3 dollars or so, and often a few squares is sufficient to satisfy the daily sweet tooth (bobby knows that I usually eat the chocolate when I'm on babble-chat!!).
Dark and milk Chocolate with essence of pear, orange, cumin, cinnamon, nutmeg, spearmint, espresso, hazelnuts, lavender, chipotle, lemon, cardamon, etc. These intense and exotic flavors are really fun to experiment with.
3) Chocolate as comfort food. This is the case where I will usually go for milk chocolate. Something about the creamy richness. The absence of the acidic, bitter "bite" that the super-strong bittersweet chocolates have is key. The creaminess is essential. Milka is wonderful. Dove milk chocolate will do in a pinch. Lindt milk chocolate is lovely, as is godiva (way overpriced), Rittersport Alpenmilk, etc. (perhaps I'll add cadbury to this list)
I may also indulge in a "filled" chocolate bar. A good example might be Ritter-sport milk chocolate that's filled with nugat (nutella-like), or with white chocolate, yogurt filling, or marzipan. perhaps milk chocolate filled with creamy caramel might be a comfort food indulgence.
4) Chocolate as a meal: this is a nice way of saying "binge". Texture is key. I like my chocolate to have some texture if I'm going to be eating more than a few squares. I love any fine choclate with almonds or hazelnuts. Toblerone has these wonderful crunchy almond bits and chewy nougat chunks that taste like honey. I loved the Chocolove toffee and almond milk chocolate bar I ate last night. The one I ate last week had hazelnuts and dried cherries in dark chocolate. I couldn't taste the cherries at all. it was very disappointing. Ritter Sport with rum raisin, hazelnuts is delicious, as is their crispy cornflakes variety. I also love any chocolate which contains cocoa bean nibs. These are the little roasted chunks of cocoa bean. They are kind of cruncy, and taste of chocolate, but without the sweetness. A hint of bitter, but not like a coffee bean by any means. Sometimes I like milk chocolate with crushed up cookies, peppermint sticks or other things mixed in.
5) Chocolate as special indulgence. This is the category that I regard as very special indulgences, usually because of price, or seasonal or geographic unavailability.
At the top of the list is Rebecca Ruth's Kentucky Bourbon assortments. I love to savor the Bourbon Balls that are a bourbon fondant filling with a thick dark chocolate shell and a whole pecan half on top. Absolutely divine (20 of these might have me feeling tipsy, but they're so rich, I'd feel sick before then!). I also like RR Irish coffee, which is a coffee and whiskey center and green tinted white couverture. Fantastic.
Next comes Godiva pumpkin spice truffles. They are about a dollar each, so I will have to justify spending my precious grad student stipend on such an indulgence.
Finally, there are a number of fine chocolate shops springing up in metropolitan areas all around the USA. A box of four fine truffles is really a wonderful treat.
So. now you know that the chocolate thing is a major part of my lifestyle.
here's the irony:
I don't really enjoy chocolate ice cream, and I prefer coffee and tea to hot chocolate. I'm kind of strange that way, I guess.
My next chocolate stock-up will include a trip to Godiva for the October and November available pumpkin truffles. Next, I will go to Target- they have a large selection of interesting chocolate bars, and finally, perhaps a health-food store. Many of them are stocking single-estate organic bars that are wonderful for sampling and training the pallette.
I usually eat about one bar every 5-7 days. maybe 25 g daily. mmm!
-Li
poster:Lindenblüte
thread:693625
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20061005/msgs/694074.html