If the comments on this blog are any indication, I apparently make a lot of folks hungry with my frequent food descriptions... and images. So, for today’s “Monday Munchies,” I thought I’d thank all of you for being such amazing followers of my newbie blog with a nice piece of Ghirardelli’s Twilight Dark – an intensely dark chocolate, made from 72% cacao, with just a hint of sweetness. Mmm, so tasty – and a terrific stress reliever to boot (as one clever character, Ginger the tea shop owner, indicated on Come In Character today). So, if you’ve become a follower of this blog, ever left a comment, or just visited once, consider yourself worthy of this yummy piece of chocolate. My only advice is to nibble it slowly... and enjoy every last bite!Dark chocolate just happens to be one of my and my hubby’s favorite guilty pleasures. We’ve both been eating it for years – so imagine our delight when we heard that there were actually health benefits to consuming dark chocolate. When eaten in moderation, it’s been known to lower blood pressure – and as a potent antioxidant, it can also curb heart disease and other ailments exacerbated by nasty free radicals. No wonder it’s such an amazing stress reliever! So, it’s not just because of the psychological boost.
Perhaps due to such benefits, there’s been a serious manufacturing trend toward dark chocolate these days. Everything from Peanut M&Ms to Snickers now has a dark chocolate version – and Dan and I couldn’t be happier.
So, I hope that you enjoy today’s yummy treat, offered to show appreciation for YOU, my lovely readers. Now, if for some crazy reason, you’re not a fan of dark chocolate, I’ll squelch my desire to beat a little sense into you and instead offer you any other (legal) treat that comes to mind. Let me know what you’d prefer, and I’ll do my best to get it for you. Just bear in mind that I’m in the boonies at the moment, so things like caviar and monkey brains might be hard to come by!
----------
Additional gifts, as requested in the comments section:
Good evening, Steph D. Here's your glass of red wine! I agree that it will go quite nicely with the dark chocolate. As a bonus, I've included a wooden wine stopper from New Orleans. The inscription reads "Laissez les bons temps rouler" - which translates into "Let the good times roll," the unofficial slogan of the Big Easy.
17 comments:
DC's definitely got more health benefits than MC... wow just heard The Dirty Dancer just died... nobody puts baby in a corner... now I need me some MC b/c DC's just too rich for the dog's blood.
Yeah, I just heard ol' Patrick lost his fight with the Big C, and it made me really sad for some reason. Too young, I guess. But that pancreatic cancer never turns out well - don't think even dark chocolate would've helped. But, the thing about a movie star's death is that, right or wrong, he'll live on through his films... and he'll always be the virulent bad-ass that won Jennifer Grey's heart (pre-nose job, that is).
You're killin' me with all this food Laura! And oh no--I had a huge crush on PS--a long time ago--does that make me a geek? a geekette? :)
I watched my dad die of pancreatic cancer--it's a mean one.
My favorite guilty pleasure is dark chocolate AND red wine - paired together is oh just so wonderful. Sigh. I'm content just thinking about it.
I just heard about PS too. Like you said Laura, I'll always think of him as Johnny and he'll forever live on.
No, Deb, you're not a geek or a geekette (LOL)... Swayze was definitely dreamy in his day, and I, too, had a thing for him. Even in NEXT OF KIN, bad as it was.
I'm sorry that your dad died of pancreatic cancer, too. Truly, I am. I hear nothing good about that one. My dad had prostate cancer, but his was caught in time... which, I suppose, is the problem with the kind that PS and your dad had. Hard to detect early. :-(
I'm new to your blog, but I have to agree--your posts make me hungry :) I love dark chocolate, but I'll eat chocolate in any form.
Oh my gosh...I saw that chocolate and just about died and went to heaven. Seriously, I just got back from San Francisco where they handed me piece after piece in every shop. It's was the annual chocolate festival... Lucky I wasn't down there when everything was open. I would have gained 25 lbs!
Thanks for the chocolate treat, Laura. And Strange, sorry to hear about your dad. I did not know that.
Bane, I'm afraid I couldn't locate any milk chocolate for you - perhaps tomorrow will prove to be more fruitful.
As for you, Steph D., I offer you this glass of red wine - which I agree goes quite nicely with the dark chocolate. Hope this gives you a little contentment in the midst of your recent big life decisions...
P.S. Yes, PS will live forever as Johnny, Sam, and Bodhi (my three favorite characters of his). He'll be missed.
Welcome, Natalie! I love when new folks drop by the blog - and I'm glad you found the chocolate tempting. I do aim to please! Oh, and congratulations on snagging an agent - that's really exciting!
P.S. I'll also eat chocolate in any form. :-)
J.J. - That's right! You were just in the land of Ghirardelli's, and at chocolate fest time, no less... mmm, now I'm jealous! Sounds like you had a good time - glad your hubby got to make the trip with you!
Susan - You're welcome! I love to share food with my pals...
I love dark chocolate. That picture makes me want to go out and buy some right now.
I had no idea that PS passed until reading the comments. That makes the fifth death I've heard about this week. Very sad. All the more reason to enjoy every second of life!
Hi, Morgan! (I mean, Lisa)
Yahoo! Because you "came out" on your blog, do I get to call you Lisa now? So many bloggers go by other names (Strange Fiction, Lazy Writer, Fiction Groupie, etc.) that I was having trouble remembering who wanted to stay anonymous and who was okay with being "outed" - LOL!
Anyhoo, I'm glad the chocolate photo tempts you - that was the general idea, teehee.
And, yes, the news of Patrick's death is very sad... I only found out about it a few hours ago. You're right - we must enjoy life while we have it!
Mmmm chocolate! Thanks!
My personal favorite "brand" is "Dagoba" Chocolate. They started their company in the same town that we lived in in Oregon, then they moved to Ashland. I especially love the "xocolatl bar" that has cacao nibs and dried chili. Mmmm It bites back!
Yes it is hard to find gormet goods up here, but I know my cooking skills have improved since moving here. Especially the "making-something-out-of-nothing" skill.
Sure thing, Becky! I've never had Dagoba chocolate - sounds great, though. I especially love chili-enhanced chocolate (other brands make it, too) - you're right, there's quite a bite!
Can't say my cooking skills have improved much since being in Michigan - but Dan's great at making something out of nothing. He has excellent culinary instincts that I sadly lack. :-(
All I can think about is dark chocolate now. Specifically a Ghirardelli dark chocolate cheese cake.
Mmm... that sounds so good, Regina. I've never had one of those before - but somehow I think my diet would be miffed as soon as the cheesecake was sitting in front of me. Sigh.
Post a Comment