I’ve participated every year that it’s been open to the general public and am an admin this year. This means I won’t actually be blogging for a charity (the theory is that I’ll have enough to do already!) but I do get to stay up for the 24 hours anyway.

The event is a lot of fun, especially when it gets to be around two or three in the morning and the slap happiness sets in.

This can be made even more fun with introduction of caffeinated beverages, and one of my favorite ways to get a hit of caffeine every few hours is by incorporating chocolate, of course!

This recipe comes from one of my favorite blogs to watch during the ‘thon. For the past couple of years, Missy has done a food and cooking marathon, with this recipe adding a much-needed kick to several participants’ late night!

Mocha Java Milkshake

2 cups cold milk
1 cup cold strong coffee
4 – 5 scoops vanilla ice cream
4 tbs Hershey’s Special Dark syrup

Blend on high until smooth. Add more ice cream if a thicker consistency is desired.

Easy as can be, right?

[image: sxc]

Post from: Chocolate Bytes

I was sent some king-sized packs to try out, and each pack has two separate bars in it, each bar about 3 inches long. It’s been a long time since I bought a king-sized Butterfinger, but I do know the last time I did it was one gigantic bar, which I could never finish in one sitting. Having two separate bars was pretty nice since each serving (1 piece) was the perfect size.

I didn’t hesitate when I opened the first pack — I love Butterfingers and really wanted to see if there was a difference between these caffeinated bars and the originals! And I actually couldn’t tell any difference in taste. Sometimes the hyped-up versions will have almost a vitamin-y aftertaste and be somewhat bitter, I didn’t notice it with these. There was a lingering aftertaste but to me it wasn’t unpleasant.

Really the only difference I saw — and unfortunately I don’t have a regular bar on hand to tell for sure — is that the crispy peanut butter inside of the Buzz seems to be a bit of a darker orange than the original. Butterfingers always seem to be a bit battered right out of the package, so that didn’t bother me, though these looked like they’d been through a cement mixer.

The chocolate tastes the same, melting on my fingers before I finished and not impressive overall (though let’s face it, Butterfinger is probably one of the few candy bars I don’t buy for the chocolate), and the “crispety, crunchety” peanut butter inside was perfect, getting stuck in my teeth just like always.

Now what sets the Buzz apart is that it’s supposedly loaded with as much caffeine as “the leading energy drink,” which I take to mean a Red Bull or Monster or whatever. Each individual bar contains 40 mg of caffeine and, as the package says, is “not recommended for pregnant women, children or persons sensitive to caffeine.” I’ve never had an energy drink so I can’t compare and I really didn’t notice an energy boost. If I ate both bars I probably would have, but I can’t down two candy bars in one sitting so I have yet to see!

Overall, a good candy bar but I’m going to have to take Nestle’s word about the energy boost.

Post from: Chocolate Bytes

So imagine how stoked I was when I got an email recently that Nestle is launching a new caffeinated candy bar — Butterfinger Buzz! I adore Butterfingers and can’t wait to try this one out.

The new bar will have “the caffeine kick of the leading energy drink along with the delicious taste of a Butterfinger.” It’ll be available through April 2009 (only two short months!) at Walgreens, 7-Eleven and wherever candy is sold.

Also, if you’re going to be in either New York, Chicago or L.A. over the next week, stop in at the following locations for a chance to win a trip to Las Vegas, a $2,500 gift card and a year’s worth of Butterfinger bars! Only fans who are willing to get a buzz haircut with a temporary spray application of the Butterfinger Buzz logo on their head in Butterfinger orange will be eligible to win!

The hair-raising events will take place from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. on February 10 at Oakley’s Barbershop in Los Angeles and from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. on February 12 at Astor Place Hair in New York and at Chicago Buzz in Chicago.

[image used with permission]

Post from: Chocolate Bytes

As most people know, chocolate contains very small amounts of caffeine. As the article points out, 1.5 ounces of milk chocolate contains about three times the amount of a cup of decaf coffee, and dark chocolate weighing the same amount is equal to about a cup of instant tea.

So basically if you’re sensitive to caffeine don’t have any before you go to bed.

Does the caffeine in chocolate affect you? I have to admit, I’m hit or miss when it comes to what affects me and what doesn’t — I can’t have a soda or straight-up coffee with dinner, but I’ve never had an issue with chocolate or even a cappuccino after the kids are in bed. (Thankfully!)

[image: flickr]

Post from: Chocolate Bytes

Below are the winners of the Snickers Charged! If I don’t hear from a winner within the next 24 hours or they live outside the U.S. I will re-draw tomorrow and update here.

I used a random number generator for the drawing so without further ado:

Melissa Resnick, who wrote: “breakfast of champs”

Janet F, who wrote: “I would love to try this!!”

Shilo Beedy, who wrote: “I never knew Snickers had that style of candy bar, I would love to try it.”

Vanessa Hunter, who wrote: “Ummmmmm…….I want candy!!!!!”

Tamara Leonard Merritt, who wrote: “Snickers is THE BEST candy bar. I would love it to give me a charge too ”

The winners have all been emailed so if you see your name above but haven’t heard from me, feel free to drop me a note to double check that it’s you (if you didn’t receive the aforementioned email).

Again, if winners do not respond within 24 hours a new name(s) will be drawn.

Thank you everyone who entered and please keep an eye out over the next several weeks for my next contest!

Post from: Chocolate Bytes

I’ve been looking for these everywhere and finally found a box last week!

Snickers Charged is a limited edition 1.83oz bar that includes 60 milligrams of caffeine as well as taurine and B-vitamins in addition to the milk chocolate, peanuts, caramel and nougat of a regular bar.

The packaging, which I assume is supposed to portray power and energy, is silver with a charging rhino. My first impression was that it was leaning a little too much toward a power bar look, something I’m not interested in, so it didn’t appeal to me much at all. If it weren’t for the mention of caffeine on the box and wrapper I probably would have bypassed them altogether!

Anyway, I really enjoyed the bar itself! I’ve been disappointed with past limited edition chocolate and candy bars, but I liked the Snickers Charged. While I’ve never been a huge Snickers fan – if given a choice at the checkout or candy aisle I’ll usually go for some Reese’s – and it’s been a while since I’ve had a regular Snickers, it tasted pretty much what I remember Snickers tasting like in general – a, well, satisfying mix of smooth chocolate, peanuts, nougat and caramel.

I didn’t find it to have a metallic taste or bitter aftertaste and while caffeine doesn’t affect me to the point that I walk around wired I did notice a bit of a pick-me-up not longer after I was finished. In all, I really liked the Snickers Charged and think I might pick up another box next time I’m out before Mars yanks them from the shelves!

[images: personal collection; all rights reserved]

Post from: Chocolate Bytes

Years ago I bought a caffeine molecule t-shirt from ThinkGeek.com and just thought it was the cleverest thing ever (I didn’t get out much then). This past weekend I came across my next molecule t-shirt, theobromine. It looks like they only have them in a women’s style (I can’t imagine why that would be).

ThinkGeek’s description says:

“Caffeine is our favorite stimulant. It is easy to get and comes in many forms. But did you know that Caffeine has a sexy younger cousin. Her name is Theobromine, and she’s the tasty little number who puts your mind in a happy place while you are eating chocolate. Molecularly similar to caffeine, but with just enough differences to make her a much smoother date, Theobromine is slower to burn out of your system and induces gentle, sensual stimulation to your muscular and cardiovascular systems. Grrrrrrrr!”

I also found one at moleculewear.com though their prices are a tiny bit higher for the women’s styles.

The descriptions at moleculewear.com says:

“Theobromine is the active ingredient in chocolate and acts as a stimulant.

“Theobromine affects humans similarly to caffeine, but on a much smaller scale. It is a mild stimulant, and relaxes the smooth muscles of the bronchi in the lungs. It’s also an anti-depressant and makes us feel good. After finishing the chocolate molecule the Digital Militia staff began licking fingers, and each other.

“This shirt is for people who have discovered that dessert is more important than the ramifications of obesity, tooth decay, and diabetes.”

Post from: Chocolate Bytes