Father’s Day is just around the corner and dads love chocolate too! A lot of the companies below offer expedited shipping, so if you’re just now realizing too that Father’s Day is only five days away, don’t panic!

See’s has a lot of great Father’s Day stuff this year. There’s the standard Seegar that’s been around for years, and they now have a Blue Ribbon Box filled with chocolate, a Father’s Day Scrapbook Box, and a Sports Dad Box.

Target has Good Fortune Father’s Day cookies, which are fortune cookies dipped in dark and white chocolate.

Father’s Day Milk Chocolate Bar Gift Box are from World’s Finest Chocolate and are chocolate bars wrapped in “Happy Father’s Day” wrappers and be personalized further for free!

Chocolate.com is offering a Happy Father’s Day Chocolate Chip Cheesecake that looks amazing!

By Nature (UK) has natural and organic chocolates and is featuring a chunky Father’s Day slab.

Phillips Candy has put together a Boston Red Sox Bucket that contains milk chocolate baseballs, freshly baked Phillips Chocolate Chip cookies, “ballpark” popcorn - and peanuts drizzled with chocolate, a Red Sox tumbler, temporary Red Sox tattoos & pencils and an adorable plush baseball.

You can find a bunch of Molded Chocolate Father’s Day gifts from The Chocolate Vault!

VirtualChocolate.com has a ton of chocolate-themed e-cards for dad, too, just in case you can’t get something else to him in time!

[image: see's product photo]

These chocolate gift ideas are, of course, my own personal preference! I’m trying to keep a budget in mind and not going too extravagant. Feel free to comment with any additions you’d make!

1. I have a soft spot for the See’s Signature Red Heart. It’s such a classic, timeless Valentine’s gift and one that’s sure to please just about anyone. My mom liked it so much that we still have a “vintage” See’s heart box from the mid-60’s tucked away into storage! The satin-covered box holds two pounds of milk and dark chocolates, including Soft Centers, Nuts & Chews, Marzipan, California Brittle®, Almond Square, and Molasses Chips.



2. Hotel Chocolat has a seasonal Goody Bag that makes a fantastic gift. It comes with a Raspberry Crème chocolate mini slab (don’t let the dried raspberries scare you off - it’s delicious!), 40% milk chocolate mini slab, six seasonal chocolates, a bag of Caramel Canapés (which are my new favorites), and a milk chocolate dipper. It’s packed with so many goodies that Valentine’s will last a lot longer than just one day!



3. You may not be able to eat it but a theobromine molecule t-shirt is still one of my most favorite chocolate items! YellowIbis created this one especially for this month’s contest, but if you don’t want to wait or don’t want to enter, you can purchase one for yourself and a loved one (think how cute those would look layered over a long-sleeved tee!). They’re available in three colors — raspberry, brown and pink — and can be worn long after Valentine’s Day is over!



4. Emily’s Chocolates dark chocolate covered strawberries. They also have dark and milk chocolate covered fortune cookies (be still my heart) and you can choose friendly fortunes or love fortunes.



5. A chocolate of the month club! Now, I have no experience with this and haven’t tried the chocolate, but of course I love the idea. You can sign your loved one up for three months, six months or a full year. You’re billed monthly so it doesn’t kill you wallet in one fell swoop, and what’s better than getting chocolate delivere right to your door?

Chocolate is always a popular topic around the Lifestyles Channel! I’ve rounded up a bunch of links from the past week or so - make sure you stop by!

~ Arieanna at Cooking Gadgets has a Valentine’s Day Cupcake Kit, and the Serendipity Frozen Hot Chocolate Kit.

~ Tom at Noodles and Rice writes about Choco Pies and Choco Pan.

~ Tracey at Foodie Obsessed has the scoop on a recent Project Runway episode that involved making clothing material out of anything they could find at the Hershey’s store.

~ Marye at Baking Delights makes Chocolate Intrigue Cookies.

~ Karen at Thrifty Mommy posted instructions on white chocolate dipped pretzels and Oreo cookies.

2007 brought a few shake-ups to the world of chocolate, probably the biggest being that The Chocolate Manufacturers Association tried to get the FDA to relax rules about what can be called chocolate and allow for the use of artificial fats instead of cocoa butter. Thankfully, that looks to have not passed thanks to sites like DontMessWithOurChocolate.com.

A few posts here at Chocolate Bytes touched on a few issues that were important to a lot of people as well:

~ Hands down the most popular post here this year is still Hershey’s planned move to Mexico [and part two]. A lot of people are outraged, some totally missed the point, and most decided to let Hershey’s know how they feel by not buying anymore Hershey products. The discussion is still ongoing if you want to jump in!

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~ One of the funnest posts was about a chocolate-swiping squirrel in Finland.

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~ It’s always nice to read that one of your favorite foods is also healthy and good for you, right?

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~ My quest for Tim Tams finally came to fruition when a sweet friend sent me some in the mail. Everyone seems to have a favorite way to eat these!

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~ My post for the then-Home and Dining channel project for Breast Cancer Awareness garnered the attention of a site that condemned us all for being so superficial and for not doing what she thought we should be doing for Breast Cancer Awareness. Who knew a little fun with pink chocolate products could spawn so much outrage? (Regardless, it was a really fun post to put together!)

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~ A lot of you love of you love your Ritter Sport and had some excellent recommendations on what to try and where to find it! (For which I am still grateful!)

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What were your favorite Chocolate Bytes posts of 2007?

Chef Jules notified me that Moonstruck Chocolate has their Halloween chocolate out! I agree with him that the chocolate horror pizza above is the best and really would be easy to *whispers* copy! “A slice of milk chocolate pizza topped with an array of ghoulish goodies, including an Eyeball Truffle & Gummi treats.”

Wormy Jack
“A milk chocolate Jack O’ Lantern with attitude, filled with a gummy worm surprise.”

MORE after the cut! Thanks, Jules!

Read more

For Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the Home & Dining channel has put together some lists to help you show your support. Here are some chocolate ideas to check out:

~ Pink chocolate fondue sets: one and two

In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness, Trudeau has created a charming line of pink products that are both fun and functional- and all for an extremely worthy cause. Have some fun with this 7-pc. Chocolate Fondue Set, which includes:

- One stoneware calla lily shaped bowl
- One Pink Ribbon-shaped metal stand with four non-scratch, non-skip pads
- One tea light
- Four pink stainless steel fondue forks

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~ Pink chocolate fountains: one and two

Warm Belgian chocolate is carried to the top of the fountain where it cascades down the fountain tiers forming a flowing curtain of delicious chocolate into which your friends and kids can dip a variety of fruit and sweets. Be sure to keep some fresh fruits, some marshmallows and fudge handy.

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~ Pink M&M’s

The M&M’s Brand has joined the Komen Million Dollar Council, a special group of corporate partners. In addition to a financial contribution of at least $1 million, each partner has found new and innovative ways to spread two important messages: early detection saves lives and only through research can we find a cure.

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~ Pink Wish Tim Tams

Australia’s favourite chocolate biscuit, Arnott’s Tim Tam, has launched a limited edition product to coincide with Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October. Arnott’s will donate ten cents to the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) for every packet of Tim Tam ‘Pink Wish’ Luscious Strawberry sold, which is expected to raise more then $150,000 for breast cancer research.

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~ Strawberry Kit Kats

With breast cancer diagnosed amongst 1 in 8 women & the leading cause of female cancer related deaths, Nestlé with KIT KAT is proud to support the National Breast Cancer Foundation’s (NBCF) 2007 ‘Pink Ribbon’ campaign.

Nestlé with KIT KAT is supporting the worthy cause with the launch of a limited edition Kit Kat Chocolate Strawberry flavour range and a $100,000 donation to the NBCF.

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~ Pink Hershey’s Kisses

“This year, we’re significantly expanding our support for efforts to raise breast cancer awareness and help defeat this disease,” said Michele Buck, Senior Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer, US Commercial Group, The Hershey Company. “Three of our most popular products — York peppermint patties, Hershey’s Kisses and Hershey’s Kissables chocolates — will turn pink this fall, adopting this widely recognized symbol of breast cancer awareness. We also are increasing our donation to the Young Survival Coalition to $300,000, continuing our support for its important work on behalf of breast cancer survivors.”

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~ Hershey’s York pink peppermint patties

Hershey partners with the Young Survival Coalition to help raise money in an effort to encourage young women to become educated about breast cancer.

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~ Dark chocolate with pink peppercorns

A perfect mold-breaking idea, this unexpected combination revives the first uses of chocolate, when the Aztecs regarded it as a stimulating beverage. Bitter, made with hot spices, the drink was reserved for princes and gods.

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~ pink and chocolate cookies
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~ Make your own pink chocolate
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Also check out:
~ The Food Bowl: Pet Pinks for Breast Cancer Awareness
~ Declutter It: 10 Ideas for your Pink Party
~ Baking Delights: Baking for Breast Cancer Awareness
~ Keeping the Castle: The Pink Room
~ Offbeat Homes: Ten Breast Self-Exam Reminders
~ Simply Thrifty: In Honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month: 10 Pink Money Saving Gadgets

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I love to make treats and snacks but don’t like having to wait a long time for them to be ready (and neither do the kids). So I’ve put together a list of some easy (and mostly quick) chocolate snack recipes and ideas:

1. Muddy Buddies
2. S’more pops
3. Chocolate nut chews
4. Chocolate cake mix cookies
5. Hot chocolate
6. Chocolate and cinnamon popcorn
7. Chocolate crispy snack balls
8. Easy chocolate snack cakes
9. Chocolate walnut rum balls
10. Frozen chocolate bananas
11. Chocolate no-bake cookies
12. Chocolate dipped strawberries
13. Double chocolate cereal treats
14. Quick and Easy Brownies
15. Chocolate rice pudding
16. Chocolate chip shake
17. White chocolate snack mix
18. Chocolate Nesquick Pops
19. Chocolate lover’s brownies
20. Chocolate butterscotch haystacks
21. Quick and easy chocolate mousse
22. Chocolate and peanut butter dipped apples
23. Chocolate snack blocks
24. Chile chocolate pretzels
25. Chocolate walnut puffs
26. Chocolate crinkle cookies
27. South of the border s’mores
28. Bearly Hot Chocolate Snack Mix
29. Quick fudge brownies
30. Chocolate dipped snacks
31. Chocolate Frosted Peanut Butter Rice Krispies Bars
32. Chocolate Covered Potato Chips
33. Chocolate chip cake mix cookies
34. Chocolate peanut butter logs
35. Frozen marble pops
36. Chocolate Crème De Mints
37. Chocolate quesadillas
38. Double Chocolate Sour Cream Snack Cake
39. Whoopie pies
40. Chocolate popcorn trail mix
41. Easy chocolate truffles
42. Chocolate fruit crispies
43. Chocolate Crispix mix
44. Milk chocolate snack cake
45. Easy chocolate trifle
46. Mars Bars crunch
47. Chocolate chip cookie ice cream sandwiches
48. Chocolate peanut butter pizza
49. Rocky road treats
50. Graham Chocolate Yummies

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Here are the entries submitted for the September contest:

Winner Melissa submitted this chocolate apple crate from Moonstruck Chocolate. “Delicious chocolate apples are sectioned in halves, filled with creamy soft caramel and smooth milk chocolate ganache. 3 with nuts and 3 plain.” Yummy! She also found a bunch more links for other autumn goodies (though she only got one entry):
~ Autumn Chocolate Truffles
~ Autumn Garden Discovery Ballotin
~ Autumn wedding favors
~ Chocolate autumn leaves
~ Godiva Autumn Roulade
~ Autumn truffles
~ Autumn chocolate cookies

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Leesha submitted a recipe for Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies.

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Jennifer listed a bunch of autumn-themed chocolate goodies over at Treehugging Family, including these chocolate acorns.

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Laura found Handmade Belgian Chocolate Pumpkin Shape Rice Krisper, Handmade Belgian Dark Chocolate Turkey, Awesome Almond Crunch Belgian Chocolate Caramel Apple, and Thanksgiving Belgian Milk Chocolate Box.

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Wilbur found autumn items for chocolate labs!

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HMW shared a candy corn and peanut topped brownie recipe that I don’t know if I’m brave enough to try!

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Sandy submitted a recipe for Apple Pie Truffles.

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Rosa found a recipe for Chocolate Pumpkin Brownies.

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And thank you to everyone who linked to the contest - you helped make it successful! There probably won’t be an October contest because of the Home & Dining Fall Scavenger Hunt, but I’m already brainstorming for November!

I love cheese. I love fudge. But… chocolate cheese fudge? Oh fine, you know I’d try it!

Read some reviews:

• Wisconsin Candy Dish
• Corks and Curds

Order some:

• Paoli Cheese
• WFUCheese
• Cuba Cheese Shoppe
• Wisconsin Cheese Mart
• Hickory Farms

Make it yourself:

• Paula’s Home Cooking
• Chocolate Cheese Fudge
• Chocolate Cheese Fudge at Recipezaar
• Easy Cream Cheese Fudge
• Best Ever Cheese Fudge

Arr! Happy International Talk Like A Pirate Day!

Guess what I did? If you said dug up a bunch of pirate-related chocolate stuff you would be correct!

• Chocolate Pirate drink
• Pirate Treasure Chest Full of Gold
• M&M’s Pirates of the Caribbean
• Milk Chocolate Pirate
• Pirate’s gold
• Pirate ship chocolate mold
• Pirate cupcakes (vesus ninjas!)
• White chocolate sugar skulls
• Chocolate pirate ship cake