We took a trip to Cost Plus World Market last week to stock up on some more good chocolate (they finally have Tim Tams! And Aero Bars!).

I got a nice little pile of chocolate I’ve been wanting to try and my husband went right for this one, which is saying a lot because he’s not really into sweets. I think it was the packaging that got him, though – all those almonds and chocolate, really? We had to give it a try and see!

First off, this bar is huge! I took a shot of it with my hand to show you just how big it is, weighing in at 8.75oz. Valor Chocolates is made in Spain, and the dark chocolate with almonds is considered one of their premium bars.

When you first open the bar this is what you’re greeted with! My husband let me open it up for pictures while he was at work and I knew he was in for a treat – his favorite type of chocolate is chocolate combined with almonds!

From the front you can’t even tell what’s waiting for you inside!

As you can imagine, each bite is guaranteed to have several almonds. The chocolate is truly delicious – smooth, not bitter, and very satisfying. The almonds taste fresh with a very nice crunch and neither of us came across any that had gone rancid.

At room temperature the chocolate is just slightly soft (hence the fingerprints, which I didn’t think about until I’d already handled it!), and melts perfectly in the mouth. Needless to say, as soon as he gets back from his current business trip I think we’ll be heading back to the store to stock up!

I highly recommend this bar if you happen to come across it!

Post from: Chocolate Bytes

I set out on a search last night for tricky things you can do with chocolate for April Fool’s Day today. Sadly, there’s not much. I thought about a “chocolate cake” for dinner (really meatloaf and mashed potatoes dressed up like a cake), but I had no pictures of the few times I’ve done it and what fun is that?

I came across the video above which really doesn’t have much to do with April Fool’s except that it has “trick” in the title, but it does have Tim Tams and hot chocolate and an adorable Australian guy.

I also wanted to share one of the best tricks my step-mom ever pulled on us, and it involves chocolate: She worked at See’s for close to 20 years. One of those years on April Fool’s Day she came home from her usual shift with a one pound box of molasses chips, saying that they had been returned so she brought them home (back when they could do that – they can’t anymore).

Anyway, this was a usual occurrence except that she walked the box around to whomever was home. We should have known something was up because usually the boxes were just left on the kitchen counter for us to forage through, but we were kids and it was a box of chocolate. Except what we didn’t know was that before her shift started that morning she had carefully cut up little strips of cardboard and melted down some chocolate, and carefully dipped the cardboard into the chocolate to resemble the molasses chips, and then tucked them into cups before putting them into a box. Though they didn’t look exactly like molasses chips it just didn’t click at first, and she got all of us good!

Post from: Chocolate Bytes

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?

Post from: Chocolate Bytes

~ 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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Post from: Chocolate Bytes

I was amused that nowhere on the package did it actually say that they were Tim Tams! Aussie friends – is that normal? Or do they usually say “Tim Tam” on the front?

I tried to make it out to the mailbox as soon as I knew the mailman would be gone but there’s no telling how long they were in his truck before that.

We’ve been hitting the so-called “century mark” since June, so I suspected they probably wouldn’t look terribly pretty when I opened them up. Still, I popped them into the fridge to recuperate for a bit but after 20 minutes I couldn’t stand it anymore!

Alas, as is the fate of anything meltable this time of year they were puddly, but I knew they’d taste just fine, and they did! The wafers were crispy, the chocolate was very good and the frosting bit in the middle is apparently not affected by heat! My kids were clambering all over me as I tried them and I promised them one as soon as they “get fixed” in the fridge. I will definitely be trying one with my coffee tomorrow morning!

It’s probably a very good thing that these aren’t available around here because I would definitely be in trouble. They’re so good! Thank you, Rasee!

Post from: Chocolate Bytes

They say “Hide Me,” “Enjoy Me,” “Love Me,” “Want Me.”

I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s a sad state of affairs that I have not yet had the chance to try Tim Tams since they’re not sold in the U.S., but there look to be a few sites that can ship them to you:

Australian Products Co ships out of San Jose, California and can get anything from chocolate to body care products. I think it says a lot that there are four Tim Tam products in their top ten bestsellers!

Everything Australian can also get you food items as well as boomerangs, clothing and toys.

Great Aussie Food specializes in just Australian food items like Tim Tams and Burger Rings. You can also enter to win an Arnotts Tim Tam Hamper worth $21.95.

Chocolate Serendipity gives a few examples of how Tim Tams can be enjoyed. Love and Cooking also provides a few tips as well as some amusing pictures.

Who would have thought such a seemingly simple item could inspire so much fun?

Post from: Chocolate Bytes