Brrrrr.  We’ve had some cold weather this week.  Nothing beats a hot cup of cocoa after coming in from playing with the kids.
Good Housekeeping tested 19 nationally available supermarket brands of cocoa. Surprisingly, Swiss Miss Milk Chocolate hot cocoa tied for first place with Godiva.  Swiss Miss can be purchased for about $1.79 a box.
Lake Champion Old World Drinking Chocolate was the winner.  It has chocolate shavings instead of a powdered mix.  Yummy.  Each canister costs about $12.  Ouch!  Perhaps this one can be saved for special occasions (or for when the kids aren’t around). 
If you’d like to make …read more

I told you all about the sweet 16 birthday bash for my cousin.  Here’s one of the things I made for the party. 

For this project you will need a bag (or two) of pretzel rods and a bag of chocolate wafers.  You can find the chocolate at your local craft store.  We used our Michael’s coupons to get these for a deal.    You’ll also need a pyrex measuring cup, knife or other stirring device, and waxed paper.

My aunt is having a party for her daughter’s 16th birthday.  She’s having a chocolate fountain at the party.  We were wondering what type of chocolate she should use.  I’ve heard to use chocolate with cocoa butter and I’ve heard to use any kind of choclate and add oil.  I’ve heard that some brands taste better than others.  I’ve had some that taste like wax.  Anyway, I was hoping that some of you had experience with this and could help out with some advice.  Thanks!

Heather over at Chocolate Bytes is hosting a chocolate contest.  I want to win the tshirt so I am tell you about it with shameless abandon.  I have to be honest, though.  I don’t really like chocolate.  I can do without it but I thought the shirt was really cool!  Now throw out a salt eating contest and I am all over that one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Good luck, Heather.

Hershey’s has recalled chocolate  for salmonella that was produced at their Smith Falls, Ontario factory from October 15th to November 10th. Chocolate products include

Hershey brand chocolate bars,
chocolate chips,
Oh Henry! bars,
Reese’s peanut butter cups and
Cherry Blossom sweets
White Chocolate

The white chocolate was just added this week. Good thing I don’t particularly care for chocolate.

A few weeks ago, Cuddlebug snuck a red crayon into the living room and colored on the beige carpets.  What to do?  I called my frugal friend Revka and thought she might have some tips.  Indeed she did and I was inspired to share some stain removal tips with you.
1.  Crayon on carpet - Spray with WD-40 and scrub.  Follow immediately with dish soap and water or steam clean carpet.  The soap removes the WD-40.
2.  Ballpoint ink -  Place a paper towel or rag under the stain and then saturate the stain with an alcohol-based hair spray or rubbing alcohol, which will help …read more

I’ve had this recipe before using regular cookies and whipped topping, but I recently discovered that there is a low fat version. This dessert is super easy to make. When you’re going to a potluck dinner, take this dish along. You’ll know you can eat it and it’s yummy so others will like it too!
You will need:
1 cup skim milk
1 package reduced fat chocolate chip cookies
1 container fat free whipped topping
9×13 dish
You will layer this dessert like a lasagna. First, dunk your cookies in the milk very quickly. After you dunk each one, put it in the pan for your …read more

The ladies at church just recently gave me a baby shower. I so appreciated the effort and friendship that came with it. One thing I found very fun and interesting was the take home gifts that they made. They were the big Hershey’s candy bars with my son’s name and due date on them. Wonderful M found them on Rachael Ray’s website. They are adorable and a cheap party favor. the candy bars were on sale at our local Kroger for $1 each and the wrappers were printed right off her computer. They …read more

Last night my little boy wanted some candy.  I gave him some Sweetarts and I gave my daughter a choice of Sweetarts or chocolate.  She picked chocolate.  Within a few minutes, my little boy (17 months old) came into the kitchen with chocolate all over his hands and face.  Unfortunately, that wasn’t the end of the mess.  
I walked into the living room and found chocolate all over the carpet.  Apparently he had been trying to get the chocolate off his hands and couldn’t.  He didn’t stop there either.  He wiped chocolate all over my off-white couch.  It’s a wonder I didn’t lose it.
I sprayed …read more