Monday, September 10, 2012

Chocolate Blog Hop!

Secret Indulgence

I adore chocolate. Peanut M&Ms are my all time favorite. And I like the large Hershey drops, too. I won't turn down the fancy brands. Love chocolate combined with nuts, caramel. Pretty much anything, except for bacon (Yeah, it's a no-no; trust me on this).


Extensive research on Wikipedia told me: chocolate comes from the fermented, roasted, and ground beans of the Theobroma cacao, the cacao or cocoa tree.

The Pre-Columbian peoples of the Americas drank chocolate in a wide variety of forms, mixing in vanilla, maize, chili pepper or achiote. Using recipes handed down the generations, Mexicans incorporate chocolate into many of their meals, not using it simply as an ingredient for confections.

The Europeans sweetened and fattened it by adding refined sugar and milk. In the 19th century, John Cadbury developed an emulsification process to make solid chocolate creating the modern chocolate bar. Although cocoa is originally from the Americas, today Western Africa produces almost two-thirds of the world's cocoa, with Côte d'Ivoire growing almost half of it.
I always knew chocolate was special. There is no good reason not to eat it; just not to overeat it. Chocolate fills a craving nothing else will.

When I sell a story, I grab a girlfriend or Handsome and go to our favorite custard spot. (Yeah, it's worth the hour drive to spoon bites of this delicacy.)

And thank goodness for Sam's Club where I buy the large Hershey nugget assorted chocolate bag. (I have to stash it in the pantry so I don't over indulge on the toffee bits!)

I realize some of you are more salty-inclined. My men consume vast quantities of Cheeze-its and chips.

But not me. Maybe it's a girl thing. <VBG>


So time to share! What's your secret treat? Chocolate? Ice Cream? Bubble bath? Book?


Vicki Batman reluctantly shares her chocolate with anyone. Find her at: http://vickibatman.blogspot.com  OR at: http://plottingprincesses.blogspot.com.

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43 comments:

Unknown said...

Hi, just dropping by reading up on your chocolate indulgences! Nice to meet you.

Shelley Munro said...

Chocolate and bacon in the same sentence? Ugh!
I don't think a person can look farther than chocolate.

Vicki Batman, sassy writer said...

Hi, C.M. Brown. Thanks for stopping by!

Hi, Shelley. No, it was not good. Not at all. LOL

baygirl32 said...

you can get salted chocolate - prehaps the guys would like that?

Vicki Batman, sassy writer said...

Hi, Bay girl! I've had salted chocolate and adore salted caramel. The flavor...

Thanks so much for posting and have a fun day!

Unknown said...

Hi Vicki,
Peanut M&M's are my favorite. I keep a jar on my desk at all times. Of course I have to keep the men away from it or they'd all be gone. When I want to indulge I go straight for the Millionaires or Godiva Truffles.....Have a blessed and happy writing. Aimee

Vicki Batman, sassy writer said...

Hi, Aimee! If I had peanut M&Ms on my desk...disaster. I'd be huge. I have no will power. And you like my other favs too. We're chocolate soulmates. LOL. Happy day!

Rhonda D said...

Anything that is milk chocolate. I love milk chocolate. When I was a senior and they did the senior spotlight. They asked my favorite food and I answered "chocolate".

Pat O'Dea Rosen said...

Hi, Vicki! I just finished breakfast: Nutella spread thin on a slice of wheat toast and topped with sliced bananas. The wheat toast and bananas are my nod to good nutrition, but the Nutella gives me a reason to get up in the morning. I love chocolate, and a Chocolate Hop is genius!

Pamela Stone said...

I love carmel or toffee with my chocolate, umm, or vice versa. Heath bars or Rollos are my chocolate of choice. Like your guys, I also love salty chips or sometimes even goldfish. Between salt and chocolate, I'm probably more likely to finish the bag of goldfish. Not sure that's a good thing.

Vicki Batman, sassy writer said...

Hi, Rhonda D. Milk chocolate is soo yummy. And Love your story about chocolate being your favorite food. #2 son gave me two dark godiva bags for my birthday!!!

Hi, Pat: your breakfast sounds yummy. A true confession: I've never had Nutella. Just haven't. Thank you for sharing.

Hi, Pam: I love Heath bars and Rolos too. Goldfish-hehehe-are a fun indulgence. I think they once made chocolate goldfish cookies. heheh

Liese said...

One of my secret passions are the Hersey's Nuggest with toffee and almonds!

Thanks a lot, Vicki! Now I've got a craving!

LOL, Liese

Vicki Batman, sassy writer said...

Hi, Liese! I know that's your fav. I love that one too and keep a bag in the pantry. Just resisting is so hard. lol

Annalisa Crawford said...

I'm bloghopping. That picture looks lovely. I really should have prepared myself with a box of chocs to eat while reading these posts!

Peanut M&Ms are lovely...

Patricia said...

See's Scotchmallows - love 'em.
Patti

Janie Emaus said...

Fact is, I'm not real big on chocolate. I know..It seems wrong. But given the choice, I'll take a piece of cheese!

Tammy Lowe said...

I love chocolate, as long as it's not Hersheys. :0)

Vicki Batman, sassy writer said...

Hi,Annalisa! I would be in serious trouble if chocolate was in front of me. LOL. Happy day!

Hi, Patti! See's Scotchmallows??? Sees Candies are delicious, but don't recall the Scotchmallows. I'm putting on my list to buy. Thank you for sharing!

Hi, Janie! I know some people aren't big on chocolate. There's so many other yummy things out there. I love cheese too.

Hi, Tammy: Not Hersheys? I love Hersheys, the ones with toffee bits. Did you know Hersheys used to supply the chocolate for M&Ms way back when? MMMMM. Thanks for visiting.


M Pax said...

Decadent treats are always worth a drive. Yum.

Isis Rushdan said...

Shared my indulgence on my blog.

I haven't had the pleasure of eating a Hershey nuggat with toffee bits. Sounds delish!

Nice to meet you.

Vicki Batman, sassy writer said...

Hi, M Pax! I'll drive for a treat too! Fortunately, I drive 2.7 miles to the nearest store for my fav choc. LOL thanks for stopping. and happy hopping.

Hi, Isis! Nice to meet you too and please come visit Handbags, Books, and Whatever again. And the Plotting Princesses are pretty nice gals, too. :)

Tim VanSant Writes said...

I like it when maple syrup gets on bacon at breakfast so I can see why you'd give chocolate and bacon a try. I'll take your word for it that it's a no though.

Catherine Stine said...

Hey, how great is that to share a bit of chocolate history with us! And it's nice to make chocolate into a social event. Sharing my virtual box of chocolates here, guys.
Catherine Stine’s Idea City

Southpaw said...

What is with this bacon and chocolate craze? Both are good products but should not be combined.

Vicki Batman, sassy writer said...

Hi, Tim! Bacon & maple work well together. But bacon & chocolate don't. Just not in the same ball park. Funny, we have a donut shop that does maple bacon donuts. Hmmmm, I'm wondering if I should make a field trip. LOL

Hi, Catherine! I'm so glad you liked the bit of history. Now, if someone out there would way chocolate a day keeps the doctor away.... lol

Hi, Southpaw! Chocolate and bacon just didn't work in my book. Maybe someone else's. Chicken friend bacon is pretty good. And my sissie told me about pancake batter poured over bacon and made into flapjacks. She said that was good. Thanks for posting!

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

I don't think I'd do chocolate and bacon either...

LynnRush said...

I really like peanut M&Ms as well. But for some reason, it's usually while I'm traveling only! Weird, I know. :) But YUMMO!

Vicki Batman, sassy writer said...

Hi, Alex! Yep, bacon and chocolate is totally weird. I'm sure someone is out there that likes it. LOL Will that someone step forward?

Hi, Lynn! So glad you stopped by. Peanut M&Ms when travelling is a good idea. I always take the giant bag with me on my funsisters weekend in December. We gab and snack and stay up late. Tried the pretzel ones?

Unknown said...

Yummy!! Love the sweet and the salty though. Chocolate covered potato chips, chocolate dropped in popcorn. *sigh* chocolate covered peanuts. I haven't been able to do the ant thing or grasshoppers but look at how chocolate has influenced that particular craze. *shudder* * I do have limits.

Thanks for the lovely cravings for chocolate now. LOL. Love ya!

Brinda said...

I have to tell you this, but my sister used to dip her bacon in chocolate gravy during breakfast when we were kids. Chocolate gravy is my post.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

I like salt and chocolate together sometimes as in chocolate covered pretzels.

Vicki Batman, sassy writer said...

Hi, Karen! And how can we forget chocolate covered cranberries, apricots, raisins, nuts...it's endless. I'll probably join you for an after dinner treat. oxoxo

Hi, Susan! Yes!!! Chocolate covered pretzels with caramel. Oh my. I'm in heaven. Thank you for blogging with me.

Vicki Batman, sassy writer said...

Hi, Brinda! Chocolate gravy?? really? That's...interesting. LOL Thanks for letting us know.

Sylvia said...

Okay, I like to eat popcorn and chocolate. You take a bite of the popcorn and then a bite of chocolate and the sweet/salty mixture is wonderful. I also like to eat a banana with a chocolate bar. The two just seem to go together.
Sylvia

Vicki Batman, sassy writer said...

Hi, Sylvia! Have you tried Milk Duds and popcorn? OMG

Ciara said...

My husband's favorite is peanut M&M's. :)

Vicki Batman, sassy writer said...

Hi, Ciara! Peanut M&Ms rock. The almond ones aren't bad. The cherry ones-interesting. Once tried the peanut butter and jelly-NO! Awful!!! Thanks for stopping!!!

Vicki Batman, sassy writer said...

It's bedtime here and I'm ready to sleep. I'll check back in the am to see if some of you snuck in. And shall post the winner later.

Thanks to all who came by. Happy chocolate!!

J.Q. Rose said...

Give me a hot fudge sundae with nuts and whipped cream topped by a big fat red cherry! Mmmmmmmmm....Don't enter me for the free book. I have one already and loved reading this fun, entertaining story!

Vicki Batman, sassy writer said...

Hi, J Q Rose! I adore hot fudge sundaes too. What an excellent choice! I don't eat them often--watching the waistline. lol Thank you for visiting with me.

Anonymous said...

Aimee Frosch-You are a winner! Come on down.

I'll be looking for you soon. Thank you all for visiting me.

Vicki

cleemckenzie said...

I guess my best pairing with chocolate is a good strong cup of coffee. I like how you celebrate a sale!

Anonymous said...

I had no idea it was used by Mexicans. Learned something new. :)