Green Beans & Cake

Change is [and tastes] good

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Charred milk, mouse guts, hell week, and chocolate?

What a title for a blog post, huh? I've been very busy lately...here is a summary of the last couple weeks...

• Don't cry over charred milk. I made a Spicy Mocha the other day (a recipe by Giada De Laurentiis). As I was bringing the milk to a simmer, I somehow forgot that my dogs were running around my house like maniacs. Never leave boiling milk unattended.
• My darling puppy is a killer -- a mouse killer, that is. He trotted happily around the backyard with his latest prize. Unfortunately, the mouse returned...in the form of vomit. Ick.
• Hell week -- The end of the semester is near (thank goodness!). You know what that means? Tons of grading for me. We're all ready for a break.
• Chocolate time -- I plan to make truffles with Scharffen Berger 70% bittersweet chocolate. My shipment should arrive tomorrow.

My latest obsession

Chocolate -- It's my obsession. In many respects, understanding chocolate is as complicated and fascinating as understanding wine. I'm a little short on time right now (I should be replying to the 20 e-mails in my inbox) -- more to come later about my chocolate addiction.

In the meantime, I wanted to tell you about a eco-minded chocolate company called "Theo." I've tried their Coconut Curry Chocolate bar and Vanilla Chai bar. I know the flavors sound sort of bizarre, but trust me, both chocolate bars tasted great.

 

Choco-art

Maybe I have too much spare time on my hands. haha The wrappers of the eco-conscious chocolate bars I buy are so pretty. I decided to make a collage of my current favs.

The chocolate brands include: Dagoba, Divine, 3400 Phinney, and Green & Black's

My latest fabulous chocolate finds...

In the most recent edition of Conde Nast magazine, there was an article about a chocolatier named John Scharffenberger. He currently has a line of chocolates available at Whole Foods - but his chocolates have a unique story. Scharffenberger not only finds the best cacao beans, but his company also treats local farmers fairly. The chocolate making process at Scharffen Berger is meticulous, thoughtful, and quality-minded.

I bought a limited edition Venezuelan dark chocolate called Cuyagua. I haven't tried it yet, but it smells fantastic.

 

In addition to buying Scharffen Berger chocolate, I also bought two chocolate bars from a company called Shaman Chocolates. This company is fair trade certified. As an added ethical bonus, Shaman Chocolates uses all profits from their chocolate to support the Huichol Indians.

Chocoholics Anonymous

I admit it. I am a chocoholic. When I started Green Beans & Cake, I got a bit carried away and launched three new blogs. Perhaps it's the influence of my financial adviser husband (a.k.a. Em, get your money's worth out of the typepad blog service. You do get up to 3 blogs after all ), perhaps it was due to my "underemployment" (uh, unemployment, post grad school, but I like to be optimistic) - but I did have 3 blogs. I soon realized that it was too much.

My third blog was devoted to one of my loves - chocolate. I think that it will compliment my Green Beans & Cake blog quite nicely. I am a fan of all things caffeinated, sweet, and chocolate. I've updated my blog with 12 posts from my former chocolate blog. If you get a chance, please check out my choco-posts. They are labeled under "chocolate."

 

Alma = Soul

I found a chocolate store online that caught my eye. It's called Alma Chocolate. I hope to check it out in Portland!

Iced Mocha - with a conscience!

Green & Black's Chocolates has a great sounding recipe for an iced mocha. Green & Black's sells fair trade, organic chocolate. Check it out...

What a diet!

Forget fruits and veges. I want THIS guy's diet...

A Newbury man who has lived off a diet of sandwiches, chocolate and crisps has celebrated his 100th birthday

A NEWBURY man who lived on a diet of sandwiches, crisps and chocolate for most of his life celebrated his 100th birthday on April 10. Leslie Brown, from Newbury, had barely eaten a cooked meal before moving into an independent care home in August last year. The former copywriter, who is still a bachelor and has no surviving relatives, lists Cadbury Milk chocolate and chicken sandwiches among his favourite. He said: �I like anything chocolate. I don�t have a favourite type of crisps, I�ll eat any that comes my way really.� Mr Brown only recently moved into Audrey Needham House in Newbury after living on his own in Hungerford until last summer. He spent his birthday celebrating with his oldest friend, Jean Brown, and other people from the care home. Ms Brown, aged 78, who is not a relative, made the special trip from her home in Newbury to have tea and chocolate cake with Mr Brown and presented him with a silver beer tankard. Julie Maidment, scheme manager at the home, said the trip to the social room was Mr Brown�s first since he arrived. She also said that staff made sure he got one cooked meal a day after years of eating sandwhiches and crisps. She said: �He�s never had a cooked meal since before he moved in here. He�s just very set in his ways and incredibly independent. �Now that he�s moved here we�ll make sure he gets one cooked meal a day. It�s also his first trip downstairs and we�ll get him out more often from now on.� Source: Newbury Today; Tony Chocolonely

Chocolonely fun

Looks like a good time.