The Chocolate Contest Continues!!!

Okay Gang - post those stories or recipes or whatevah!  The big Chocolate Week contest ends on Sunday at midnight!!!  I got my bag from the National Confectioners Association today and it is cool!!!

It has a great tag from the mysterious and all powerful Chocolate Council:

Looks like a bag of cacao beans:

And here are all the goodies - you could win!!!!  Come on - your odds are really, really good!

I've never seen these adorable mini Green & Black's bars:

This one was toffee and was so so delicious:

Now, remember, the actual contents may vary - but what the heck - it's free and it's chocolate!  Life is good!  Post an entry and you could be opening a great goodie bag like this one!

And don't forget to check out http://www.thestoryofchocolate.com/.  Here's a tidbit from the site:

There is no scientific evidence, however, that chocolate is addictive. Instead, people who desire chocolate likely do because of its sensory properties, its melting sensations and intense taste. Its aroma and flavors are highly complex. More than 500 compounds responsible for aromas have been found in roasted cocoa beans, and chocolate has more 1,500 flavor compounds—three times the number found in wine.

So see?  We are not addicted to chocolate, we simply love the way it tastes.  And clearly, it is more complex than wine, which makes us even cooler than those snobby wine people.  Chocolate lovers of the world - arise!!!!!

Woohoo! Great Chocolate Giveaway!!

I swear, motivational speaker, Denise Ryan, based in good ol' Raleigh, NC is still alive!  Easter is the last big candy holiday and I just can't stand to miss it!  So I'm going to try to get some posts going.

I hope you all will love this one -  I got a great e-mail from Monica at the National Confectioners Association writing on behalf of the Chocolate Council.  (How cool would it be to get to hang out with the Chocolate Council?  OMG!  Think of the great conversations!  The whole chocolate world is in their hands!  Oooh - the power!)  But I digress.

The big story is that next week is American Chocolate Week (not to be confused with Russian Chocolate Week or Swiss Chocolate Week).  And to commemorate the week - the council is launching a new website http://www.thestoryofchocolate.com.

The Savor section was my favorite part of the site.  It talks about how to taste chocolate and why it's just so dang irresistible.  There's no peanut butter tab, but hey, I'm sure the Peanut Council is on it.

So let's get to the giveaway!!!!  Monica is offering YOU, dear readers, a chance at a Chocolate Gift Pack from the Council!!!!  See below:

I don't know if you all can really tell from the pic - but this is a lot of stuff!  Now, Monica said that what you get may not be exactly this assortment, but who cares, right?  It's FREE chocolate!!!!!  And a lot of it!  Are you with me?

So what do you have to do?

Monica suggested you all share your own "Story of Chocolate" - could be a memory, a favorite recipe, something about how you enjoy chocolate now - be creative!  I'm going to put all the names of everyone who submits something that took a little effort and pull out one at random. 

If you just post something like "I ate chocolate for breakfast today" - that is too lame.  Give me something good - I know you all have talent!

I'm thinking anyone who takes the time to do something has a pretty good chance at this!  I'm going to give you all Chocolate Week - that means through midnight the 26th.  You can enter multiple times with different stuff if you want.

If I pick you, you'll give me your address and NCA will mail you the packet - how awesome is that????

Good luck, my beauties!!!

And you can always check out my cool website at www.firestarspeaking.com