The last several months, I have wanted chocolate more than normal, but with things in the world like Lindt balls, Tim Tams, and cadbury chocolate bars, who can blame me?
Personally, I know that chocolate from Europe is the best. Cadbury rivals Hershey's time and time again and Cadbury is always victorious. In fact most chocolate and biscuits from Europe are always better over American versions. (except maybe girl scout cookies).
Living in New Zealand, I was introduced to the Tim Tam slam** in all its glory. But, I could not retain my joy when I discovered Pepperidge Farm bought Tim Tam's from Australia and they were finally available here in the U.S. in such places as Target for $2.50. I also owe a great deal to the amazing store World Market. Besides being the best place for Christmas shopping, it also has the best selection of Cadbury chocolates.
However, I am not a chocolate snob. I love my American chocolate. Butterfingers, Milky Way Dark, M&M's and even the long gone Hershey bar with mint cookie crumbles. American candy is a more simple way to go but it can easily take care of a chocolate craving. Ghiradelli is also a must. My family always craved Mrs. Cavanaugh's and I knew people who adored See's chocolates. Honestly, I like them all.
However, one item stands above all the rest, blowing a simple chocolate bar out of the water. It is a drink. A Vegan hot chocolate from the Hatch Family Chocolate Company. (I think they owe me a free drink by now due to how many people I have converted). I am not a Vegan, but something in their specific blend of ingredients in this particular drink equals joy to me. It is self-medication. They use soy milk which makes it taste even darker than their dark hot chocolate. I always order it with whipped cream too which gets some pretty weird looks when you are posing as a vegan, but it softens the dark tones. This drink usually has to be enjoyed in stages. Drinking it in one sitting leads to a heavy, unhappy tummy. I drink it slowly and put the rest in the fridge, heating it up the next day in the microwave. (Note, don't be alarmed if the drink is solid when taking it out of the fridge. This just means it is made with more pure chocolate than you may want to admit).
So, now do you see why I am choosing to sacrifice this for 40 days? I believe it will help my cause... which is to be less indulgent and to be grateful for what I take for granted. Let's just hope I don't lose my mind in the process.
** A Tim Tam slam is when you bite the two corners (kitty corner from each other) off of a Tim Tam cookie and then suck hot chocolate through it like a straw. The cookie will begin to melt and you will have to put the whole thing in your mouth before it falls apart. It also works with cold milk, though it is not called a slam.
2 comments:
Um . . . I am COMPLETELY doing this with you this year! It's such a great idea. I am going to give up treats (I haven't decided if I want to do specific treats) AND, this will be a hard one for me . . . I want to give up celebrity gossip. So I am with you 100 percent! By the way - I want to come see you!
By the way - this is actually Lindsay, I am just on Blaine's account!
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