Have a Sweet Weekend!

For the recipe for these decadent mini molten chocolate cakes with mocha sauce and more, go to Delish.com.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Delish

Cadbury Easter Eggs

It’s spring time and you know what that means—Easter! Along with pastels and white bunnies come fabulous Easter treats. Among my favorite spring time goodies are Cadbury eggs. These chocolaty eggs are made up of smooth milk chocolate and filled with either crème or sweet, gooey caramel (the caramel variety being my personal favorite!). These UK imports are only available during the Easter season making them all the more special. Cadbury eggs are among England’s top three bestselling candies and thanks to Hershey Foods Corporation, every spring we here in the US are enchanted with the delectable eatable egg shells every spring. We all know it’s the equinox and Easter is near once the Cadbury Easter bunny and the famous “Clucking Bunny” commercials begin airing. So as the holiday approaches, fill your baskets with these decadent delights before time runs out!

Learn more about Cadbury and Cadbury eggs!

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Candy Warehouse

Golden Tickets

Who hasn't watched Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and fantasized about getting their hands on all the sweet items in the heavenly chocolate factory? Well, this fictional delight is coming to life. Nestle-owned Wonka candy is slipping Golden Tickets into bars of its premium line of chocolates aptly named Exceptionals bars. The ten lucky winners of the grand prize along with three of their friends will be invited to take a trip around the world plus $12,500 in spending money. Among other prizes are free airline vouchers, Ticketmaster gift cards, movie certificates and chocolate, of course!

The Exceptionals line of chocolate bars come in three sweet flavors: Scrumdiddlyumptious which is made with toffee pieces, crispy cookies and crunchy peanuts all layered in pure milk chocolate, Chocolate Waterfall is a delectable combination of creamy white chocolate and velvety milk chocolate, and Domed Dark Chocolate is a bar made of rich dark chocolate topped with milk chocolate drops. At $5 a bar, the Exceptionals line is Wonka's exclusive line of chocolate. Get your chocolate fix with a Wonka bar available at Dylan's Candy Bar.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Dylan's Candy Bar

(Camel) Milk Chocolate

Get ready for some seriously innovative chocolate! Al Nassma, a Dubai-based premium chocolate company is preparing to make its camel milk chocolate available to U.S. consumers within the next few months. Al Nassma’s chocolates are the first in the world to be made of camel milk. This brand new company, founded last October, has a farm filled with 3,000 camels exclusively for milk production and GM Martin Van Almsick says the company aims to produce 100 tons of the premium chocolate a year. Al Nassma plans not only to expand to the U.S. but also Europe, Japan and Australia and there are plans for opening up an online store. Van Almsick told Reuters that Al Nassma aims “to be the Godiva of the Middle East” and apparently if they reach success in the global market a comparison may not be necessary. The chocolates contain no chemicals or preservatives and are laced with local spices, nuts and honey. Besides having five times the amount of vitamin C compared to cow milk, camel milk contains less fat and lactose and more insulin making it more appealing to diabetics and the lactose-intolerant. I’m anticipating trying this new chocolate—how about you?

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Al Nassma

Bloomsberry & Co. Chocolates

Last month while I was on the hunt for chocolaty Easter treats for my pals, I came across Bloomsberry & Co. Chocolates. What made me focus in on these chocolates was the eye catching packaging. With amusing names for their chocolates such as, “Emergence Chocolate” and “Bochox” Bloomsberry is making its mark in the chocolate realm. This designer chocolate bar company hails from down under in New Zealand. After receiving loads of emails from customers all over the world raving about their chocolates, the folks at Bloomsberry expanded their reach and became accessible by opening up shop in Australia, Europe, and the U.S.A. Their clever casing and witty phrases help their tasty chocolates fly off the shelves. Bloomsberry & Co. Chocolates are a novelty item that surely make for an interesting alternative to the ordinary chocolate bar.

When I bought some of the chocolates for friends and family I snagged a milk chocolate bar for myself to try. I found the chocolate to be quite creamy and better than I initially thought it would be. I have not tried the dark chocolate variety but considering I was pleased with the milk chocolate I think the dark chocolate will be worth a try.

Easter Chocolate Hunt

Spring is here and Easter is right around the corner and we all know what that means-- fabulous Easter chocolates and delights. From Cadbury eggs to marshmallow peeps, to the granddaddy of them all, the chocolate Easter bunny, I’ve got you covered. Here are my picks for the top Easter treats…

Milk Chocolate

Lindt is prided for creamy chocolates and this spring it’s bringing fabulous milk chocolate goodies including the delicious Lindt Gold Bunny. This solid milk chocolate bunny has the perfect consistency and just melts in your mouth.
Lindt Gold Bunny, $4.50-$25

Dark Chocolate
The chocolatiers of Hotel Chocolat are committed to producing the finest quality chocolates and their dark chocolate confections for Easter are superb. This original creation is called the Serious Dark Fix Egg from the Extra Thick Easter Egg line. It’s a 74% dark chocolate egg that opens up revealing 14 luscious dark chocolate delights.
The Serious Dark Fix Egg, $45 (11.64 oz.)


White Chocolate
For fresh and natural treats, chocolate lovers flock to Lake Champlain Chocolates. This Vermont company utilizes all natural ingredients for their indulgent creations. If you want tempting chocolaty confections for your Easter shindig try Lake Champlain’s tantalizing solid gourmet white chocolate bunnies.
Chocolate Easter Bunny, $10.50 (4 oz.)


Filled
Delicious chocolates are always a pleasure to bite into but what’s even better is when there’s a surprise filling. Fannie May produces fantastic chocolates and this spring add their dark and milk chocolate covered marshmallow eggs to your list of must haves. The smooth dark chocolate and fluffy marshmallow are a delight to sink your teeth into.
Marshmallow Eggs, $11.49 (8oz.)

Organic
Sweet Earth makes the freshest chocolates around. They use the purest organic ingredients and recommend that you devour their succulent confections within a week of purchasing them otherwise their rich flavors start to diminish thereafter. This Easter, Sweet Earth is offering a box of 15 of their most enticing truffles.
Easter Truffle Box, $24

Vegan
For chocolate geared to those who are lactose intolerant or for those who prefer animal-free products there are plenty of chocolatiers who cater to those needs. Allison’s Gourmet is among my favorite vegan chocolate vendors, 100% of the ingredients in their fine chocolates are certified organic and dairy-free. Jazz up your Easter holiday with a bag of fabulous vegan chocolate eggs filled with delectable centers ranging from espresso caramel to raspberry ganache.
Truffle and Caramel Filled Eggs, $13.95 (5 large eggs)

Nut-Free
Lots of kiddies are allergic to peanuts and other tree-nuts which is why Divvies is the place to go get goodies for the little ones without worrying about aggravating any allergies. This spring Divvies is offering a sweet, solid chocolate bunny made with nut, dairy and egg-free chocolate.
Chocolate Bunny Rabbit, $8.50 (4 oz.)



Sugar-Free
Not everyone can indulge in sugary sweets that’s why Russell Stover is the chocolate company to go to for sugar-free treats. Fill those Easter eggs with these delightful and fruity sugar-free jelly beans.
Sugar-Free Jelly Beans, $3.79 (7 oz.)




Expensive
The king of luxury fine chocolates is without a doubt Neuhaus Createur Chocolatier. This Belgian company produces exquisite confections worth every dollar spent. If you are willing to splurge on truly luscious Easter delights look no further. This spring Neuhaus has put together fabulous Easter baskets filled with spectacular creations including delicious marzipan cubes, creamy piped gianduja confections, pralines and chocolate eggs with delectable fillings (my personal favorites).
Easter Gift Baskets, $87-$273

Inexpensive
Nothing signifies Easter more than the Cadbury egg. For decades, Hershey’s has been known for a variety of novelty chocolates that have been a part of all of our childhoods. This Easter, spring for a festive gift basket stocked with the best Hershey’s creations including scrumptious Reese’s peanut butter cups, chocolaty Hershey’s kisses, chocolate eggs all in colorful pastels and solid chocolate Easter bunnies (which you can personalize).
Easter Gift Baskets, $14.95-$62.95


Bunnies
No Easter celebration is complete without a delectable chocolate bunny to bite into. It would be easy to recommend any old solid chocolate bunny however I like to spice things up, literally. Vosges Haut-Chocolat is bringing out the spices this season and creating the zestiest bunnies. With ingredients like chipotle chili peppers, Ceylon cinnamon, lemon zest, pink peppercorn and grey sea salt your taste buds are in for a treat.
Easter Bunnies, $12 each (2.5 oz.)

Peeps
Spring has arrived once colorful marshmallow peeps start appearing. This season pick up peeps that aren’t so traditional. Chocolate Chocolate Chocolate Company is putting a new spin on this classic by covering them in, you guessed it, chocolate! The marshmallow sweeties are saturated in velvety milk chocolate and are ready to be gobbled up.
Chocolate Covered Peeps, $11.95 (8 peeps)


Eggs
What would an Easter egg hunt be without the eggs? Scoop up some delicious milk chocolate eggs from Ghiradelli for your festivities. The brightly colored foils contain mouthwatering chocolaty delights guaranteed to satisfy your chocolate craving.

If you are willing to splurge a bit, I highly recommend Neuhaus’s seasonal eggs infused with decadent fillings including nutty praline, creamy gianduja, salted caramel and white chocolate. These morsels are truly eggs-quisite.
Ghiradelli Chocolate Eggs, $15 (20.75 oz.)
Neuhaus Easter Eggs, $58 (40 eggs)


Cookies
Take a break from all of the chocolate by biting into a soft and chewy cookie. Harvard’s Sweet Boutique is a personal favorite of mine because they use the freshest ingredients in their freshly baked goods. Munch on these scrumptious cookies glazed with sumptuous white chocolate and hand decorated to look like Easter eggs. These whimsical creations would be a tasty addition to an Easter party.
Easter Egg Shortbread Cookies, $30 (16 cookies)

Nutella Cookies

I'm a sucker for cookies. Put them infront of me and they'll disappear in a flash especially of they're rich and chewy. So when I saw the recipe for these Nutella filled cookies at Technicolor Kitchen, I knew I had to try these. Follow this super simple recipe and enjoy these tasty treats on behalf of World Nutella Day!

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Technicolor Kitchen

Nutella Crepes

Believe it or not, the place where I had the absolute best Nutella crepe happened to be a Japanese mini market. Yeah, a Japanese specialty store in the Avenues in San Franciso is where I had the most amazing French crepe with Italian hazelnut spread. Who woulda thunk it? It was an amazing warm crepe with ooey-gooey Nutella generously spread and hazelnuts on the inside rolled in a waffle cone topped with vanilla ice cream and drizzled heavily with more creamy Nutella. It was a luscious experience devouring the marvelous creation. Mmm…

Here’s a fantastic recipe for making Chocolaty Strawberry Finger Crepes courtesy of 7thSpace. Follow the recipe and enjoy this wonderful dessert!

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Flickr

Creamy Hot Cocoa

According to Mr. Punxutawney Phil, also known as the groundhog of Groundhog Day, we are in for another six weeks of winter. But never fear, I've got the antidote for any potential winter blues! This creamy and chocolaty hot cocoa recipe courtesy of the fabulous Paula Deen from Food Network will keep you warm and toasty for the rest of the season. Get creative and top with mini marshmallows, cinnamon or whipped cream and chocolate morsels. I’m tempted to take a tip from one reviewer who suggests to drop caramels in the decadent drink and let them melt for ultimate indulgence. So whip up this recipe, get cozy, cuddle up next to that special someone and sip away!

Chocolate Bouchon

Sink your teeth into this delight! This rich, decadent chocolate confection is a cross between a cake and a brownie and is called a bouchon. This dense yet moist, chocolaty French dessert is to die for! I rummaged around to find a fabulous recipe to create this luscious delicacy and struck gold. The magnificent Chef Thomas Keller has a fantastic recipe for baking up bouchons to perfection. Follow his recipe for chocolate bouchons for a sweet Valentine’s Day or for your pleasure. Decorate with whipped cream, cocoa powder and chocolate shavings for tasty jubilation. Yum!

The following recipe is courtesy of Chef Thomas Keller from his book Bouchon:

Chocolate Bouchon Recipe

These small brownie-like cakes are named for their shape, which resembles a cork (bouchon). They are very rich and chocolaty, baked with the chocolate chips in the batter, and dusted with confectioners? sugar. Bouchon uses 2-ounce fleximolds and serves smaller bouchons. You can also use 3- ounce (2-inch to 2 1/2-inch diameter) timbale molds for larger cakes. Preheat the oven to 340 degrees F. Butter and flour 12 timbale molds. Set aside.

• Butter and flour for the timbale molds.
• 3 1/2 ounces (3/4 cup) all-purpose flour
• 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 3 large eggs
• 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 24 tablespoons (12 ounces) unsalted butter, melted and just slightly warm
• 6 ounces semisweet chocolate (Vahlrona or Scharffenberger or Lindt will do just fine), chopped into pieces the size of chocolate chips
• Confectioner's sugar

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour twelve timbale molds. Set aside.
Sift the flour, cocoa powder, and salt into a bowl; set aside.
In the bowl of a mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or in another large bowl if using a handhels mixer, mix together the eggs and sugar on medium speed for about 3 minutes, or until very pale in color. Mix in the vanilla. On low speed, add about one-third of the dry ingredients, then one-third of the butter, and continue alternating with the remaining flour and butter. Add the chocolate and mix to combine. (The batter can be refrigerated for up to a day.)

Put the timbale molds on a baking sheet. Place the batter in a pastry bag without a tip, or with a large plain tip, and fill each mold about two-thirds full. Place in the oven and bake for 20 to 25 minutes. When the tops look shiny and set (like a brownie), test one cake with a wooden skewer or toothpick: It should come out clean but not dry (there may be some melted chocolate from the chopped chocolate). Transfer the bouchons to a cooling rack. After a couple of minutes, invert the timbale molds and let the bouchons cool upside down in the molds; then lift off the molds. (The bouchons are best eaten the day they are baked.)

TO SERVE: Invert the bouchons and dust them with confectioners' sugar. Serve with ice cream, if desire.

Recipe courtesy of Bouchon (2004) by Thomas Keller

See’s Candies

See’s Candies were a chocolate staple at my house as a kid. They were delightful to eat and every confection was filled with a surprise. I never knew what flavor I would encounter upon my first bite. My most favorite were the marshmallow filled milk chocolates. Naturally, at the time, I didn’t appreciate the complexity of chocolate varieties so there were many See’s Candies that were half eaten, in their wrapper, in the box. If I didn’t like a filling, I would put it back in the box and move on to the next. Yes, I am guilty of bite and run. Nonetheless, See’s Candies conjure up pleasant, chocolaty memories.

See’s has put together a line up of Valentine’s Day assortments that are sure to be satisfying to a chocolate craving. Here are a few of my faves!

Red Satin Heart
This romantic box is filled with See’s delights including lemon and raspberry truffles.











Tuxedo Heart
For that special guy! This handsome box has all the assortments that See’s is best known for like nuts and chews as well as my personal faves, soft centers.







Pink Ribbon Heart
This is the ultimate assortment if you love, love, love chocolate! Packed with a variety including milk, dark and white chocolates plus truffles, this set is sure to put a smile on the face of any chocolate lover.



Valentine Candy Collection
This trio of hearts is perfect. You get a bag of milk and dark chocolate hearts and cinnamon jellies coated in a hard candy shell. Sweet!








Large Gold Fancy
Get this big box of assorted, classic See’s chocolates for that very, very special someone. They’ll be nibbling on these for days!









Photo Credit: Courtesy of See’s Candies, Flickr

Chocolate, Chocolate, Chocolate

In honor of the chocolatiest day of the year, Valentine’s Day, Yumeezy will be a chocolate covered haven. On our countdown to V-Day, I’ll be bringing you the best of all things chocolate and all things Cupid to get you all in the mood for some Valentine’s sweetness. Get ready for some chocolate lovin’, let the choco-fest begin!

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Gilligans Chocolate

My Faves: Sugar Bowl Brownies

There’s no hiding it, I’ve got a sweet tooth and the record to prove it. I’m easily tempted by fresh baked chewy chocolate chip cookies and you don’t have to ask me twice to try any luscious pastry. One of my favorite treats is a chocolate petite brownie from San Francisco based Sugar Bowl Bakery. This confection is absolutely delightful. It’s a bite size brownie (though it takes me about 2 ½ bites to devour it) that is so moist and decadent I can’t help but savour the moments that it’s in my mouth. The petite brownie has a light flaky top that melts once you sink your teeth into it. The tender center instantly saturates your taste buds with condensed decadence. Enjoying one of these baby brownies is truly an indulgent experience. I had one last night and though I could’ve had another, one was plenty to satisfy my sweet tooth. For more information on where you can get these chocolate morsels, check out Sugar Bowl Bakery. Though they are based in San Francisco, they've got locations nationally and they sell these wonderful treats at Costco and Starbucks. They also make them in a cranberry granola flavor which I’m dying to try.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Sugar Bowl Bakery

Sea Salt, Caramel and Obama?

Sweet and savory have been combined in the past to produce foods welcomed by our palates. The latest craze originated in France and combines sweet caramel with sea salt. Salt has been an ingredient used in baking by some pastry chefs because it enhances sweetness. In the case of salted caramels, the salt's burning sensation brings out the burnt element of the caramel. The culinary delight was revered by chefs for years. The confection migrated over to the U.S. but slowly gained esteem among the masses. People seemed to take notice when the combination made it’s way to mainstream outlets. Last fall Starbucks added a salted caramel hot chocolate to the menu and Haagen Dazs added a salted caramel ice cream to its premium collection. And if that weren‘t enough, when Barack Obama disclosed his indulgence is salty caramel’s from a Seattle based chocolatier, Fran's Chocolates, the trend skyrocketed in popularity. Learn more about salted caramel in this New York Times article.

Check out this recipe for mini salted caramel cupcakes from Cupcake Bakeshop. Yum!

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Fran's Chocolates, Cupcake Bakeshop