Chocoholic Not So Anonymous

I am not sure there is a day that goes by, in which I don't indulge in my purest addiction-CHOCOLATE! For me, the darker the better. Some days just a few chocolate chips will cure the craving. Other days I need to sink my teeth into a chocolate cupcake with whipped chocolate ganache frosting.

When I am in my hometown in Oregon, it is the semi-sweet hot chocolate from our local coffee shop that starts my day off just right. Internationally, It was the Pain aux Chocolat in the South of France, the Chocolate-Hazelnut Gelato in Italy, the Chocolate Truffles in Belgium, and the Churros con Chocolate in Spain that left my heart aching for future trips across The Atlantic.

When I was in elementary school, long before I knew I wanted to cook for a living, I would often come home and experiment in our kitchen. I think one of my first successful attempts at any experimentation would have been these chocolate-peanut butter frozen candies. It was nothing mind-blowing, but rather, simple, straight-forward, and just plain good. If I can figure out how to make these tasty little confections cookbook worthy, I will.

Once, I gave up Chocolate for Lent, and I think that could have been the most willful experience of my life! Please wipe that look of shock off your face all you chocoholics out there. It was only 40 days, I did it, and I will never attempt it again!! From that experience there is one thing I know for sure: There will be some killer CHOCOLATE recipes in my book.