Guylian Fondue

I found some microwavable fondue at the store the other day and thought it might be fun to give it a try. I bought the Guylian variety because it looked a little more high class. You put it in the microwave and voila! you get to dip things in it!

As far as chocolate goes, it was pretty good. Though I think my microwave over-nuked the chocolate which made it a little like burning, but so far so good.

The only problem came when I tried to reheat what I put in the fridge the next day. The chocolate started to boil (because I put it in too long) and the smell spread all over the apartment. I have to remind myself that chocolate is very temperamental, and doesn't like to be burnt. ^_^

Just had the most amazing peppermint hot chocolate!

I know this post is going to seem a bit random, especially since I haven't posted in a while, but I just had a lovely peppermint hot chocolate from Crumbs on 54th street. It's one of their new stores, and if you don't know Crumbs just think high-end cupcakes (or cuppycakes as I like to call them).

The store itself is tucked away in a huge office building. The staff were all really quirky and fun. I ended up getting an Elvis cupcake and their "trial" package. One of the workers suggested I pace myself, but I had just signed up for personal training at the gym. This, if anything, is my last chance at something devilishly delicious. It's veggies and grilled chicken from here on out, but who says I can't go out in a blaze of delicious chocolatey glory?!

I'm such a stickler for temperature when it comes to hot chocolate. If I can't drink it without setting my mouth on fire then it isn't worth it. The hot chocolate from Jaques Torres and Starbucks tend to burn the roof off my mouth (though to be fair to Starbucks you can get it at "kid temperature" which isn't as hot). But the one from Crumbs was perfect. And the peppermint flavor was perfectly balanced with the chocolate.

I have the feeling that, like Starbucks, the quality of Crumbs' beverages depends greatly on the barista, but if you have a chance get to Crumbs and try their hot chocolate. Yeah yeah so it's a little hot for hot chocolate, but it's worth it. And if you really can't stand it, get it on ice. Though I'm sure the ice cubes will make the hot chocolate taste...er... well you get the idea. :)

Thin Mints! (or "I found a Girl Scout!")

So I know I've been remiss in posting recently, but with finishing up the semester and trying, without much luck, to stay away from chocolate for a while (gasp!), I've been neglecting this blog only because life gets in the way.

That said, I am happy to report that I have some wonderful news! I found a Girl Scout! Now you might wonder why this is important. Why, might you ask, is this such a life-changing situation? It means that I have a new source of my favorite cookie, the THIN MINT!

Growing up, I was a Girl Scout. I wasn't a very good Girl Scout and I wasn't very good at selling cookies either. My mother ended up buying nearly all the boxes of cookies I was required by the Girl Scout laws and bylaws to sell. This didn't turn out to be such a bad thing. I got to eat Samoas (coconut and chocolate covered cookies) and their shortbread cookies, but my favorite of all the Girl Scout cookies were the Thin Mints. Now that I am no longer a girl scout, these cookies are much harder to come by. You can't find them in any store, and recently I've been canvasing my neighborhood to try and find someone, ANYONE, who even knew a girl scout. Finally, at work I discovered I work with a teacher whose daughter is a girl scout.

EPIC MAJOR SUPER SCORE!!! ::fistpump::

But back to why this is the greatest discovery since Columbus found America
Thin Mint cookies are mint cookies, wafers really, that are covered in a layer of chocolate. These cookies take me back to my childhood. I don't really think I can be objective about them, and who knows they might not really taste that good. They taste great to me, but I know plenty of folks who don't like them. But I'm happy to have a box of delicious minty nostalgia to take me back. And they're also really great to dunk in milk!