March 03, 2015
The cold days of winter continue to linger but the promise of spring peaks in around the corner, with hints of warmer days, budding flowers and Easter. Anticipation of the upcoming season has us excited about celebration and how chocolate fits into all of it.
When Chocology visited the Atria Senior Living Center a couple of weeks ago, the residents there got to reminiscing about their Easter festivities as children. Some remembered the Easter Bunny bringing them chocolate filled eggs in a variety of flavors. Others remembered receiving huge solid chocolate bunnies. We enjoyed watching them smile and giggle at the fun they had as children during their spring holiday.
Every time we talk about a holiday, conversation eventually turns to chocolate. Easter is no exception. Chocolate is a universal way for us to celebrate, it seems. When the conversation turns to chocolate, people always smile with delight.
With Easter at our doorstep, we thought it would be fun to find out what you’re hoping to get from the Easter Bunny this year. Won’t you help us inform the world’s most favorite rabbit what to leave in your Easter basket? Now a days, there are so many choices. Let’s make sure our friend knows what to bring!
How do you and your family celebrate Easter? Do you have a particularly memorable Easter or spring celebration that you’d like to share? We’d love to hear your story. Please share it with us in the comments section or on Facebook or Twitter.
Chocology wishes you warmer days ahead, renewed growth and of course ~ lots of chocolate in your Easter Basket!
February 17, 2015
One of the themes at the core of the Chocology vision is kindness. Each and every day, we strive to put a smile on the faces of those we come across. So when we chose to visit the Atria Senior Living Center with Chocology Chocolates in tow, that’s what we had in mind.
We titled our workshop “Chocolate Lover’s Fest” and set out to create a fun filled and delicious afternoon with the seniors at Atria. Our purpose was to educate our friends about the origins of chocolate, have them vote for their favorite type of chocolate, taste some of our goodies and hopefully share a few laughs along the way.
Madeline and I started out by introducing ourselves and Chocology. We talked about the history of chocolate, where it comes from and how it’s made. Some of the residents reminisced about what chocolate was like in their younger days. Many of them said their favorite chocolate surprise when they were young was the solid chocolate Easter Bunny. Conversation ensued about how their families had enjoyed chocolate in days gone by. We loved hearing their stories and of course, we learned a lot from them as well.
Believe it or not, many of the residents had no idea that unlike money, chocolate literally does grow on trees! We passed around our cacoa pods given to us from friends in Central America. The residents couldn’t believe that chocolate bars, fudge and truffles actually start out as a bean!
Then we took a chocolate survey. Like the rest of our chocolate polls, dark chocolate won by a landslide. I passed out Fat-Ass Fudge while Madeline told them a funny story about White Chocolate and how it accidentally ended up on Nachos. They all laughed and I could see Madeline shining! We practiced eating chocolate mindfully. Soon after, our audience was “ooing” and “ahhing” over the silky delight. We explored the science and history of our favorite treat a bit more and then ended the afternoon with cups of white hot chocolate and cookies dipped into the melted chocolate of their choice.
As I packed up to leave, some of the residents lingered to chat some more with Madeline. Many of our elderly guests commented on how amazed they were that Madeline was so young and yet so knowledgeable and confident about chocolate. They loved that a teen could relate to people of all ages and engage with them so effortlessly. We promised to come back next month to play Chocolate Bingo.
On our way home, Madeline and I always like to talk about what was best and worst about our events. We always strive to make them better. We loved that we enlightened some of the residents to the fact that chocolate really does grow on trees! The residents were tickled about that and it put a smile on our faces as well. Madeline also felt that she was becoming more of a partner at Chocology rather than an assistant. And she definitely is! She co-led the class with maturity and grace. I was super proud of her! On the worst side, we need to remember to take pictures...we always get so involved in conversation that we forget to take pictures.
Madeline brought up the fact that we went in hoping to make the residents feel good but we left feeling great ourselves and I agreed. That’s usually what happens when we give. We get so much back in return.
We look forward to more events with our friends at Atria Senior Center and sharing our love of chocolate with them even more. They’re willingness to learn in their latter years is an inspiration to us. Their playful demeanors and delightful attitudes were definitely a mirror of what we stand for at Chocology!
Do you have a great story about a senior that you’d like to share? Head on over to Facebook or Twitter and tells us of your experiences. We love to hear your stories!
February 03, 2015
Chocolate is revered around the world and it is quoted in many different ways. Some turn to chocolate to improve health, others for romance and still others to get themselves through difficult times in their lives. Since ancient times, chocolate has been held in the highest esteem by cultures around the world.
We thought it would be fun to share some of the quotes we’ve been collecting ~ all relating to chocolate. Perhaps you have a favorite? Share it with us in the comment section, on Facebook or via Twitter.
Chocolate and Health
"The superiority of chocolate, both for health and nourishment, will soon give it the same preference over tea and coffee in America which it has in Spain." - Thomas Jefferson
"Chocolate is a perfect food, as wholesome as it is delicious, a beneficent restorer of exhausted power. It is the best friend of those engaged in literary pursuits." - Baron Justus von Liebig
"If you are not feeling well, if you have not slept, chocolate will revive you. But you have no chocolate! I think of that again and again! My dear, how will you ever manage?" - Marquise de Sévigné
"All of the evil that people have thrust upon chocolate is really more deserved by milk chocolate, which is essentially contaminated. The closer you get to a pure chocolate liquor (the chocolate essence ground from roasted cacao beans) the purer it is, the more satisfying it is, the safer it is, and the healthier it is." - Arnold Ismach, The Darker Side of Chocolate
"It has been shown as proof positive that carefully prepared chocolate is as healthful a food as it is pleasant; that it is nourishing and easily digested... that it is above all helpful to people who must do a great deal of mental work." - Anthelme Brillat-Savarin
Chocolate and History
"Never mind about 1066 William the Conqueror, 1087 William the Second. Such things are not going to affect one?s life ... but 1932 the Mars Bar and 1936 Maltesers and 1937 the Kit Kat - these dates are milestones in history and should be seared into the memory of every child in the country." - Roald Dahl
"Caramels are only a fad. Chocolate is a permanent thing." - Milton Snavely Hershey
Chocolate and Friends
"There's nothing better than a good friend, except a good friend with chocolate." - Linda Grayson
"I never met a chocolate I didn't like." - Deanna Troi, Star Trek: The Next Generation
Chocolate and Love
"All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt." - Charles M. Schulz
"Forget love ... I'd rather fall in chocolate!" – Anonymous
"It's not that chocolates are a substitute for love. Love is a substitute for chocolate. Chocolate is, let's face it, far more reliable than a man." - Miranda Ingram
"Nothing is more romantic than chocolate." - Ted Allen, Queer Eye For The Straight Guy
Chocolate and Science
"Look, there's no metaphysics on earth like chocolates." - Fernando Pessoa
"Chemically speaking, chocolate really is the world's perfect food." - Michael Levine, The Emperors of Chocolate: Inside the Secret World of Hershey and Mars
Chocolate and Therapy
"My therapist told me the way to achieve true inner peace is to finish what I start. So far today, I have finished 2 bags of M&M's and a chocolate cake. I feel better already." - Dave Barry
"Make a list of important things to do today. At the top of your list, put "eat chocolate." Now, you'll get at least one thing done today." - Gina Hayes
"Any sane person loves chocolate." - Bob Greene
"The 12-step chocoholics program: Never be more than 12 steps away from chocolate!" - Terry Moore
"Life is like a box of chocolates ... You never know what you're gonna get." - Forrest Gump
Chocolate and Humor
"Nine out of ten people like chocolate. The tenth person always lies." - John Q. Tullius
"Researchers have discovered that chocolate produces some of the same reactions in the brain as marijuana. The researchers also discovered other similarities between the two but can't remember what they are." - Matt Lauer
"I owe it all to little chocolate donuts." - John Belushi
Which was your favorite quote? Did these quotes make you feel as though you could use a box of chocolates? Valentines Day is coming up. Perhaps you’ll get yourself a box from our Love & Kisses Valentine collection to make life just a bit sweeter. The last day for standard shipping orders is February 9 so order soon. Orders over $75 will receive free standard shipping.
January 30, 2015
While Valentines day has been coined “The Day of Romance” many of us feel a bit pressured to feel “romance on demand” when Valentines Day rolls around.
We first contemplated writing a post about how we might fill Valentines Day with all things romantic. We even thought about suggesting breakfast in bed, leaving a trail of chocolates in your loved one’s wake or taking the time to bathe in chocolate at the end of the day.
But. . . then we got real.
The elderly mom called – she thinks she took too much medication and needs your help - NOW. Your beloved 9 year old spilled a whole river of milk under the refrigerator last night and thought he cleaned it up, but your shoes are glued to the floor, so a quick swipe with the mop is in order. To top it off your dog coughed up some indescribable substance that looks a bit like mouse guts. Now, a full mop job is required. Your older two are tapping their watches, indicating they are going to be late to baseball practice AGAIN.
The pressure to “get romantic” can lead to a feeling of lack in our lives. It can lead to feeling as though our romantic life is not living up to what society says it should be. Because we’re dealing with life’s demands, we feel that we are missing something. Do other people actually prepare breakfast in bed and have full days of romance on Valentines Day? How do they find the time and energy?
So, we scratched our idea to write a post on how to make your Valentine’s Day full of romance. Instead, we’ll offer the following.
Stop the madness! We all know that the hurried attempt at gift giving on Valentines Day just leads to a quickly purchased heart-shaped box chosen on February 13 at the local drug store, which usually ends up in the trash can after a respectable amount of time. Chances are, the heart-shaped box will be accompanied by a bouquet of flowers, the cost of which just about prevent us from getting the mortgage paid this month! And why? Because we want our significant other to feel as though we haven’t forgotten them on this special day.
Why not drop the gifts? Instead, decide on and purchase a quality box of chocolates that you can share through your hurried activities. Chocology can help you with our exquisite truffles and heart shaped fudge. With a wink and a smile, lovingly pop one into your significant others mouth as he wipes up the spilled milk and you race out the door to do carpool. Nothing says I love you more than a cheerful busy person with a stash of quality chocolate in their possession.
Romance is the natural bi-product of two happy people who are working through life’s challenges and joys together. Cherishing the busy moments and decisions that we must make together are what really cultivates intimacy. In our mind, that’s what Valentine’s Day is all about.
While it might be nice to get breakfast in bed, a note written in chocolate and a fancy night out on the town, most of us just long for simplicity. We don’t want a whole world of things to add to our “to do” list on Valentines day just because we’re “suppose to”. Why not take the pressure off and just enjoy a day of getting through life’s curve balls together.
At the end of the day, when the kids are in bed, you’ve cared for the elderly parents and your house just might pass a health inspection if needed, perhaps you can pop in a romantic comedy, make some Rich Hot Chocolate and collapse in exhaustion – together – leaving the expectations of some Harlequin Romance in the rear view mirror. Perhaps Valentines Day is a day of acceptance that our life is not about the gifts we can hurriedly grab for one another or the surprises we can think up, but about the connection that we already have and are living, moment by moment, together.
January 19, 2015
+ A Limited Time Special Offer
We're less than a month away from Valentine's Day - the traditional chocolate holiday! We are so excited that this special day is near. What a wonderful time to express love and gratitude to those special people in our lives.
At Chocology, we realize it’s not always easy to choose a gift that truly says, “I love you”. That’s why we have created a most delectable array of chocolates just for Valentines Day. Your Valentine will feel extra special when they receive our Love & Kisses collection. Designed to perfection, our creamy homemade fudge and couture truffles are as delicious as they are pretty, each an individual gift of its own.
All of our chocolates are hand packed with the greatest of tender loving care and made with the freshest ingredients available. Our “How to Eat Chocolate Mindfully” card accompanies each and every order. You can rest assured that your Valentine will savor each chocolate and thank you with every bite.
Last week, we took a poll asking you, our readers, what kind of chocolate you hoped to find in your Valentine box this year. The votes are in! Dark Chocolate Hearts were voted the most desired chocolate for Valentines Day 2015. Look below for a sneak peek at the truly decadent Valentines collection Chocology has to offer for the Valentine’s 2015 season.
All of our Love & Kisses chocolates are tenderly filled with dark chocolate ganache, rich creamy salted caramel and oh so much more. Our romantic heart-shaped fudge will be available for a limited time as well.
As an expression of our love and gratitude, we at Chocology would like to extend a special offer to you ~ our loyal followers. For a limited time, we are offering 20% off your entire *Chocology Valentine order. This offer will run through midnight, Wednesday January 21. In addition, all orders over $75 will receive **free standard shipping.
We hope that this offer will assist you in creating a Valentines Day to remember. Our mission at Chocology is to provide excellent service and products while building strong relationships with our customers.
Here’s your sneak peek of our Love & Kisses Valentine Collection:
Cherish--Dark Chocolate Ganache in a Dark Chocolate shell. 62% Dark chocolate ganache
Sweet Love--Creamy white chocolate ganache with the pure and gentle taste of fresh picked raspberries wrapped in a White Chocolate Shell.
Adore--Strawberry Champagne Ganache in a Dark Chocolate Shell. Balancing sweet strawberries, champagne and almond paste in a dark chocolate shell
My delight--Salted Caramel in a Milk Chocolate Shell, filled with a rich harmonious blend of buttery caramel with the unexpected boldness of fleur de sel.
And don't forget our fabulous fudge:
Fat-Ass Fudge Hearts: You can taste the delectable pleasure and pure ingredients in every bite. Our heavenly, handmade fudge is rich, delicious, and completely natural. It is made with Belgian chocolate, organic goat's milk and goat's butter and love; gluten and lactose free.
Your Coupon Code:
Loyal Followers Coupon (coupon code: Love&Kisses)
Expires Wednesday at midnight
We look forward to helping you create a wonderful Valentines Day for your special someone. Please feel free to share this offer with your friends and family on Facebook or Twitter, so that everyone has the opportunity to take advantage of this wonderful pre-Valentines Day special.
*To insure the freshest chocolates, your order will arrive in the days just before Valentines Day.
** free shipping to one destination on orders over $75.
Be sure to visit our website soon and make your gift purchases.
November 10, 2014 1 Comment
Gratitude ~ the quality of being thankful; readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindnessWe talk a lot about gratitude in the month of November. We all try to make an extra effort to count our blessings, do for others and pay closer attention to all that we have. It’s important to make this effort in every day life, and we’ve found at Chocology that it is especially important to practice gratitude in our day-to-day business dealings. Having a gratitude practice can paint a new picture on a chaotic day. Starting and running a business can bring challenges that aren’t expected at times. When we make it a point to shift our focus to what is working, rather that what is challenging, it feels as though we are swimming with the flow of life. By integrating an attitude of gratitude into our business practices, we make better decisions, even in the chaos of a challenging day. Focusing on gratitude grounds Chocology and keeps us zeroed in on giving. When we feel abundant, we feel as though we have lots to give. Our focus becomes about giving good service, good quality products and building strong relationships. We don’t have time to dwell on the things that don’t go our way, because we know that there is always another door up there on the horizon just waiting for us to walk through it. When we appreciate all of the good things that are happening, it seems to bring us even more. Chocology prides itself on making chocolate personal. Our vision is RED, putting our focus on Relationships, Education and Distinct products. All of these qualities arise from the gratitude we have for our customers and vendors. While the bottom line is important, when we put our focus on giving, the bottom line takes care of itself. We operate Chocology just as we operate our personal lives. We start our day with gratitude for our customers, our readers and all of our vendors and products. Our purpose is to bring great products and education to all that desire it and to appreciate every step we take to get there. We thought it might be nice to share some of the things that Chocology is very grateful for this month. We hope that it will inspire you to stop for a moment and think about what you are grateful for. Being thankful is the first step to creating a brand new day filled with all of our hearts desires. It really does begin with perspective. Let’s cultivate an attitude of gratitude together this month. Chocology is especially grateful for:
YOU our customers and readers
For the opportunity to share our love for all things chocolate
For all of our outstanding vendors, technical people and associates who help us make Chocology a company we are proud of
For our new Fat Ass Fudge products (We know you’re going to love them!)
For the potential to bring education to kids through Chocology Kids
For all of our pet friends out there and the opportunity to develop products that they will enjoy in the future
For all of our family and friends, who support us on this lovely chocolate adventure
We truly are thankful for the opportunity to share our passion with you. Thank you for being a part of our Chocology family. We wish you and yours a very happy Thanksgiving. We would love to hear what you are thankful for this month. Feel free to leave us a comment, visit us on Facebook or tweet us your gratitude list.November 03, 2014
The winner of the 24-piece “You Can Have it All” Chocology Chocolates, is Ted Cart. Thank you Ted for helping us spread the word about Chocology.
Winners of our Fudge giveaway are Candy Johnson, Nitsa Swain,Tricia Folliero, DanTeresa Loos, Wesi Tresi and Beda Nelson. Thank you all for participating in our contest and sharing your love of Chocology with your friends and family.
Thanks to everyone who participated in our give aways! Be sure to connect with us on Facebook and Twitter so that you will stay updated on all of the contests and specials we are having during the holidays. Have a terrific, chocolate filled week! ~ Linda JohnsonNovember 03, 2014
October 28, 2014
Chocology Chocolate Glossary
October 20, 2014 2 Comments
October 13, 2014
1 sweet potato 3 eggs, whisked ¼ cup Coconut Oil, melted ⅓ cup raw honey ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract 3 tablespoons Coconut Flour 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder ¼ teaspoon baking powder ¼ teaspoon cinnamon pinch of salt ½ cup Chocolate Chips
Instructions:
Bake the sweet potato. Preheat your oven to 425 degrees, use a fork to puncture holes all around it, then throw in the oven for 25-30 minutes.
Once your sweet potato is soft and cooked through, peel off the skin and mash it up in a bowl. Turn your oven down to 350 degrees.
Add your wet ingredients: eggs, coconut oil, honey, and vanilla to the bowl and mix together.
Then add your dry ingredients: coconut flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, cinnamon, salt and chocolate chips.
Mix well.
Pour into an 8×8 glass baking dish.
Bake for 30-35 minutes.
Let rest to cool a bit.
If you’re looking for a decadent, super easy recipe for brownies, our favorite is right off the back of the Baker’s Unsweetened Chocolate box. One-bowl brownies are so simple to make; you can be eating this sweet treat within 40 minutes, start to finish! We substitute chocolate chips in place of nuts (of course we do, we LOVE chocolate). So, if you’re feeling a bit wicked, whip out your ONE bowl and make a batch of these. They’re sure to please all those chocoholics in your family! [caption id="attachment_496" align="alignleft" width="224"] ONE BOWL BROWNIES[/caption]1 pkg. (4 oz.) BAKER'S Unsweetened Chocolate ¾ cup butter or margarine 2 cups sugar 3 eggs 1 tsp. vanilla 1 cup flour 1 Cup Chocolate Chips
Instructions:
HEAT oven to 350°F.
LINE 13x9-inch pan with foil, with ends of foil extending over sides. Spray foil with cooking spray.
MICROWAVE chocolate and butter in large microwaveable bowl on HIGH 2 min. or until butter is melted. Stir until chocolate is completely melted. Stir in sugar. Blend in eggs and vanilla. Add flour and chocolate chips; mix well. Pour into prepared pan.
BAKE 30 to 35 min. or until toothpick inserted in center comes out with fudgy crumbs. (Do not overbake.) Cool completely. Use foil handles to remove brownies from pan before cutting to serve.
If you try one of these recipes, please tell us about it. Did you make them both? Which was your favorite? Please share with us in the comments section here or on our Facebook Page or take a picture and send it to us on Instagram! We'd love to hear all about it. Thanks again to everyone who participated in our Happy Birthday to Me Give Away! Stay tuned for more contests in the near future. We appreciate your support!October 06, 2014
Be a subscriber to this blog, Chocology Today. Not a subscriber? It’s easy. Just type in your email address in that handy "follow" button to the right and you’re in! Subscribing to the blog puts your name in the hat one time!--Get one (1) point!
Share THIS blog with your friends--Get one (1) point!
Share THIS giveaway with your friends using the social media buttons at the bottom of this post--Get one (1) point!
LIKE this post and leave a comment--Get one (1) point!
Buy a box of chocolates on our website at chocologyunlimited.com Don’t forget, you get a 15% discount this week--Get two (2) points!
The more you share the better your chances of winning! Winner will be announced on the blog, October 14, 2014. You will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen, so be sure to check our blog next week to see if YOU are the lucky winner! I’m so excited to be celebrating my birthday with all of YOU! Thank you for helping us spread the word. On your mark. . .Get set. . . Go! And, Good Luck! ~ Linda Johnson