Entries Tagged as 'chocolate'

White Chocolate Covered Pretzels

December 20th, 2011 · No Comments

White chocolate covered pretzels are almost as easy to make as chocolate covered peanuts and I’ve probably been making them almost as long. For sure, since I was very young. I didn’t like them as much as the chocolate and peanuts, though, so I never got as excited about them. I do remember my mom making them every year for my uncle because they were his favorites.

All you do for this is melt some white chocolate (I used almond bark) and dip pretzels into it. I usually put a few pretzels in the bowl at a time and then fish each out with a fork. I don’t like a thick coating of chocolate, so I usually hang the pretzel off the for for a few seconds to let most of the chocolate shake off. Lay the wet pretzels on wax paper to dry. That’s it. A perfect sweet/savory candy.

Now, this year I decided to try something new. I saw some mint chips at the supermarket and bought them. I melted down a small amount of chips, put them in a ziploc and cut the tip. Then I drizzled the mint over the white pretzels when they were dried. I did the same with some milk chocolate, too. And then some of the pretzels I left plain. I think they look pretty when they’re all mixed together.

Other variations you could try are using pretzel rods, using milk chocolate or semi-sweet chocolate, or only dipping half of a pretzel in the chocolate. Also while the pretzels are still wet, you can sprinkle them with nuts, smashed candy canes, toffee bits or some kind of jimmie. I imagine you can make these for any season, depending what colors of sprinkles you use.

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Chocolate Covered Peanuts

December 19th, 2011 · No Comments

This is one of the easiest, most basic “Christmas candy” recipes that exists. I’ve been making this since I was a kid, probably for more than 25 years! I haven’t made it lately, though and decided to revisit an old favorite.

All you do is melt some chocolate in a double boiler, or even easier, at 20-30 second intervals in the microwave. Then dump some salted peanuts in the chocolate. Stir to coat that peanuts. Then drop the peanuts onto waxed paper to dry. I like to make clumps of 3-7 peanuts. They’ll be 1-2 bite pieces. Not too big, not too small. I also like the peanuts to be coated, but not excessively. I don’t like to bite into a piece of candy and get mostly chocolate, in other words. I use a fork to scoop the peanuts out of the chocolate and to make sure not too much chocolate comes out, but you can use a spoon, if you wish. I think this is how we did it when we were little kids!

This is a very simple “recipe,” but always a crowd pleaser! Who can resist chocolate + peanuts? Also, I remember as a kid some people would make something like this but with raisins. EVIL! No bueno.

One last note, use good quality chocolate for this recipe. Since there are only two ingedients, there’s no masking cheapo chocolate. I melted down a mix of Ghirardelli semi-sweet and bittersweet chips.

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Wine and Chocolate Pairing Class at 404 Wine Bar

August 15th, 2011 · 1 Comment

Last week Jen, Jill, Limey and I went to a wine and chocolate pairing class at 404 Wine Bar. The class was put on by I Wish and we’d purchased tickets from Groupon. The Groupon was actually just for a wine class, but we were having problems scheduling a date in Chicago (not the suburbs) and I Wish was nice enough to let us transfer the ticket and take the wine and chocolate pairing class.

We learned about pairing different kinds of wine with the different kinds of chocolate. How to complement and contrast the flavors and that sort of thing. My favorite pairing was a Santa Christina Sangiovese with dark chocolate. The wine was very fruity and cherry-like and mixed together it tasted just like a cherry cordial. I should note that this was Jill’s least favorite wine. She actually dumped it out. Ha! She has a thing about fruit. Jen and I were teasing her and Limes from across the table. Hence the thought balloons above.


I really liked this wine: Proyecto Garnachas de Espana

I thought the class was fun enough at the discounted rate ($20). We learned a few things and had an enjoyable lesson. I don’t know if I’d ever pay the full price for the lesson, $45 seems overpriced to me, but I guess that’s why we got the Groupon!

On a side note, you may recall that this is the second I Wish class I’ve taken. Jen and I went to a Korean culture and food class earlier this year.

Since our class was in a side room at 404 Wine Bar and we hadn’t eaten dinner yet, we headed into the bar/restaurant to eat. We ordered a bunch of things and split them:

- Housemade tapenade with crostini
- 3 cheese plate with cranberries, grapes and honey almonds
- Sauteed Maine sea scallops
- Wild mushroom ravioli with a truffle cream sauce
- Fish tacos (from Jack’s Bar & Grill, which is attached to the wine bar)
- Chocolate fondue served with pound cake and apples

Everything was really delicious. Everyone agreed. We also agreed that we all loved the mushroom ravioli. SOOOO good. Also, how appropriate that we both started and ended with chocolate?

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Last Dispatch From the Seattle Area

April 6th, 2011 · No Comments

Just a few last tidbits from my trip out to the Seattle area for the Nintendo 3DS Summit.

Nintendo put us up in the Hyatt Regency Bellevue. The rooms were really pretty.

And about double the size of the last New York hotel room I stayed in where the desk was at the end of the bed so close they were almost touching. And the TV was practically on the ceiling, above the desk!!! These rooms in Bellevue were nice and spacious.

I had a handicap-accessible hotel room. The stand-up shower was so huge! Also, how cute that they left some toothpaste out for me. I’ve had to practically beg toothpaste off other hotels.

Even cuter than that? Look at this note housekeeping left for me!

What? I was in Seattle! And I’ve been to the San Juan Islands! This was delicious.

While I was getting ready I had the TV on the local news channel and I kept hearing my name. Turns out one of their local reporter’s name is Rachelle Murcia. I feel kind of bad about this photo. So awkward. Rachelle Murcia really is pretty lady!

On the night that everyone flew into Seattle, Nintendo hosted a reception for us at the Twisted Cork, our hotel bar.

There was ahi and kobe sliders and pulled pork and hours of passed appetizers. Open bar, although I only had 2 glasses of wine.

This DJ was kind of odd. He was playing house music all night and no one was dancing. Then he’d throw on something random like Footloose and everyone would crowd the dance floor. And then after one song he’d go back to his stupid house music and everyone would leave. He really was not reading or catering to his audience.

Later in the night? Cake pops! Along with a nice selection of other desserts.

In the Seattle airport, ridiculous Twilight series coffee by The Vashon Island Coffee Roasterie. Some of these sounded good, but I couldn’t bring myself to buy it.

Finally, one of my favorite souvenirs: Old-school Nintendo coffee mug for the office.

Disclosure: This was all part of the Nintendo 3DS Summit weekend. For this trip, Nintendo provided the airfare, accommodations, meals, a Nintendo World gift certificate, and Nintendo 3DS. I was not paid, or even asked, to write this post.

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Birthday Flowers

September 8th, 2008 · 8 Comments

This is the 7th year in a row that my parents have gotten me flowers on my birthday. They’re always much appreciated. I was wondering about this year since I’ve only been in the Roundarch office for a few days, but my mom must have just gotten on the internet and found the address. Good sleuth work!

I was glad this year to see a bunch of gerbera daisies in the bouquet since I haven’t been able to grow any this year because of our crazy neighborhood squirrels. At least I get to enjoy daisies somehow this year! I was also glad to just have the nice bouquet and not the balloon too. I know my parents like those, but I get a little embarrassed by how much attention it draws, especially at a new place where I don’t know many people. I don’t know where they got the flowers this year, but they seemed especially nice (make a note for next year, mom!).

Also, here’s a photo of my set up at work. I’m not sure if I’ll be sitting here permanently, but I’m here for now. It’s not a 30-inch flat screen monitor and an Aeron chair, but I think I can manage! :) And yes, I’m still struggling with the PC and Vista. My deskmate, the guy that sits next to me, flies into Chicago from Hoboken/New York every week from Monday to Thursday. On Friday a guy who works at a local client site all week took his place at that desk. Besides the reception and bathroom traffic, it’s not a bad place to sit.


Roundarch, River North, Chicago

Thanks to everyone for all of the birthday greetings today. I got a lot of email ones, like always, but also, so many on Facebook! That was kind of nice.

Here are my past flowers. It’s kind of interesting to go through them and see all the places I’ve gotten flowers delivered: Google, FeedBurner, Monster, Chicago, New York, etc..
- 2007
- 2006
- 2005
- 2004
- 2003
- 2002

Update: Two days later I got the second part of my gift from my parents – chocolates from Chicago Chocolate Company!

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