tesco chocolate

Bargain...I found a box of chocs on offer for two pounds in tesco, Weymouth. The sell by date was coming...would I eat the whole box? Probably. But not healthy. Yes I said healthy writing about chocolate... So I took out all the truffles and pralines and added them to cooking chocolate. I made a batch of brownies. They came out with a soft yet chewy texture. Melting and wwonderful with a baked, crackled surface. Great stuff. Result.

Magnum chocolates

Magnum chocolates come in a three pack. Based on the premise of the ice cream - vanilla soft centre with a dark chocolate covering. Outstanding! They aren't always available though. It's difficult to locate them but when you do, make sure you buy them. Even to try them out.

Hollowed out chocolate

Having eaten lots of lindt chocolate, I noticed a difference in the Santa version compared to the red round Lindts that are available in miniature boxes, medium size or large. So it started me off on a train of thought. A friend of mine, equally a lover of chocolate used to mention that she hated easter eggs. I was shocked. We both love chocolate so much and her statement was out of character. She then went on to explain that eggs taste different. I had noticed a change but mainly because the eggs are on display for long periods of time. Even now, after Christmas, I have seen easter chocolate going on display. It is as bad as large tins of chocolates being brought out on display ready for Christmas - but displayed in September! Anyway, I digress. The point being that such hollowed out chocolate eggs do taste different. They may have a different make up but I have noticed there are the same ingredients and the same ratios of sugar, cocoa solids etc. So it must be something about the production. The process of creating a hollowed out egg, or santa, as it was recently must mean that the chocolate ends up tasting ever so slightly different. And there may be something in it. The bubbly chocolate bars are produced in a different way. The process of using air to make it bubbly does something to the chocolate. Apparently, less chocolate is used because air bubbles take up a lot of ratio. I am still undecided about the hollowed-out chocolate santas or similar chocolate. I might have to eat more of them to really make my mind up!