About Chocolates

Chocolate is one of the most popular treats given on holidays. On Valentine's Day, a box of chocolate is given, usually with flowers and a greeting card. It is given on other holidays, including Christmas, Thanksgiving, and birthdays, although no special chocolate creation is common on these holidays. On Easter, chocolate eggs are popular gifts. A chocolate egg is a confectionery made primarily of chocolate, and can either be solid, hollow, or filled with cream.

Want play a trick on those, Trick or Treating rascals that call on your house this Halloween? We have the perfect Trick or Treat, treat - Chocolate covered brussel sprouts!
We all know how much children hate to eat their greens, especially brussel sprouts. So this little treat is sure to trick them. Just imagine their little faces when they bite down on these festive goodies! Ad remember, he who laughs last, laughs longest.

All you will need is a bag of brussel sprouts, some milk chocolate cooking chocolate, some greaseproof paper and some Hundreds and Thousands to decorate (Optional)

First take the brussel sprouts and prepare them as if you were going to cook them by taking off all the outer leaves. Give them a wash and pat them dry. If they are wet the chocolate wont cover properly.

Now take the chocolate and break up into chunks and put them in a microwavable bowl and microwave for 1 minute. Take out and stir. Return back to the microwave for 30 seconds if needed. Be careful not to microwave too much because it burn the chocolate and spoils it.

If you dont have a microwave, dont worry. Break the chocolate up into a heat proof bowl and stand in a saucepan of boiling water on the hob. You need to make sure that the pan doesnt boil dry, and that no water splashes out of the pan and into your chocolate, else it will spoil. Remember to keep stirring your chocolate.

When the chocolate is melted, add the brussel sprouts and give them a good mix to ensure that all the brussel sprouts are evenly covered and no green leaves are showing.

Then carefully lift each brussel sprout out with a spoon and leave it on a sheet of greaseproof paper. When you have all the chocolate covered brussel sprouts out of the mixture, use a tea spoon to drizzle chocolate over each brussel to ensure coverage and use up the left over melted chocolate.

If you would like to decorate the brussel sprouts sprinkle some Hundreds and Thousands over them whilst the chocolate is still warm. They will stay in place when the chocolate sets.

Place the chocolate treats in the fridge to harden for about 30 minutes. Divide into little goodie bags ready for the Halloween trick or treaters, wont they be surprised? Please do expect to have your garden covered in half bitten chocolate covered brussel sprouts, however, that all adds to the amusement!

Some people say that the tradition of giving Easter eggs began with the Chinese, who gave eggs as gifts in the celebration of spring. Regardless of its origin, there is no question that most people prefer chocolate Easter eggs today.
Here are a few of my favorite chocolate quotes that you can use in Easter egreetings, postal greetings and invitations, etc. -- or just to enjoy:

1. 'Strength is the capacity to break a chocolate bar into four pieces with your bare hands - and then eat just one of the pieces ' ~ Judith Viorst

2. 'Biochemically, love is just like eating large amounts of chocolate.' ~ John Milton

3.'Nine out of ten people like chocolate. The tenth person always lies.' ~ John Q. Tullius

4. 'Exercise is a dirty word. Every time I hear it I wash my mouth out with chocolate.' ~ Charles M. Schultz

5.'Forget love... Id rather fall in chocolate!' ~ Author Unknown

6 'Once in a while I say, Go for it and I eat chocolate.' ~ Claudia Schiffer

7. 'Chocolate makes everyone smile - even bankers.' ~ Chocolatier Benneville Strohecker

8.'Caramels are only a fad. Chocolate is a permanent thing.' ~ Milton Snavely Hershey

9. 'There are two kinds of people in the world. Those who love chocolate, and communists.' ~ Leslie Moak Murray in Murrays Law comic strip

10. 'Any sane person loves chocolate.' ~ Writer Bob Greene

11. 'Other things are just food. But chocolates chocolate.' ~ Writer Patrick Skene Catling

12. 'Stress wouldnt be so hard to take if it were chocolate covered.' ~ Anonymous

13. 'Chocolate is cheaper than therapy and you dont need an appointment.' ~ Anonymous

14. 'Chocolate: Here today...Gone today!' ~ Anonymous

15. 'Chocolate is natures way of making up for Mondays.' ~ Anonymous

16. 'Theres more to life than chocolate, but not right now.' ~ Anonymous

17. '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 Sevigne (French writer and lady of fashion)

18. 'Chocolate: the poor mans champagne.' ~ Daniel Worona

19. 'The greatest tragedies were written by the Greek Sophocles and English Shakespeare. Neither knew chocolate.' ~ Sandra Boynton

20. 'Life without chocolate is life lacking something important.' ~ Writers Marcia Colman Morton & Frederic Morton

21. 'Nothing is more romantic than chocolate.' ~ Ted, Queer Eye For The Straight Guy

22. 'My therapist told me the way to achieve true inner peace is to finish what I start. So far Ive finished two bags of M&Ms and a chocolate cake. I feel better already.' ~ Dave Barry

I hope these chocolate quotes made you smile. Happy Easter!