Happy New Year!

Welcome 2010!!

This will be a perfect year to accomplish just a few things.

"Just a few things" you ask?

Yes, just a few.

With each new year we all try to set lofty goals to achieve during the year and by the end we look back and see that we only reached a few, and feel disappointment for not reaching them all. So, logic says...set just a few and celebrate!!

I have a few that I am looking at. The biggest one is to expand my horizons with chocolate. For those of you who do not know me, let me explain. Although I am a chocolatier and I know chocolate really well, I'm really bad in the kitchen. The story I love to tell that describes my talent in the kitchen has to do with pasta. I was having guests for dinner one night and I decided to serve spaghetti. It is a pretty easy recipe and it would serve a group of friends. The sauce was simmering and approaching that peak of perfection. I put a large pot on for the noodles and once it reached boiling the noodles were added as instructed. I went to my computer to catch up with a few friends and my senses returned to my cooking with the smell of something burning. I rushed to the kitchen to find the pot of noodles furiously boiling away and, to my amazement, flames were leaping out of the pot through the splashing water!

Really...I caught spaghetti on fire while it was boiling in a pot! I have burned everything imaginable and as a result I get a little intimidated when it comes to baking, or creating anything that takes too much time or effort. Any cook will tell you how disappointing it is to spend 2 hours preparing a dish only to have it go up in smoke.

In 2010 I am going to go beyond my kitchen fears and make a few amazing things! I don't know what I should make first. Will it be a cake? What about chocolate mousse from scratch? Oh, the possibilities are limitless! Through 2010 I will share this adventure with you. I will be publishing this adventure through stories and photos. You will witness my successes and laugh with me through my failures!

Now, to keep this all fair I will be needing a few recipes. When I go to my vast selection of cook books I look through them and feel overwhelmed and quickly slam the cupboard shut leaving those books in the dark. You, my sweet readers, are so much braver than I and can open a cookbook. I would like you to send me a recipe and I will prepare it to the best of my ability. Because this blog is about chocolate everything I attempt needs to have chocolate as at least one ingredient. It can be chocolate in any form: cocoa powder, semi-sweet, bitter, chips, chunks, etc. You can post your recipe here as a comment, or send them directly to me via my website.

So, here's to a few new goals! I raise my glass to you and pray that I don't burn too much this year!!

Chocolate of the Month Club

I have long loved the many clubs that offer a monthly "gift" each month. I used to belong to the Peach of the Month Club until my taste for peaches was over-run by too many peaches month after month. I spread my wings to apples and oranges so I could have a full range of fruits parade through my kitchen. Then there was the "Book of the Month Club" which I still consider one of my favorite clubs. But, alas, I had children and my ability to read at my leisure turned into diapers, feedings, and many re-runs of Peter Pan and Dumbo. I do read now that my kids are nearly grown, but I never have gotten back into the rhythm of the monthly book.

Now I have found a Flavor of the Month Club that I can really sink my teeth into (yes, that pun was intended). Dove Chocolate Discoveries has started a NEW sweet treat to give to yourself or to a friend. The Ultimate Chocolate of the Month Club is a yummy sensation that is available for a limited time only and I, for one, will be the first to order this luscious gift! Imagine coming home from a hard fought battle at work to a surprise of chocolate at your doorstep. You drive up and there is a mysterious box on the porch that has been left by the delivery driver. "What's this?" you ask yourself. "I don't know," you answer, "Let's take it in and open it." The return address isn't as clear as you would like...someone has smudged the name. Inside is a beautifully wrapped box, and snuggled in each little compartment is a taste sensation that will create a party in your mouth. Sea Salted Caramels.

One bite and your day has just turned into heaven on earth! Each piece of chocolate covered caramel has just a dash of salt from around the world. You travel from France to Bolivia then Australia, the Mediterranean, on to Asia, then back again to France. A world tour in one box of chocolate. Just think, that's just January! Your itinerary for your world tour is mapped out for you and you can travel to one location each day for 24 days, or you can hop from country to country in a matter of minutes.

After your tour you will be ready for February's "Fruit of the Month" in DCD's Fruit Collection. This is fun in a box with blueberries, cranberries, and cherries all swimming in dark chocolate. There are three bags in this box of berries each containing each fruit. A suggested way to eat these would be to have only one bag every ten days. Will they last that long...NOT! I try to limit my fruit intake to only one bag a day although I do know of some very disciplined chocoholics that eat only one bag a week. AMAZING.

March has a delicious cup of cappuccino waiting for you...well, a cup of Chocolate-Covered Cappuccino Biscottini that is. Biscotti is wonderful when dipped in coffee and this is the answer to that age old question...."How can I have everything I love in one bite?" Take one bite of these and you will smile all the way past the local coffee shop. These bits of cappuccino biscotti are covered in a thick layer of chocolate so you have it all in one bite; chocolate, cappuccino, and biscotti.

April, May, and June are just as wonderful with Double Chocolate Caramel Nut Clusters, Milk Chocolate-Covered Cashews and Dark Chocolate-Covered Almonds, and the truly astounding Merlot Fudge Sauce. Just the names of these send my taste buds into a frenzy!

There is nothing on this earth (well, almost nothing) that can compare to chocolate and to get a surprise every month is the best way to kick off a new year and a new month. So, join the ULTIMATE Chocolate of the Month Club with me and let's have a chocolate party every month!

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Use Your Passion

As seen in USA Weekend Sept 14-17

I like to talk about my working life online because I've done it all: I've worked in a mousetrap factory, designed jewelry and been a jet mechanic in the Air Force.
Now I have my own work-from-home business, leading a sales team for Dove Chocolate Discoveries. I'm selling something I have a longtime passion for -- chocolate!
The Web is a great tool, especially when it comes to expanding my customer base. You also can get candid advice online on career-focused forums.
In turn, I try to help fellow moms on these forums take advantage of the positive aspects of a bad economy by finding great bargains or getting their home loans refinanced at a lower interest rate. Good times or bad, nothing lasts forever, so you take advantage of "down" cycles so you'll be in a position to enjoy the better days ahead.

My top tips
Family first. For every business opportunity, ask yourself, "How will this affect my family?" My business allows me to be home for my kids when I'm needed.
Quitting isn't an option. I've seen many people who've given up on a challenge, and then they regret it. If something isn't working, don't quit it. Change it.
Be passionate. A lack of enthusiasm will hurt your job performance. Passion will drive you through the low spots that happen in every career.
Pay with cash. By using cash, I've built my company without adding unnecessary debt. You need your money to work for you, with interest on investments.
Stay connected. Networking on the Web is a wonderful way to get the word out about what you do or to help you find a job.

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An added note: I want to add a couple of my favorite networking groups here for all of you to take a look at. Each group is unique. Visit all of these sites to see which group fits your "style" the best.

MomsLikeMe.com is where Moms gather on-line. They are stay at home Moms, professional Moms, working Moms, and Moms who are Moms to Moms. This is also the "birth place" of the article above. A special thanks goes to Valentina and her dedication to our Denver area group!

LinkedIn.com is for the professional. This is a wonderful place to meet and network with other professionals who share your business interests.

BehindtheMoonInc.com holds networking meetings all over the Metro-Denver area. Each meeting has plenty of time to meet and share business with others. Take a look at their calendar to find an event near you.

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Here is the direct LINK to this story.

Now - On to Something More Fun

Every once in a while everyone has to Blog about something that is dry and boring and I am not immune to such things as proven in the last post I did. I wrote that story about 3 years ago for my local on-line newsreel and I thought it would be worthy information to include here. Well, it is worthy, but I really have to get on to the fun stuff now!

Anyone like chocolate??

Yes. Now that's what I'm talking about! Chocolate is one of those things that makes you smile. It is one of those things that brings comfort to your soul no matter what state it is in. I love the idea of a food that can be found at every social gathering that has ever been put on. It doesn't matter why people have gathered...the chocolate is always there.

Throughout history the cocoa bean has led a life in society unlike any other food. In its youth, chocolate was reserved for royalty only. The commoner rarely got a taste of the bitter elixir. In the early 1500's cocoa beans were used as currency. Imagine being able to buy a rabbit dinner for 4 beans or, for just 10 cocoa beans, you could buy the services of a prostitute. By the 1600's, 200 small cocoa beans were valued at 1 Spanish real, or 4 cents. Can you believe it? Money really did grow on trees at one time!! *

I love all chocolate, but my favorite is dark chocolate (have you taken my poll yet?). You all might be thinking that it is for the health benefits that I love dark chocolate. Granted, there are many reports and studies that show health benefits, but if you really knew me you would know that I'm the last person sitting on the health food train. I could live on chocolate if my body would let me. Alas, I do have to eat real food sometimes. In reality I love that bitter bite that is combined with a sweet swirl in my mouth. Add a bit of bitter coffee and you have a Mocha Java that is to die for!

My daughter would rather eat milk chocolate. She loves it on her face, her hands, her knees, and even her feet! No matter how carefully she eats her chocolate it can be found everywhere...including on the back of her neck. How she manages these feats is beyond me. I knew the answer to this when she was 4 and 5 years old. What can any mother expect of a dear young one? Now that she is nearly 17 I have to ask, "How did that chocolate find its way to the bottom of her feet??"

So, the next time I go blogging I will remember to eat some chocolate as I write. It will keep my mind on the fun of this business rather than the business of this business. I invite you to sit back, open a box of sweets, find your favorite chair and savor every bite. I hope your day filled with chocolate!

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*http://www.chocolatemonthclub.com/chocolatehistory.htm

What is This Business Anyway?

Whenever someone asks me this question I have to smile and ask them if they have a few minutes. Direct Sales is not easily defined like a restaurant or an IT firm. Sure, most people have heard of it, but they assume they know the definition based on "out of date" facts. In a nut-shell, it is one of the best marketing plans a business can use to get their products in front of the consumer.

Direct Sales (Network Marketing, Mulit-level Sales, etc.) has become a fast growing piece of the business world today. Whenever the phone rings or an e-mail comes it could be that invitation to change the way you see the business world. What is this phenomenon that is taking the lead in home based business? Who is leading the charge and why would anyone really want to do this? Have you thought about joining this multi-billion dollar industry, but were afraid to ask? Here are some answers that will help you understand this industry without feeling any pressure from overzealous business builders.

Direct Selling is a way for a manufacturer of goods to get their product to the consumer leaving out the middle steps of the wholesaler, warehouser, advertiser, and the retailer. Instead the manufacturer goes straight through the consultant and immediately to the consumer. Companies save millions of dollars annually, and these savings are passed to the people in the network in the form of bonuses, commissions, and added incentives.

This might lead one to think this is a sham, a pyramid, or a rip off, yet most direct selling companies are not. To begin, pyramid schemes are illegal in the United States and the government has been very strict in what a direct selling company is allowed. For you, the consultant, direct selling is a viable way to make a business on your own terms. It is not a get rich quick sham. One must work very hard and for at least 2-3 years to begin to reap the benefits of this business. In every way it is a small business that one must work to make large. Once the upper levels are reached the business owner does not sit back and watch the paychecks roll in. On the contrary, one must continue working to maintain a viable company. I have never heard of any CEO in a traditional business that has gotten to the top and quit. If that happened the whole company would crumble. The same is true in direct sales.

Choosing a company is an important part of the journey to a great business. Key factors to look for are: demand, consumables, trends, your ability to make time, and your passion for the products offered. Is there a demand for the product? Is it something that can be used then needed again and again? Do the market trends indicate a need for the product? Are you able to create time to present the product or business to potential buyers? Do you really like what you are selling? Researching the company is also an important part step. Going to the Direct Sales Assoc. website http://www.dsa.org/ you will find a listing of all the direct selling companies that are members of the DSA. This not for profit group is the watch dog of direct sales companies, and they set high standards for its members.

The final two keys to choosing network marketing is the company's start up costs and their compensation plan. Check into this thoroughly as this can vary widely from company to company. Most companies do ask for a fee that can range from $15.00 a year to $100.00 per year, or a one-time fee that could include products to help get the new seller going. These fees are normally used to defray the costs of memberships, start up kits, periodic newsletters, or training packets. Compensation plans can also vary greatly from one company to another. One company may compensate with bonus checks based on the amount of retail volume you earn each month, or it may base it on a combination of the team and volume. Usually the bonus is a percentage that can be a straight forward amount or it could be an obscure formula that calculates the bonus based on several factors.

Now to the big question, are you ready to jump in with a direct selling company? Well, don't sign on the dotted line too fast. Like any business decision you should never make a hasty choice that you may regret later. Direct selling is an excellent choice to say yes to, but be prepared to work hard for that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. It is there for anyone who wants it bad enough, but you will have to make sacrifices to get there. You will have to have dedication and perseverance through the ups and downs that come with this market. If you should answer that phone call that gives you the opportunity of network marketing, stop and think before saying, "No." It just might be that once in a lifetime opportunity that will change the rest of your life. Someone once said, "If you want something you have never had before, you must do something you have never done before."

Wine and Chocolate Pairings

A few weeks ago I was asked to join Rebecca J Studio at Parker's Wine Walk. I had always wanted the opportunity to do a wine pairing with chocolate and here was my opportunity. Being a chocolatier, and not a wine expert, I had to get my research underway. After all, this was a WINE walk. The internet was my lifesaver (and my first stop) in discovering the wonders of learning the best wines to pair with the best chocolate, Dove Chocolate.

Whenever I have the need to research something about chocolate my first stop is http://www.dovechocolatediscoveries.com/ to see if the home office has any suggestions. In this particular research DCD didn't have exactly what I was looking for, but I did learn that...

IT STARTS WITH A BEAN

"It's a long journey from cacao bean to chocolate fondue. You already know how deliciously it ends,so here's an abridged version of how it got that way. The cacao tree was given the botanical name "Theobroma Cacao", meaning "food of the Gods." ( Even botanists are chocoholics!)There's a difference of opinion about whether the Mayans or the Aztecs were the first to cultivate cacao back in 300 A.D. We do know that this finicky tree is quite particular about its address. It resides only in latitudes no more than twenty degrees north or south of the Equator, thriving in the shade of the rain forest canopy. (Is it time for a "Save the Chocolate" fund-raiser?)As though life weren't tough enough for this delicate source of all things chocolate and wonderful, fewer than 10 percent of its blossoms ever mature into fruit. Each pod yields only 20-50 beans. (We're talking 400 beans for just one pound of chocolate)."

"The pods are split open and the beans are fermented, dried, roasted and shelled until only the precious nibs remain. The nibs are the essence of chocolate, containing more than 50% cocoa butter. They're ground into a liquid called chocolate liquor (no alcohol.. you'll have to wait for the Chocolate Martinis!)"

"At Dove Chocolate Discoveries™, we've spent years refining and perfecting our proprietary blend of just the right amount of cocoa butter and cocoa solids to mix with sugar and vanilla (or milk for milk chocolate). Then our chocolate goes through the refining and conching process that determines the flavor and texture of our chocolate. (Can you say "yummy, creamy, melt in your mouth?")At Dove Chocolate Discoveries™, our reputation for the exceptional creaminess of our chocolate comes from the high standards and extra care we take with every batch. Our unique Dove Chocolate Discoveries™ process is a closely held secret handed down for generations."

I digress...

This article is about pairing wine with chocolate, so I moved on to my next favorite website, AllChocolate.com This is where I find myself whenever I need to find something unusual about chocolate. Not only does this site have the basics about chocolate, but it also has answers for the culinary professional. I did find a very informative guide to the pairings of chocolate with wine. In general terms, pairing is done by how light or dark the two are. "The darker the chocolate the darker the wine." White chocolate should be paired with a light sweet wine, whereas a dark chocolate is paired with a full bodied wine. All Chocolate gives a wonderful, yet simple, guide to pairing and tasting your wine and chocolate.

Another fun resource is found at TheNibble.com which is an on-line magazine all about food. They say, "When pairing wine with chocolate, you can seek wines that have the same flavor notes as the chocolate (nutty, cherry, mint); or look for contrasts. As with food and wine matches, only you are the arbiter of what works best: There are no absolutes. Some people enjoy a fruity Cabernet or Zinfandel with chocolate, others find them too dry; some love matching Bourbon with chocolate, others find spirits too harsh. Most experts would recommend sticking with fortified wines because the sweetness and structure of the wines match well with chocolate, but that’s too simplistic."

The further I researched wine and chocolate pairings the more those last four words held true. Chocolate, just like wine, is a complex food that can have flavors the vary in complexity and in depth. For every chocolate there are many possibilities for a wine to match and for every wine there are many chocolates. For every combination found there can be a contrasting combination that is just as wonderful. Below I have put together a list of suggested pairings that I found along the way while doing my research. The list is only suggested pairings for my readers. In the end, the individual palate will be the best judge.

Pairings for Dark, Bittersweet and Semisweet chocolate:
· Zinfandel
· Syrah
· Tawny Port
· Armagnac
· Cognac
· Merlot
· Bordeaux
· Shiraz
· Cabernet Sauvignon

Pairings for Milk Chocolate:
· Riesling
· Sauvignon Blanc
· Dessert wines
· Pinot Noir
· Light Merlot
· Muscat
· Riesling
· Tawny Port

White Chocolate:
· Muscat Beaume de Venise
· Eiswein
· Berenauslese
· Muscato d’Asti
· Sweet Champagne(Demi-sec)
· Orange Muscat
· Fruity Chardonnay
· Riesling

Chocolate Trends in the US

For those of you who like those tid bits of trivia, here is a whole list of things "CHOCOLATE."

• Chocolate is America's favorite flavor. Surveys show more than 50 percent of adults prefer chocolate to other flavors.
• More than $16 billion of chocolate was sold in the U.S. last year.
• U.S. consumers eat 2.8 billion pounds of chocolate annually, representing nearly half of the world's supply.
• Americans prefer milk chocolate by a wide margin, but dark chocolate has a growing fan base, perhaps due to its suggested health benefits.
• Men and women purchase chocolate in equal amounts. (But, since men do most of the gift-giving, women probably come out ahead!)
• According to a study at Colorado State University, chocolate is the most commonly craved food in North America. 40% of American women and 15% of American men are "chocoholics."
• More chocolate is consumed in the winter than any other season.
• 66% of chocolate is consumed between meals.
• 22% of all chocolate consumption takes place between 8pm and midnight.
• Half of Americans choose what chocolate they eat by the shape of the piece.
• 63% of Americans say they can't resist buying chocolate for themselves when buying chocolate for someone else.
• Chocolate manufacturers currently use 40% of the world's almonds and 20% of the world's peanuts.
• U.S. chocolate manufacturers use about 3.5 million pounds of whole milk every day to make chocolate.