Author Archive: Bryn Kirk
Mary Jane’s Chocolates – Dark Chocolate Cherries
September 12, 2016
“Cave to the Crave!” is the slogan for Mary Jane’s Chocolates in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
Last week, I introduced a Kentucky chocolatier, Chaser’s Chocolates, and their Bourbon Balls. This week, I have another Kentucky chocolatier, Mary Jane’s Chocolates, to introduce.
While Chaser’s was more gift shop than chocolates shop, Mary Jane’s is 100% chocolates.
Chasers’ Kentucky Chocolates – Bourbon Balls
September 6, 2016
This summer I had a wonderful vacation in Kentucky. I spent time exploring Mammoth Cave and several Bourbon distilleries.
In fact, if I’m honest, I’d have to say that I spend equal time in each!
Speaking of Bourbon, I came across a chocolate shop that boasts a unique bourbon crème filled chocolate bon bon.
Justin’s Chocolate Hazelnut Butter
August 29, 2016
If I asked you about chocolate hazelnut butter, Ferrero’s Nutella would probably come to mind. It is a well-known product around the globe. Nutella and I go way back, and I’ve never tried any other brand.
So, when I recently found Justin’s Chocolate Hazelnut Butter in my local grocery shop, I had to give it a try.
Read more
Green & Black’s 85% Dark Chocolate
August 22, 2016
The story goes that in 1991, the founder of Whole Earth, Craig Sams, was eating a 70% dark chocolate bar sent to him as a sample. This bar was made from organic cocoa beans.
He only ate half of the chocolate and left the rest sit on his desk. A short time later, his wife, Jo, saw the chocolate bar and helped herself. She loved it, and thus began the making of their organic chocolates.
Belgian Dark Chocolate With Hazelnuts
August 15, 2016
This Wolfgang Chocolate is a 53% cacao with small bits of caramelized hazelnuts. The “Special Reserve” dark chocolate is made with imported Belgian chocolate.
Sheila G’s Brownie Brittle
August 1, 2016
During a snack break on a recent bike ride, a friend of mine offered me a taste of her Brownie Brittle. How could I refuse with a name like Brownie Brittle?
Brownie Brittle is bite-sized, very thin, cracker-like brownie pieces. It’s supposed to remind you of eating the well done edges of a brownie.
Lily’s Dark Chocolate – Stevia Sweetened
July 25, 2016
The Lily’s dark chocolate bar I’ve chosen for this review is a 55%, non-GMO, stevia sweetened chocolate.
This is my first taste of chocolate sweetened with stevia. Overall, I’m impressed. I was skeptical before I took my first bite because I’ve lived through the experimental years when the food industry started using artificial and alternative sweeteners in foods. Read more
Guittard Extra Dark Chocolate Baking Chips
July 18, 2016
Standard chocolate baking chips, most often labelled “Real Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips”, contain a minimum of 35% chocolate. A typical chocolate chip ingredient list looks something like this: Semi-Sweet Chocolate (Sugar, Chocolate, Cocoa Butter, Milkfat, Soy Lecithin, Natural Flavors).
The Guittard Extra Dark Chocolate Baking Chips are made with 63% chocolate. The ingredient list looks like this: Cocoa Beans, Sugar, Sunflower Lecithin and Real Vanilla. There a couple noticeable differences between the two lists, and I want to take a moment to talk about these.
Free2B Sun Cups – Dark Chocolate
July 11, 2016
I found another absolutely delicious chocolate candy that is free of major allergens.
Dark Chocolate Sun Cups are made with roasted sunflower seed butter and covered in 60% dark chocolate.
Nestle Damak Dark Chocolate with Pistachios
July 5, 2016
I spotted this small, square chocolate bar while walking through the candy aisle at my local grocery store. The shape made me think it was made by Ritter Sport, but then I noticed it said Nestle on it.
The really interesting thing, though, was seeing Pistachios on the cover. Nestle and pistachios? And it’s made in Turkey. Well, that’s new!