Friday, July 11, 2014

A Random Post About Chocolate

So my husband has quite a number of random little habits and quirks--as most people do, to be sure. But one of his randomest habits and quirks is (I kid you not) buying me chocolate.

He really loves to buy me chocolate. And not just any chocolate. I'm talking fancy gourmet chocolates from all over the world, all different flavors. Last week, we had some sort of Aztec chili-chocolate in the cupboard, along with a big bar of 70% cocoa Belgian chocolate, an almond-something from I don't remember where, an assortment of Ghiardelli sampler chocolates, and some great big bars from Trader Joes. And usually there are French truffles of some kind, which he keeps in the refrigerator because, according to him, cold French truffles make the best palate prep before . . . pizza. And curry too, I believe.

And let me clarify--while the French truffles are for all of us (everyone needs a proper palate prep before pizza and curry, right?), the rest of the chocolates are, by and large, for me. Oh, he'll snack on them a little here and there (and the bacon chocolate he bought a few months back were definitely his, though he kindly kept offering me bites). But most of them are mine.

Is he not every woman's dream?

But here comes the tragic part of this tale. You see . . . I'm not much a chocolate fiend. I mean, I like a little chocolate now and then (and some of you will remember a year ago when I went on a craze for Lindt's sea salt and caramel chocolate bars). But I really don't tend to crave chocolate that much or that often. Certainly not enough to keep up with his desire to buy it for me!

So we end up with stacks of chocolates in the cupboard. And my poor sweet husband will find a great deal or an awesome-looking flavor, purchase it, and come home only to find the last three bars he bought for me still stacked up and waiting. Which is always a little crushing to his kind and nurturing heart, I think.

Anyway, the point of this post is simply this: I adore that man. And this week was a rough writing week. And I found myself, in the midst of creative brainstorming and stress craving one thing . . .

You guessed it.

And we just happened to have PLENTY of it on hand, in all different flavors! As I am typing this post, I am happily munching on the last half of the 70% cocoa Belgian chocolate bar. I have successfully made it through a tough week, by the grace of God and the loving generosity of my handsome chocolatier in shining armor.

Life is lovely. And rather tasty right now.

(And I think we're having homemade pizza tonight--courtesy of Rohan, of course. I hope there are some French truffles still in the refrigerator so our palates will be properly prepped!)

21 comments:

Unknown said...

Oh man, this post is all sorts of cute, Anne Elisabeth! It made me feel like I was cuddling a kitty cat. I adore chocolate--especially the dark, 70% cocoa kinds. Bitter and sweet and wonderful--like the perfect story in your mouth...

My mouth is watering....

Unknown said...

Chocolate! Tied for my favorite with lemon curd. You two are so cute!

Hannah said...

Oh! Oh! That is too sweet to be true! (Both Rohan and the chocolate!) Thank you so much for sharing; I'm smiling ear to ear! And I'm glad it helped you through your writing! :D

Emily Chapman said...

This is so sweet. ^.^

Emily Chapman said...

P.s. Your husband has a truly epic name. XD

Anna said...

Awwwwwwwwww!!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Can I have your husband? Please? :P

I need a guy to bring me chocolate...^_^ This was all sorts of adorable.

Chloe M. Kookogey said...

This is adorable. You two are well-matched. ^_^

Anonymous said...

Smiling...

Anonymous said...

Chocolate the dream of many (including myself)
Lint is the best in my opinion.
Did you say BACON chocolate!!!???
Oh wow I didn't think anyone would be crazy enough to invent bacon chocolate...
Jemma

Sarah Pennington said...

Oh my pumpernickel. This is so sweet! (Literally and figuratively speaking.)

Jenelle Leanne said...

Awww, that's so sweet! (double entendre intended)

I love chocolate. I'm not very adventurous about it though.

I am curious about your homemade pizza recipe... being a bit of a pizza fiend, (and from Chicago, where all the best pizza is kept) and all. :)

Meredith said...

MMMM! You lucky person! Sounds absolutely wonderful. I'm a chocoholic myself, so your home sounds like paradise. Enjoy them.

Anonymous said...

I love chocolate! You're so lucky! And those are some very unique types of chocolate. I have a question, and I'm really sorry if it sounds ignorant or if you already explained this, but is the Goldstone Wood series for adults or teens? I haven't read them yet, but I want to, and at my library, they are shelved as adult books, but I know a few teens who have read it.

Anonymous said...

I am 12 and I have read them.
Anne Elisabeth,
are you going to do something like Tuesday's Dragon again? I really enjoy reading the Tuesday's dragon posts. If you do I know the perfect dragon for you,
Toothless, the adorable night fury.
Jemma

Gracie said...

*Licking lips* Please! I'm craving chocolate!!!!! If you ever have too much chocolate, please send some to us, a family of girls need their power bars!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

Ghayoor Outsourcingbe said...

That is too sweet to be true! (Both Rohan and the chocolate!) Thank you so much for sharing;
stercher bars
wooden stretcher bars
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Tracey Dyck said...

@Anonymous: I'm not sure what Ms. Stengl would say, but I think her books are enjoyed by both teens and adults. I'm in my late teens and my sister is in her early teens; both of us love the Tales of Goldstone Wood. (Our library puts them in the teen section. Just saying.)

Anne Elisabeth Stengl said...

@Jemma--Yes, bacon chocolate! It's very weird. I like sweet n' savory, but that combo is just a little too out there for me!

@Jenelle--He makes a really awesome pizza! He marinates chicken in a spicy dressing for an hour or so, chops it up really fine, and layers it with sausage or pepperoni and (because both like spicy food) jalapeno peppers. He also does a combination of three different cheeses (including cheddar, which struck me as odd at first, but which actually tastes quite fantastic with the rest of his ingredients).

The other evening, he used much the same ingredients but, instead of pizza, made flat-bread wraps with spinach, baked just long enough that the cheese melted. Have I mentioned that he's brilliant?

@Anonymous--Thanks for asking! (And thanks to those of you who answered for me while I've been absent!) My books are appropriate for teen readers, but they are complicated enough for adult readers as well. The primary characters are usually in their teens or early/mid twenties (unless they are immortals and, therefore, centuries old!). So yes, either the adult or teen category is appropriate.

@Jemma--I'm glad you enjoyed that series! I probably won't do something like that again, though. Sorry! I'm too busy writing books to do that kind of research anymore. :)

Anonymous said...

Oh well...
Jemma

Anonymous said...

Okay. Thanks for clearing the categorization up for me. I'll have to read the series, then. I've heard such great things about it.