Is there anything in this world quite like chocolate? Creamy decadence, or semisweet nibbling--chocolate is as much a work of art as it is something to be eaten. Hey, now! No trying to eat the screen!
	As most of you know, chocolate comes from the cacao bean. The amount of sugar in a piece of chocolate determines whether it is sweet, bittersweet, semisweet, or unsweetened. Sweet chocolate is not often used in baking--usually semisweet or unsweetened chocolate is used. Did you know that the average American eats roughly 11 pounds of chocolate per year? If you're getting that from Godiva, you're paying $363 a year on chocolate, not including tax!
	Chocolate is fatal to dogs but therapeutic to women. It has certain ingredients which react to a woman's hormones to produce a feeling of calmness. This may be why women often experience cravings for chocolate during "down" times. I found an interesting article at the Discovery web site about chocolate.
	As you might have guessed, there will be a few recipes for my personal favorite junk food. The thing to remember about cooking with chocolate is that exactness is paramount. Did you know that a few drops of water inside the pan could affect the quality of your recipe when you're cooking with chocolate? Exact measurements and low temperatures are extremely important. When chocolate is at stake, it pays to be patient. :-)
	My Favorite Chocolate Links I love visiting virtualchocolate.com for sending cyberchocolates and finding sellers of real chocolate. If you stop by Godiva in the mall, you may be able to try some of their coffee or a chocolate-dipped apricot. Decadent! My personal favorite is the key lime truffle. Games, catalogue, recipes, and much more await you at Hershey's home page. And no, there's no wrong way to eat a Reese's peanut butter cup! :-) Recipes, wallpapers, screen savers, shopping--just a few things you can do at the M & M's home page. Lots of fun to visit.