Chocolate: Torani

The kiddos got an interesting Christmas present this season - Torani to add to their cocoa.

They received three different chocolate cocoas, two different types of marshmallows, and personalizable mugs to go with them. They have been enjoying all the combinations so far, but I couldn't let them enjoy their gift without getting a piece ;)

I mixed up some cocoa and used their Torani Hazelnut syrup. Unfortunately, I used the water based cocoa (Hey! It's what we had!) It tasted empty especially with the hazelnut flavor. I would recommend using only milk based cocoa with the syrups. They also received raspberry which would taste pretty good (I imagine) with a cocoa from a dark chocolate powder.

I've always wanted to try the flavored creamers, but since they're made for coffees I figured they might not taste and nice as I'd like. A short trip through Torani's site and they have several recipes geared toward hot cocoa. If you haven't already, I think it deserves a look see.

Books: The Bride Quartet

Like so many books I read last summer, this is a set - a set of four. And one I didn't get to read all of. In fact, I think I only remember reading one, the first. I liked it because the character, Mac, was very practical and reminded me of myself. It's always a plus when you can really picture yourself in the book.

Backing up a bit, this set, written by Nora Roberts, is about four friends who run a wedding business together. One bakes, one photos, one runs the show, and one is a florist. Everything in all of the books goes smoothly and provides pages of standard fall in love romance. There is nothing out of the ordinary - straight foward. While some will hate that Roberts seemed to pull an outline off her shelf and spruce it up with a new setting and characters, I just plain love a romance.

If that's fine with you, then jump in. If not, and you need to have enough twists and turns that make you think nothing will turn out okay, then look elsewhere. You may be wondering how I could make such a judgment after reading only one book, but if you know Roberts...

Happy reading!

TV: Random Stuff

So Medium was cancelled or ended. With all the channel hopping and night moving I'm not surprised. I didn't even get to watch this last season. I also didn't see anything on the net about it ending. B's mom called, "They just ended it! I was getting into the episode and then it was all over." She's really bummed. I don't quite know how I feel, but I know it was a great show and I'm sorry it's gone. I would like to try to find this season somewhere and watch.

NBC wants to get Wonder Woman back on TV. It's been tried before by several different writers and producers, but has been unable to get out there. We just wait until May to see if a pilot has been approved. I love super hero shows :) I've been watching No Ordinary Family and find it has an interesting style. The newer version of the Bionic Woman didn't fare well, though. I can't wait to see what they come up with.

I watched the US version of Being Human with super critical eyes. I'm still not happy, but I also don't know if the show here has any potential. Wait and see.

If you haven't lately and you want to know about the goings on in TV and movies, visit Ain't It Cool.

Miscellaneous: Gunderwear

NOT! I couldn't believe when I saw these on a television commercial or show a few weeks ago. I really wanted to talk about the evening gowns from the Miss America pageant, but I'd had these gun toting underwear - yes, you heard me right - on the list of Miscellaneous things ready to go. I could have put up the Heroin User's Handbook - yes, again, you heard me right - but that was just... no words, sorry.

The list comes from Cracked.com and you can see it here.

Back to the ball blaster...because can't you just imagine someone blowing them off? LOL! Anyway there's a video and everything. The justification is that you might change your clothes often or wear sweats, and then what would hold your gun?

Okay, just not my cup of tea.

Men: James Guardino

Name: James Guardino
Best Known For: Model
Year of Birth: ~1980
Status: Single
Height: 6'2"
Fun Fact: Tattoo on his arm is a tribute to his late mother

His Italian and German background blended quite nicely together. He looks a little goofy when he's smiling, but I'm happy staring at his rockin' bod :)

Chocolate: Guylian Belgian Milk Chocolate No Sugar Added

I received a bar of Guylian Belgian Milk Chocolate No Sugar Added in my Christmas stocking. The plethora of sweets available for the holidays have me doing the review for this nearly a month later. There was no rush, however. This bar did not WOW me in any way.

Part of this isn't the bar's fault. I have been liking my semi-sweet dark bars and chips more than milk for awhile now. So I found the bar very sweet. On the other hand the sweetness may have come from the sweetener (which has an ominous 'excessive consumption' warning). I found it made the bar have an empty taste. I don't know if it was just the sugar. As I sit here typing, I have absolutely no evidence in my mouth that chocolate was in there. I'm used to the pleasant linger of chocolate on my mouth and tongue. Not there. It was creamy and melty while consuming, but it doesn't make up for the lack of 'there-ness."

It is with a heavy heart that I will be sharing this bar with family ;)

Books: Mary Downing Hahn

A has a great author to recommend to you: Mary Downing Hahn. A has read 8 of her books and has loved them all. One of the things A likes about this author is the special twists, like what happens in Closed for the Season. If A shares them with you then that will ruin it :) Another thing is that they are exciting and keep you reading. Hahn puts cliffhangers at the ends of chapters. Finally, A says the author writes using first person narrative which helps understand how the characters feel and then you can connect with him or her.

The other books of Hahn's that A has read:

Deep and Dark and Dangerous
The Ghost of Crutchfield Hall
The Doll in the Garden
The Old Willis Place
All the Lovely Bad Ones
The Dead Man in Indian Creek
Wait Till Helen Comes

These books are aimed at readers aged 10 - 14.