CHOCOLATE FOR VALENTINE'S DAY

MY LOVE FOR CHOCOLATE STARTED AT A VERY YOUNG AGE.  MY MOM WOULD ALWAYS GIVE MY SISTER AND ME A CHOCOLATE GIFT FOR EACH MAJOR HOLIDAY.  WE WOULD GET CHOCOLATE TURKEYS ON THANKSGIVING, CHOCOLATE SANTAS IN OUR CHRISTMAS STOCKINGS, A HEART BOX OF CHOCOLATES FOR VALENTINE'S DAY, AND BASKETS FILLED WITH CHOCOLATE BUNNIES AND CHOCOLATE EGGS FOR EASTER.  

GROWING UP IN THE 50'S AND 60'S, MILK CHOCOLATE WAS MOST POPULAR.  ALTHOUGH, I REMEMBER CHOOSING THE DARK CHOCOLATES FIRST FROM A BOX OF VALENTINE CANDY.  ALSO, MY MOM WOULD BUY HERSHEY'S ASSORTED MINIATURE CHOCOLATES IN A BAG.  I, OF COURSE, FAVORED THE DARK CHOCOLATE.  BUT IT WOULDN'T STOP ME FROM EATING MILK CHOCOLATE IF THAT WAS THE ONLY THING AVAILABLE!  WHEN YOU'RE A CHOCOHOLIC, ANYTHING WILL DO!

AS A CHILD, I WAS ON THE CHUBBY SIDE.  ONCE I HIT PUBERTY, THE BABY FAT SEEMED TO MELT OFF MY BODY.  THIS MADE ME VERY HAPPY SINCE I COULD CONTINUE TO CONSUME CHOCOLATE WITHOUT GAINING WEIGHT.  AS I GOT OLDER, I DEVELOPED A CHOLESTEROL PROBLEM AND WAS ADVISED TO STOP EATING CHOCOLATE OR AT LEAST, EAT IT IN MODERATION.  BUT THEN, IT WAS DISCOVERED THROUGH MEDICAL STUDIES, THAT DARK CHOCOLATE IS AN ANTIOXIDANT AND HAS HEALTH BENEFITS WHEN EATEN IN MODERATION.  NEEDLESS TO SAY, THIS MADE ME VERY HAPPY.  I COULD GET MY DAILY FIX (EVEN THOUGH I HAD TO EAT LESS OF IT) AND REAP ITS HEALTH BENEFITS.

SO NOW I WILL SHARE WITH YOU SOME OF MY PICKS FOR VALENTINE'S DAY FROM ABE'S MARKET, MADE HEALTHIER BECAUSE THEY ARE NATURAL AND ORGANIC.

Dark Vegan Soft Dark Chocolate Squares


Intemperantia Chocolate


Vegan Organic Dark Chocolate Truffles


Pick Me Pepper Spicy Dark Chocolate


HOWEVER, IF YOU PREFER MILK CHOCOLATE, ABE'S MARKET HAS PLENTY OF IT TO CHOOSE FROM.  

Montezuma's Chocolate Truffles


Hand Dipped Truffles

Montezuma's Valentine Truffles