I don’t know how he does it.

But he does.

The proof is in the finger prints.

The problem didn’t start until a few years into our marriage. Probably because when
we first got married we were dirt poor and didn’t have the money to spend on
extras. But as our financial situation strengthened, I started experimenting.

One day while grocery shopping I decided to try something bold. I bought my
husband a bottle of chocolate milk. Now, before you start saying, “Big deal? Who
hasn’t tried chocolate milk?”, I’ll tell you who hadn’t tried chocolate milk - my
husband.

You see, Barry, (my husband) didn’t grow up in the US. He is from South Africa and
thus arrived in America with a completely different set of taste buds and food wants.
It took quite a bit of convincing for him to try anything new - including chocolate
milk.

I now look back on those simple days and think, “What kind of a monster have I
created?”

Chocolate milk.

It’s an addiction that he must feed.

I’ve seen him go out in a torrential rain storm just to buy the stuff — and I’m not
just talking about little bottles, I’m talking gallons.

According to the Mayo Clinic, an addiction is, “An illness in which a person seeks
and consumes a substance, such as alcohol, tobacco, chocolate milk or a drug,
despite the fact that it causes harm.”

Ok, I added the chocolate milk part, but not the harm.

“What’s the harm in drinking chocolate milk?” I’ll tell you the harm. It’s stinking
everywhere. If smoke gets in your eyes, then chocolate milk gets on everything else.

I have never seen anything like it.

If we use his truck to go someplace, I have to stand back when I open the door. Like
Fibber McGee’s closet, when you open the truck door a torrent of little plastic
chocolate milk bottles comes flooding out towards you.

I can spend hours cleaning the kitchen, come back 5 minutes later, and there it is.
On every surface, handle and knob. He’s like a junkie who needs a fix so bad that he
leaves the needle in his arm after he shoots up.

I find huge chocolate milk hand prints on the refrigerator’s handle; pools of
chocolate milk puddles on the floor; rivers of chocolate milk running down the front
of cabinets.

We always have to have a bottle of Hershey’s chocolate syrup in the house as an
emergency back-up source. (This way if we run out of chocolate milk, he can
improvise and make his own.)

One day after cleaning a big, sticky, chocolate mess off the counter, I rolled my neck
backwards in an effort to stretch it. In doing so my eyes focused on the kitchen
ceiling and my mouth dropped open in shock. Was that actually chocolate syrup on
the ceiling?

I walked over and stood under the dark brown streaks of chocolate. How was this
even possible?

I started walking, following the long brown lines all the way across the kitchen
ceiling and down the far dining room wall. This was not a short distance. We have a
very big kitchen. I was following 20 feet of chocolate stripes across my kitchen
ceiling and down my dining room wall!

When pressed for an explanation, my husband confessed that in his urgency to
make a glass of chocolate milk, he didn’t notice the cap was not secure on the
Hershey’s syrup and that the bottle had felt quite empty. In an effort to force the remaining chocolate sauce from the bottom of the bottle to the top, he had held the
container by the bottom and flung it as hard as he could in a big sweeping motion
from over his head down towards the floor.

“I cleaned it up off the floor,” he sheepishly offered. “I guess I didn’t think to look at
the ceiling.”

Indeed.

Where are the Oompa Loompas when you need them?

I handed him a sponge and walked away.

Maureen Valdes Marsh is an author and former newspaper reporter. She
currently writes a semi-punctual weekly column on her website called, “Musings
of Vintage Grace.” She is the author of the upcoming book for Collectors Press,
’70s Fashion Fiascos - a polyester romp through ’70s fashions”, set for release
Fall ‘06. You can read more of Maureen’s writing on her website, Vintage Grace
by visiting http://www.vintagegrace.com.

Share This

Is chocolate an important thing to include in your diet? Most of us are very willing to make chocolate a regular feature in our diet. In fact, people have implied that chocolate may have health benefits as far back as the 17th and 18th centuries.

Today, chocolate is considered such a staple in our diet that it’s even included army food rations.

We may love chocolate, but is it really good for us? Many scientists and researchers have given their opinion, with mixed results.

Of course, a certain degree of cynicism surrounds these studies since many of them are underwritten by the chocolate industry. But there are have been some interesting studies related to chocolate and its benefits. Scientists at Japan’s Osaka University conducted a study to see if chocolate is helpful in preventing tooth decay, and as a result, bad breath. Chocolate is made from cocoa beans, and the husks of the beans seem to contain an antibacterial agent that helps prevent plaque.

Although the husks are usually thrown out in typical chocolate
production, confectioners may add them back to try to make chocolate more dental-friendly. Of course, even if the bean husks are put back to the chocolate they won’t stand a chance in cavity-fighting action against the decay caused by chocolate’s high sugar content.

Another study, conducted by Professor Carl Keen, a Californian scientist, was performed to find the health benefits of chocolate. One theory is that chocolate may actually help fight heart disease. Chocolate contains a flavinoids, a chemical which works to thin the blood, ultimately helping to prevent blood clotting. You may have heard of similar food studies - for instance, the one involving red wine, which is said to have the same affect.

Again, Professor Kern’s study was funded by the candy maker, Mars, so it lacks a certain credibility. Harvard University conducted another study that found that if you eat chocolate three times a month your life expectancy will increase by at least a year. Unfortunately, the same study looked at the effect of over-indulgence, which tends to lower life expectancy. Chocolate’s high-fat content means that over indulgence can result in obesity, which in turn resulting in an increased potential of heart disease. Does the type of chocolate provide for better overall health?

According to Dirk Taubert, MD, PhD, at the University of Cologne, Germany, he and his colleagues found that dark chocolate lower blood pressure (as opposed to white or milk chocolate). Unfortunately the benefits of dark chocolate don’t apply to everyone.

According to the researchers, eating dark chocolate lowers blood pressure, if you are of a certain age and likely suffer from mild to high blood pressure. In a perfect world, chocolate would be a healthy choice along the lines of nutrients found in spinach, but unfortunately that’s not the case.

Chocolate may have some possible health benefits, but a chronic overindulgence will lead to far more serious health risks. Chocolate is one the pleasures of life that should be appreciated, not over-indulged.

Patie Ackery and Jaynne Nicols have partnered to research a food that is loved by all but especially women. If you’d like to read more about chocolate check out the resource at http://www.anychocolate.com

Jaynne Nicols has done a lot of research into illness and why we get ill. One of the things she came across is that almost all illness starts in your colon. Sign up for her free newsletter Health and Wellness in the 21st Century and learn more in and through her series on health issues.

Share This

Almost everyone loves eating gourmet chocolate. Since chocolate was first discovered, this delicious treat has continued to evolve in form and taste. However there are some people, especially those who are figure-conscious, who do not want to indulge themselves. This is because gourmet chocolate is often associated with weight gain. This may be true to some extent, but only when chocolate is eaten in excessive amounts.

How come gourmet chocolate is very popular? Gourmet chocolate stands out from other forms of chocolate through a variety of characteristics. Gourmet chocolate, unlike chocolate products of inferior quality, boasts a smooth and glossy appearance that is not marred by streaks and dots. Gourmet chocolate also gives off a rich aroma of cocoa, not an unappetizing chemical odor. When broken, this kind of chocolate snaps sharply, instead of crumbling or bending. Lastly, gourmet chocolate melts in the mouth and leaves a velvety texture. It does not taste too sweet or too bitter, nor does it leave an aftertaste in the mouth.

Gourmet chocolate is not only a delicious treat but has been proven to provide a number of health benefits. This kind of chocolate contains essential elements such as calcium, potassium, iron, and vitamins A, B1, C, D, and E. Gourmet chocolate also has high levels of chromium that help control blood sugar, as well as magnesium that alleviates premenstrual symptoms by increasing progesterone levels.

There is an impressive array of gourmet chocolate products available in the market today. In fact, a number of chocolate brands have become household names. But aside from the number of brands to choose from, gourmet chocolate comes in a variety of exciting flavors that include Caramel, Java Truffle, Jamaican Rum Caramel and Raspberry Truffle.

Gourmet chocolate not only tastes good but provides health benefits as well. Now, indulging oneself with a generous serving of chocolate need not be a guilty pleasure.

Chocolate provides detailed information on Chocolate, Gourmet Chocolate, Chocolate Gifts, Organic Chocolate and more. Chocolate is affiliated with Cookie Baskets.

Share This