Friday, April 20, 2012

Chocolate from Belgium

So... on the television news last week was a story about how people that are dieting lose more weight when they have some chocolate while dieting.  Oh boy, do I love hearing news like that!  Then... last week when my sister Denise and I were volunteering at Multnomah Falls we were chatting with some nice people with a neat accent so I asked them where they were visiting from and they said Belgium.  So, I shared a story with them about the best chocolate I ever had was from a friend from there who sent me a box of chocolates from a little shop and it was the most divine chocolate I'd ever had....
So, they told me how every time they come to the US to visit their 2 children they bring an entire suitcase filled with Belgian chocolate and then they told me their top 4 chocolate makers but said that Leonidas is the *VERY* best of all....
And so.. I googled Leonidas and found a US website of theirs and thought.. hmmm.. the TV news guy said that you simply MUST have chocolate to lose weight effectively.. so... 
I ordered this adorable tin with a selection of their chocolates.. strictly as a scientific experiment to see if 1. It helps with one's diet and 2. If it really is the best chocolate.  I am here for you, people.. I will test these things for you.  
I opened the box.. and what???  Chocolate covered worms?  I must say, the top layer had me a bit disappointed.. so hubby and I tested one of these rather un-glamorous worm things and good news.. it's chocolate covered orange rind!  Tasty! 
Under that layer was some more normal looking things.. we did a bit of more testing, sharing a few of these.  The jury is in.. it's YUMMY and buttery and tasty stuff. 
The smaller box is full of "pralines" which I thought would be like New Orleans pralines, with pecans and stuff.. but they aren't like that at all, they're all like truffles.  All good, though.  Can we just say this is an early birthday present?  :-D 
We will be taking these to the beach and sampling them with restraint.  Oh yes we will.  I promise.  Other news is that we are supposed to have sun and 75 degrees this weekend and that weather is even supposed to be happening at the beach.  We head out day after tomorrow.  I hope you have a wonderful weekend, what are YOUR plans?  ((hugs)), Teresa :-) 

28 comments:

  1. I think everyone should have chocolate every day, just think how much happier we would all be. Instead of war we could send chocolates, and based on your scientific study we would all be thin!
    Have a wonderful time at the beach,
    Meredith

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  2. How wonderful of you and Dayle to investigate this newsworthy claim for us! I enjoyed your cheery report and am still smiling as I type to you. As for my plans, I am still moving carefully, but certainly intend to make it outside to enjoy the predicted sun and warmth! Happy caravaning to the ocean! <3

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  3. One of my best holidays was the few days we spent in Brussels and Bruges eating chocolate. It was the best I have ever tasted!

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  4. You just take my breath away...putting yourself through all that for your friends! Can anyone join in the experiment? Love your sense of humour...so glad I found you. I definitely want to see what you do next so must join your followers! Joan

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  5. How good of you to volunteer as 'tester' for those Belgian chocolates LOL !! Please do let me know if they're good for the diet - its an interesting idea. My son-in-law is from Belgium and for Easter, his mother sent a box containing a big bag of marshmallows (Koen's favourite) and some pralines which had melted en route and were all stuck together. My daughter salvaged what looked ok and they're now sitting on my bench just waiting to be eaten. DD and SIL have just left for a 5 day fishing trip to the coast. I could be tempted. :)

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  6. Thank you for your selfless experimentation! I hope that the weather holds for you and you have a great time. Looking forward to the photos.

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  7. Ooh, Belgium chocolate is wonderful, isn't it Teresa...Have fun and I hope that beautiful weather lasts over the weekend for you... Can you send some our way please?...Too many April showers here!
    Susan x

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  8. Ohh they look so yummy, thanks for being our guinea pig :P

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  9. Yummmmmmm Belgian chocolate! :D Our very finest product (others might disagree and say it's beer, but I'm the only Belgian known to mankind who doesn't like beer), and quite addictive! I laughed out loud reading about the chocolate covered worms! :D Oh such lucky Belgians to be travelling in your area... I think they're right, Leonidas is the yummiest, although others say that the posh Neuhaus is better... You could make a comparative study and share the results with us! :D xxxx

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  10. Forget the chocolate - the tin it came in is divine! LOL. Enjoy your taste testing....I'm jealous ;P
    Smiles, DianeM

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  11. It so good to have kind people like you putting yourself through all that awful tasting just for us lol!

    Hope you have a wonderful time on your break.

    Helenxx

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  12. Ohhhhhh.. looks delicous!!!! Have a wonderful time at the beach and be safe in your travels... What beach are you going to? I have family that live on Holly Beach in Cameron... Last time I was there I found Huge...and I mean HUGE coconuts all over the place and not a palm tree in sight.. Where they came from..who knows.. Have fun!!!
    <3 Shari

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  13. Well, Thank you so much for undertaking this very difficult and important task!!

    Im making a treat for a party at work tonight.
    Working the next two night shifts.....must get pumped up for it.
    It is the workend.
    Knitting a simple baby blanket.
    Remembering Earth Day

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  14. OMG I would bite your hand off for one of those worms! The whole lot looks lovely. I am working my way through a chocolate chicken, weighed of course, I ate his 30g head yesterday and his 30g backside last week, still have his middle to go! Before I went on this diet, I ate the whole bar of the scrummy Expresso Bean chocolate that you sent me....boy oh boy, tis the stuff that dreams are made of!

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  15. Thank you for your selfless dedication to the advancement of dieting science. I stand ready to assist at any time.

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  16. That chocolate looks decadent. I'm sure it was very tasty! What a great idea to test two theories at the same time ;) It sounds like you're set up for a great weekend as well. I'm off this evening for tea and scones with a few of my closest girl friends. The one whose house we're going to make the best scones ever!
    ~Lacey

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  17. Teresa you crack me up! Keep us posted on the merits of eating chocolate to loose weight, someones gotta try it and I'm glad you've decided to take the challenge haha x

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  18. You are true about chocolate and weight. I eat every day chocolates since years, and if I don't I become bigger.
    And I adore different kinds of chocolates. I just can't stop test them.
    Every were there is chocolate in France and it's a paradise for that.
    Tomorow I'll walk on the mountain under the snow, brrr. But I'll carry some chocolate cakes with almonds, I made.
    Good holidays.
    Read you
    Julie

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  19. The chocolate looks so yummy. I am a confessed chocoholic and if it will help me lose weight, well, I'm up for the sacrifice.

    Dennis and I have reservations in Lincoln City for May! We just keep missing each other. Have a wonderful time, I can't wait to see your pictures.

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  20. Great. Just as my doc told me this week. Salt, caffeine and chocolate are the must stay away for the B.P. you post about Beligum ones. Thanks...he-he... now I want to order up some. Glad to see you have a sun weekend at the beach planned. We are still working hard here to get caught up. The garden is up and the day was spent digging and dividing hostas for the neighborhood. Yes, I give them away every year. Have fun

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  21. I think I might need to perform this same scientific experiment!

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  22. SO funny! Just before I started checking my favorite blogs to see what I missed the last 10 days or so...I ate 2 yummy hand dipped chocolates I brought back from vacation:)Looks like we're both conducting the same experiment!
    Have a wonderful vacation Teresa!
    Blessings, Aimee

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  23. Teresa, tem uma orquรญdea para vocรช lรก no meu blog...
    Um abraรงo.

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  24. Teresa, vocรช me desculpa, eu fui traduzir seu comentรกrio e acabei deletando.
    Por favor, comenta de novo.
    Please.
    Thak you!

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  25. Fiquei muito triste, me confundi na hora de apertar o botรฃo, me desculpe.
    Vocรช comenta de novo, por favor...obrigada.
    Um abraรงo.

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  26. Yummo, and love the tin too, go ahead and test away for us ♥☺

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  27. Chocolate, oh how I love that sweet stuff! I love all kinds, shapes, colors and textures. Love your special chocolates and the great tin, a gift in itself!!
    Hope you have a great beach day!!
    Sorry to say but I don't thing chocolate is a diet food, oh how I wish!!
    xoRobin❤

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  28. Oh that looks so delish! Chocolate and dieting DO go together...this makes me a happy woman!

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