Got Chocolate?

Do you have a friend in need of some chocolate?

If so, I would suggest making these most delicious Chocolate Covered Almonds.  They are seriously good.

Seriously.

They involve all sorts of the very best things.

Like roasted almonds.

And cinnamon sugar syrup.

And chocolate.

Lots of melted dark chocolate.

And we can't forget the cocoa!

All in a pretty little box.

These sweeties may look humble, but believe me, they are not.  One taste and you will be smitten.

Yep, it's true.  You will be smitten over almonds.

And so it begins . . .

Lyrics to Live By

In your two ton death trap I finally saw.  A piece of love in your face that bathed me in regret.

~ Ingrid Michaelson (Breakable)

I don't know if it is the lyrics themselves that make me love this song or if it is the way Ingrid Michaelson sings them, but my heart aches every time I hear this line.  The combination of love and regret she sings of is so poignant to me.  It draws to mind all those moments where love (of any kind) exists, but for some reason the connection doesn't quite happen.  You want more, they want more, timing gets in the way, other people get in the way, you get in your own way . . . .  Whatever the case may be, you are left with the knowledge that the affection that you see (or feel) will never be more than a moment of awareness of what could be.  The only consolation is the memory of those "pieces of love" and the hope that the future will bring more love, regardless of the form that it takes.  

Quote of the Week

Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art . . . it has no survival value; rather it is one of those things that give value to survival. 

~ C.S. Lewis

True friends are one of the most magical things in life.  You never know where and when they will appear but, when they do, it is hard to know how you ever lived without them.  When I start forgetting who I am or wonder if I will ever "really" connect with anyone again, it only takes a phone call or lunch date with an old friend to make everything better.  After a good chat, I am always left knowing that if I love my friends and they love me, I must lovable.  And then, everything is OK again.  Magic.

Me, daring?

I've just joined the Daring Bakers, an online baking adventure club of sorts.  As a blog is needed to chronicle my accomplishments (or disasters), I've set up "A Chocolate Life".  

I consider baking to be an act of love and I am hoping this blog will also allow me to ramble about other things that I love and make me happy -- my home (in Victoria), puppies, music, friends and who knows what else . . . 

One thing I love to eat, bake and talk about is cupcakes.  So, to begin, here are a few pictures of my past baking experiments:

Chocolate Candy Cane Cupcakes, December 2007

Strawberry Fields Forever, Spring 2008

Caramel Apple Cupcakes, October 2008