Cherries and Chocolate

February is National Cherry Month and Chocolate Lovers month.

What is your favorite "Chocolate Combo"?

• Chocolate with peanut butter -(peanut butter cups!)


• Chocolate covered raisins? Almonds? cherries?


• Chocolate with salt-as in chocolate covered pretzels


• Chocolate with whipped cream-a steaming mug of hot cocoa swirled whith whipped cream and cinnamon on top!


• Chocolate with wine...

Maybe you just love pure, unaltered CHOCOLATE!

I like all of the above but I think my favorites are chocolate covered cherries (love the gooey, sweet goodness that drips off my fingers) and chocolate with coconut (a Mounds candy bar has just a little bit of heaven in every bite!)

I'd love to hear your favorite chocolate pairings

It is also National Cherry Month-probably because of the famous "George Washington and the Cherry Tree" myth. Here is a quick and easy cherry dessert that you might want to try:

Cherry Chocolate Pie
11 large marshmallows
1/3 c. milk
1 (3 oz.) piece milk chocolate candy bar, chopped
1 (8 oz.) container frozen whipped topping, thawed and divided
1 graham cracker crust (10”)
1 can (21 oz.) cherry pie filling
In large saucepan, combine marshmallows, milk and chocolate. Cook and stir over medium low heat until smooth. Cool completely. Fold ¾ c. whipped topping into chocolate mixture. Pour into prepared crust. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes. Top with pie filling & remaining whipped topping. Cover & refrigerate for 8 hours or overnight. Yield: 8 servings.

Cocoa and Communication

I'm not much of a coffee drinker-never acquired the taste for it. I do love a good cup of hot chocolate and also like flavored tea. I found three ways to update your cup of cocoa...

Malted Hot Cocoa with Toasted Marshmallows
Broil 3 marshmallows in broiler or toaster oven until just golden, about 30 seconds. Mix hot cocoa with 3 Tbsp. malted milk powder. Top with toasted marshmallows.
Minty Hot Cocoa Float
Top hot cocoa with ¼ c. mint chocolate chip ice cream and 1 sprig of fresh mint.
Mexican Spiced Hot Cocoa
Combine 2 pinches ground chipotle chili pepper and 2 pinches ground cinnamon. Mix the hot cocoa with half the chipotle cinnamon mixture. Top with 2 Tbsp. sweetened whipped cream. Sprinkle with remaining chipotle and cinnamon.

It's great to curl up with a warm afgahn, a good book and a steaming mug of hot chocolate while the winter wind blows through the bare branches.

If one of your resolutions is to improve your life, you will want to get a copy of Janine Driver's book, "YOU SAY MORE THAN YOU THINK: A 7-DAY PLAN FOR USING THE NEW BODY LANGUAGE TO GET WHAT YOU WANT". Over fifty percent of what we communicate to others is non-verbal; in other words, our "body language". Whether you want to become a stronger leader, gain a more confident attitude, manage your nerves more effectively or strengthen your interpersonal relationships, this book will help you get what you want out of life!

Janine gives you the tools and techniques to be successful AND she says you can learn it all in 7 days!

A few of the tips/techniques that she shared with us today
~If you want to look more intelligent-tilt your head slightly toward your left shoulder

~If you want to look more attractive-tilt your head slightly toward your right shoulder

~If you want to command attention when speaking in front of others, keep your head straight.

The book is easy to read, easy to understand and you'll learn tricks to help the stress melt away, the 7 second body language fixes to decrease social anxiety and so much more....