Thursday, February 11, 2010

A Crime Against Chocolate

I will begin my post today by bravely and forthrightly answering the accusations that were hurled at me in a most hurl-y type manner yesterday, asking why in the WORLD my first dessert (after a 30-day dessert break) wasn’t chocolate.

What was I thinking? How could I have done such a thing? Why would I ever choose a non-chocolate item to break the fast? Where was my brain at the time? Who in their right mind would ever commit such a hideous, horrible, and horrendous crime against chocolate?

Actually the comments weren’t quite that spirited but there definitely was some surprise expressed that my photo of the Official First Dessert didn’t include chocolate, the most delectable of all mostly delectable substances.

Well. I have a confession to make.

My confession is that the picture I posted did not truly represent my first dessert of the day. I was just trying to foist it off as the first dessert because I didn’t want to admit that I had eaten something sweet earlier.

Yes, people, it’s true.

At 6:22 a.m. on Tuesday morning, I, Rebecca C. Smith, hereby admit to the felonious fact that I knowingly, willingly and willy-nilly-ily consumed a 40-calorie, chocolate covered graham cracker. In the morning. In the kitchen. By the sink. Gladly. And without remorse.

I admit it. I ate chocolate before 5 pm. I even ate chocolate before lunch. I am ready to stand up say publicly that I have a problem. I am addicted.

And I really did mean to tell you about it. I really did mean to confess it. Honestly! But then I got the idea of just posting the photo of my MAIN dessert of the day, hoping that it would detract attention from the chocolate imbibing that I had done earlier. (Waaay earlier in the day.)

Sigh. I just can’t keep any secrets from you at all, can I?

But please listen to what I have to say in my defense before you pass any judgmental judgments against my person.

Here’s the rest of the story . . .

Toward the end of my 30-day dessert fast, I began to be overcome with a secret worry. It was nothing that I wanted to share here in this public forum, it was nothing I even told my husband or my children about. I didn’t tell my friends and I didn’t write it in my (non-existent) personal journal.

However, the worry continued to grow. It began to consume me. It began to fill my every waking thought and my every sleeping moment. I would awaken with a start at 2:08 am and realize that this unspoken worry was waiting to taunt me from the foot of my bed.

It was not a good season of my life. It was not a restful chapter to endure. Peaceful moments were hard to come by as the worry dogged my steps and chased me through the moments that made up the hours that made up the days of my pitiful, woeful, worry-laden life.

Um. What was I talking about?

Oh yes. Why I ate chocolate early in the morning. Which had to do with worry. Which I was writing about. Which I was saying that I hadn’t told anyone about. Which is why I’m not going to tell you about it now.

Or wait. I guess I will. I mean, if I can’t share these kinds of things with my Smithellaneous friends, then who can I share them with?

Okay, so here it is. My. Worry.

I was worried that I had forgotten the taste of chocolate! I was worried that after thirty days of non-imbibing, thirty days without one little speck of chocolate in my mouth, that I would forget how to chew it. Or how to swallow it. I was afraid I would have to start re-learning chocolate appreciation from scratch. I was afraid that chocolate would not longer be my friend.

It was scary. It was unnerving. It was, well, worrisome.

And so THAT is why I crept down the stairs early on Tuesday morning and took myself over to the drawer containing our assorted items of chocolate. Would the chocolate recognize me? Would I have to reintroduce myself? Would it be awkward? Would my test buds be startled into complete shock? Would they rebel and demand a carrot stick instead? How terrible is that thought?

The only way I could find out for sure, the only way I could lay the worries to rest for good was to take three bites of that cookie.

And chew.

And swallow.

And behold, it was good.

It was very, very good.

grahams

Whew! It’s good to have that off my chest. (And on to my hips!)

Now since I’m no longer consumed with chocolate-related worries, I have been able to muster the energy and the wherewithal to share with you the NON-chocolate dessert that I had after dinner on Tuesday evening. It comes straight from the Pioneer Woman.

Anyone who knows me well knows that I love any sort of dessert that is warmed, topped with ice cream. (In fact I love those desserts almost more than I love chocolate. Hard to believe, I know.) Hence, my love affair with these dumplings.

Now don’t quote me on this, but I would think that if you’re short of time—and energy—you could use canned apples instead of the peeled, chopped apples. If anyone happens to try that, let me know how it turns out.

Enjoy! These babies are better than amazing!

(Note: See post below for the recipe. I'm trying to start separating recipes out from regular posts to make the recipes easier to find later on.)


7 Had Something To Say (Just click here!):

MaryH said...

I LOVE the Pioneer Woman and her blog and her cookbook - I received that for a Christmas gift. I have cooked many of the recipes and not a one was a disappointment. My daughter has read the book cover to cover and loves the photography and marks the next recipe to try. Also, I have on many a day, here in the office, had chocolate candy bars for breakfast. We have a very well stocked candy dish at the reception desk with all sorts of wonderous candies (mostly chocolate) - it IS the breakfast of champions. And there is it, my confession. Chocolate is good, any time of the day OR night!

Anonymous said...

Becky
One of our Preschool Moms has made Apple Dumplings for our Boo at the Zoo dinner, and for our Christmas Breakfast. Her recipe is almost the same, but she also uses brown sugar. It is unbelievably delicious!!!!

Renee's Apple Dumplings
INGREDIENTS
2 large Granny Smith apples,
peeled and cored
2 (10 ounce) cans refrigerated
crescent roll dough
1 cup butter
3/4 cup white sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 (12 fluid ounce) can or bottle
Mountain Dew
(Use about 3/4 of the can)

DIRECTIONS
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish.
Cut each apple into 8 wedges and set aside. Separate the crescent roll dough into triangles. Roll each apple wedge in crescent roll dough starting at the smallest end. Pinch to seal and place in the baking dish.

Melt butter in a small saucepan and stir in the sugar and cinnamon. Pour over the apple dumplings. Pour Mountain Dew™ over the dumplings.

Bake for 35 to 45 minutes in the preheated oven, or until golden brown.



mrs pam

Melanie said...

Whew! I'm so relieved to read this post. I was afraid maybe you'd been abducted by aliens or something, and replaced with a chocolate hating clone. Glad to hear I don't have to drive down to Manteo to rescue Steve and Sarah. It would be really hard to do that, too, since I've been inundated with SNOW!!!

Shannon said...

Oh I LOVE this recipe...I actually had it years ago, before I even knew who PW was. I can't make it very often...I mean look at those ingredients...yikes!!!

Lisa said...

Never mind my comment on your previous post. This post answered my question! :O)

Unknown said...

Those apple dumplings are the best dessert I have ever had..and that includes anything chocolate.

Anonymous said...

So back when we all sent you chocolate, I mailed a box of Green Mountain Chocolate truffles - made in my hometown of Franklin, Mass....you probably don't remember them (seeing as there were mounds of chocolate sent!!) but they are really scrumptious. Today I drove there to buy my youngest son's teacher a box for valentines and while there, bought my three kids and husband each a little box of four truffles. On the way home, those truffles were calling my name and I actually opened one of the boxes and ate all four before getting to the house! So either I have to go back to Green Mountain tomorrow or someone doesn't get truffles....big decision!!

I can so relate to the joy of chocolate!

judi mitchell, franklin, mass.....