January 10

How I Celebrated

Well, we weren't about to drop $5 on a bit of bakers "bittersweet" chocolate at the only place we found it at, so we made a substitution. This was some sea salt dark chocolate. Not as dark as we probably could have got, but it was still pretty boring. So Nate made a chocolate mosaic on my face. Enjoy. Happy Bittersweet Chocolate Day!

Diet Helpers 

• Sugar Free

  If you don't want to go out and buy some sugar free baking chocolate or dark chocolate (there are plenty of sources), you can make your own sugar free chocolate chips at home

• Gluten Free

  While chocolate does not contain gluten ingredients, many manufacturers do add malt barley to some of their products. If this concerns you, here is a list of "safe" and "unsafe" chocolates if you plan to buy at the store.

• Vegetarian

  As long as you aren't buying chocolate covered bacon, I'm sure you will be ok.

Recipes

• Yummly has a lot of recipes, but you have to have an account. 
• Better Homes and Gardens made this slideshow of dark chocolate desserts

Follow Molly's board January 10 Recipes on Pinterest.

History

I did not know that the FDA grades the chocolate based on content. They actually put a percentage of how much chocolate liquor must be in the chocolate for it to be considered dark chocolate. Now, in the US, it looks like semi-sweet and bittersweet fall under the same category for FDA standards, but I definitely have seen people arguing in comments of recipes that include chocolate on which one is more rich. I clearly do not know the difference.

Punchbowl

Merchandise

Personally, my favorite dark chocolate is probably Dove dark chocolate. It is way more creamy and less waxy than other brands. I haven't really shopped around a lot though! Maybe I should. Then I can get my antioxidant fix, right?
Follow Molly's board January 10 Merch on Pinterest.

Restaurants

• In Rockridge and Downtown Oakland, there is the Bittersweet chocolate cafe
• In Raleigh (NC?) There is a Bittersweet desert, cocktail, and coffee service.
• If for some strange reason you hate chocolate, but want to go somewhere to celebrate the occasion, there is a Bittersweet Bistro in Aptos, CA

Other Things to Celebrate Today

• Oatmeal Month
• California Dried Plum Digestive Health Month (Prune Breakfast Month)
• Hot Tea Month
• National Soup Month
• Bread Baking Month
• Candy Month
• Egg Month
• Meat Month
• Wheat Bread Month
• Fat Free Living Month
• Be Kind to Food Servers Month
• Elvis Presley Birthday Celebration Week
• National Lose Weight Feel Great Week
• NAtional Vocation Awareness Week
• League of Nations Day
• National Cut Your Energy Costs Day
• National Peculiar People Day
• No Pants Subway Ride Day
• Save the Eagles Day
• Stephen Foster Memorial Day