The real secret love of our lives

Mmm… chocolate. 

The sweet, the fat, the cocoa. Yum.

In any combination, this triple threat can cause one to swoon. Yes, full-on, delightful, lightheaded, heavenly swoons.

But what is it about chocolate that drives us to sneak into our sleeping child’s room and liberate a handful of their foil-wrapped holiday treasures? It calls to us from the pantry at midnight, whispering promises of pleasure and peace?

I know there’s mountains of research out there that talks about the chemical changes and synapses in our brains that are triggered by consuming chocolate. Even some of our favorite celebrities have expressed heartfelt feelings for the delights of chocolate—for example, Jennifer Aniston, Audrey Hepburn, Kate Middleton. Beside these famous fawnings, many articles and studys have been published on the health benefits of eating chocolate. But, in reality, chocolate just tastes so good. Isn’t that all that really matters?

And, yes, we, the chocolate lovers, know that there are those who do not do chocolate; people who are allergic or just don’t like it. Johnny Depp, for example, heartthrob and star of many movies, including Chocolat, does not like chocolate. (Isn’t that almost enough to crush your crush on him?) Haters, we acknowledge that you exist; we just don’t understand you and choose not to dwell on it, too much.

Even among chocolate lovers, though, there are minor squabbles over which is better milk or dark. Some like nuts with their chocolate, others think the nuts just take up space where chocolate should be. But I think all agree that Cadbury has gone a step too far with their Marvellous Creations. Adding jelly beans and popping candy to chocolate bars. The nerve!

Now, you and I know we only buy chocolate for the kids, right? Easter, Christmas, Hallowe’en. Religiously, (or not), every holiday you buy and hide the stash until the last moment when you reveal your secret bounty. But your kids are growing up. Soon they’ll be flying the coop. They won’t be there any longer to enable your addiction. And you know chocolate is bad for dogs, so Rufus can’t help you either. What’s your game plan? Will you decide that hubby needs extra treats for the holidays? Or will you own up to your secret and indulge yourself? I encourage you to own up and pander to your addiction. Hubby may not share.

And here’s a scary thought – Do you realize that between May and the end of October there is not a single chocolate infused holiday to be celebrated? Five months bereft of foil-wrapped chocolate novelty treats. Chocolate lovers are well versed in making Hallowe’en treats last until Christmas and chocolate Santas last until Valentine’s. The stock pile of Valentine’s hearts can stretch through until the first foil wrapped eggs appear. Then, Mother’s Day is just a few weeks off.  But through Spring, Summer and well into Fall – nothing. A dearth. One hundred and fifty days during which we are forced to console ourselves with the more mundane, chocolate cakes, cookies and brownies, oh, my. Or immerse ourselves in some choco-lit or perhaps plan a trip to Chocolate World.

We are grateful for the Aztecs who shared their cocoa with Hernando Cortés and for Mssrs. Van Houten, Lindt, Nestlé, Neuhaus and Callebaut at whose hands cocoa was forever changed into our real secret love.

What’s your favorite chocolate treat? Have you ever been caught with your hand in someone else’s chocolate stash? Share your chocolate dreams with us in the comments below. 😉