I Love Chocolate: Bar Cookies

by Stephanie Zonis

Bar Cookies

Hi! My name is Stephanie Zonis, and welcome to the September, 1999 (Bar Cookie) edition of "I Love Chocolate." Bar cookies are great for carrying along to picnics and parties, and they're perfect for bake sales and in lunchboxes. They save you time in baking, too, as the cookies are baked all at once, instead of individually. Let's get cooking!

Chocolate Find of the Month:

I Love Chocolate Bars It's September, and high time to think about increasing one's level of culinary activity. To that end, this month's Chocolate Find is Tait Farm Foods. This small company sells (among other things) preserves and fruit butters, pancake and scone mixes, flavored olive oils, fruit vinegars, and fruit shrub concentrate (a fruit shrub was a popular drink of Colonial times, and the concentrate can be used to make the drink or in recipes). For the purposes of this column, their most important product is a chocolate scone mix. The mix comes in a one pound bag, which will make 12 scones. The scones are delightful for tea, a snack, or a dessert; you can even freeze and reheat them (I tried this, so I know it works). They really taste like chocolate, and you get a "hit" of more chocolate flavor from the chocolate chips in the mix. If you are into "natural" products, you'll be pleased to learn that Tait Farm Foods uses organic unbleached flour, organic chocolate chips, and natural cane sugar here.

The only other product I've tried from Tait Farm Foods is their Olive & Rosemary, a lovely olive oil infused with a delicate but definite rosemary flavor. This would be ideal for a focaccia or marinated chicken, or perhaps as a dip for a crusty ciabatta. This company sells individual items as well as gift collections; look for their website at: www.taitfarmfoods.com, or call the Harvest Shop at (814) 466-2386 or toll-free at (800) 787-2716. You can also fax them at (814) 466-6561. Check them out!

Chocolate Event of the Month:

It's back!!! The Chocolate Show is making a triumphant return to New York City!!! Once again, dear readers, the Show will be the weekend after Thanksgiving, 26 through 29 November. This year, it's being held at The Metropolitan Pavilion (123 West 18th Street). Ticket prices: $12 for adults, $8 for seniors and children under 12, $10 for culinary students with ID's. Who will be there? I will! Oh, you meant chocolate companies, sorry about that. Christopher Norman, Valrhona, Hawaiian Vintage, Perugina, Payard, and more. Watch for more details in my October and November columns.

Non-Chocolate Event of the Month:

Barbecue!!! The world's largest barbecue competition will celebrate its 20th anniversary on Friday and Saturday, October 1 and 2, in Kansas City, MO. It's the American Royal Barbecue Contest; last year, over 330 teams competed for braggin' rights and/or prize money in two divisions (open and invitational) and several categories, including sauce, side dish, beef brisket barbecue, and pork rib barbecue. The weekend also features bands, clogging competitions and a children's' area. Admission prices are $8 per person on Friday, and $5 per person Saturday. These folks take their barbecue seriously, but the whole thing sounds like a lot of fun to me. For more information, call American Royal at (816) 221-9800, or see their website at: www.americanroyal.com.

I Love Chocolate wants YOU!!! Do you have a comment, question, or suggestion? How about a recent chocolate "find" you'd like to share? You can contact me at: sdziadwm@[email-address-removed]; I'd like your input on this column. Thanks!

'Til next edition,
Yours in chocolate,

Stephanie