I Love Chocolate: Spring into Chocolate!

by Stephanie Zonis

Spring into Chocolate!

Spring is in full flower, so to speak; Happy Easter and a good Passover to all my readers. Chocolate fits wonderfully well with spring, whether you're making the last of winter's heavier desserts or going for something a touch lighter as warm weather approaches. Let's get into the kitchen!

Chocolate Find of the Month:

I Love Chocolate April's Chocolate Find is something a little different—organic chocolate. Organic Commodity Products (OCP) markets their chocolate under the name La Amistad, which means "friendship." This chocolate is made solely from ingredients that are certified organic (that includes milk and sugar, of course). The resulting chocolate, available in semisweet, milk, and white, is also certified kosher. The semisweet and milk chocolates come in pastilles, or wafers, and they're easy to measure, as there are twelve wafers to the ounce. The white chocolate comes in small chips. Of course, all three types are great for baking or nibbling.

One thing I like about OCP is that no chemical fertilizers or harmful pesticides are used on the cocoa. This is not standard practice in the chocolate industry, and it means you get no pesticide/fertilizer residues in your chocolate. Sustainable agriculture is also a goal. La Amistad chocolate can be ordered from OCP at 29 Elm Street in Cambridge, MA; the phone number there is (617) 661-1100, or you can fax them at (617) 661-0100. As of this writing, the website, at www.ocpchocolate.com, is under construction, but an online chocolate store will be included in the completed site. I like OCP's policies and practices; equally importantly, La Amistad chocolate is of good quality. Check 'em out!

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 month,
Yours in chocolate,

Stephanie

Recipes:

Current I Love Desserts
I Love Chocolate Archive

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