Chocolate...Just a Little Bit of Magic ~ by Josie Riviera

As an author, I like to think readers enjoy my books. I hope that it
gives them a form of escape, even if just for a little while. I have visions of them sitting in a comfy chair, blanket draped over them, with a warm drink and…chocolate!

Why chocolate? Well, it’s a lovely visual of a way to spend an afternoon without the calories. Hah! A real joy and a bit of self-care we all deserve during these challenging times.

Truthfully, I may be a little obsessed with chocolate and all of the
ways it can be enjoyed.

Surprisingly, chocolate in its earliest form goes back to 450 BC in Southern Mexico when the Aztecs discovered cacao beans. They believed the beans were a gift from the god of wisdom, Quetzacoatl. As a drink, it was used as a puree along with corn and spices. Though bitter, it may have been the first chocolate drink.

In 1502, Christopher Columbus delivered the beans to Spain, and thus, Europe, believing them to be good for trading. Plantations were started, and the laborious work of cultivating and growing the crops was left to low paid workers and slave labor. Now, approximately two-thirds of all cocoa production takes place in West African nations.

Along came the Industrial Revolution in the late 19th and early
20th century. The chocolatiers we all are familiar with and who continue to be powerhouses in the industry – Henri Nestle, Randolphe Lindt, Milton Hershey and Cadbury – began perfecting the processing and recipes that we all enjoy today.

There are so many wonderful ways to enjoy chocolate! Here are a few:

• I recently tried a Tuxedo Cake. It’s made up of multiple layers of chocolate with a white chocolate cream filling. You can find a recipe HERE


• Hot Chocolate: Enjoy it as simple as when we were children--adding marshmallows, whipped cream, and crushed peppermint sticks.

• Or something more adult?

• Here is a list of 30 different varieties from Country Living Magazine. LIST
Surely one will tempt your taste buds. 


Have you ever tried something you were afraid to try because it mattered so much to you? I did, when I started writing. Take the chance, everyone, and just do something you love.  Cozy up with your favorite (chocolate) beverage, and lose yourself in the joyful seasons of love. I love chocolate so much that I even wrote about it!

A Chocolate-Box Christmas
Love is sweeter with a touch of mischief.
A Chocolate-Box New Years
Some recipes don’t turn out quite as you predicted…
A Chocolate-Box Valentine
It’s your last love who truly matters.

Josie Riviera is a USA TODAY bestselling author of contemporary,
inspirational, and historical sweet romances that read like Hallmark movies. She lives in the Charlotte, NC, area with her wonderfully supportive husband. They share their home with an adorable shih tzu, who constantly needs grooming, and live in an old house forever needing renovations. You can connect with Josie through the following links:

WEBSITE (Sign up for her newsletter and receive a free ebook)


12 comments:

  1. There really is something about chocolate that is magical! Thank you for sharing with us today. Delighted to have you as our guest.

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  2. Thank you, Grace. I'm thrilled to be here today.

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  3. I'm afraid I don't need much encouragement to eat chocolate. Thanks for the history lesson. For anyone who has not read her Chocolate-Box stories: They are going to make you want that suggested chocolate drink.

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    1. Thanks, Mary! I don't need much encouragement to eat chocolate, either. In fact, I just ate a chocolate square of Alter Eco brown butter. Delicious!

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  4. Loved your post. Chocolate is simply the best.

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  5. Welcome Josie! Thanks for making our day a little sweeter! ;)

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    1. Thanks for the welcome. And you're very welcome. Everything is sweeter with chocolate.

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  6. chocolate calms me but then i have to get on the bike (inside) i like the 90% very very bitter so i don't eat it often. love learning new things, history o chocolate was fascinating. Josie's books are on target, to the point, you learn new things, not a lot of drama, they do take you to new locations-treasure them this time of the virus attack.

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    Replies
    1. Julie, thank you for your wonderful comments. They mean so much. And, I need to get on the treadmill after I eat chocolate. :)

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