Life without chocolate

[trampledamage]

Well thank goodness cheese doesn't smell of puke too

little miss trampledamage got given some Hershey's kisses at school once and before then I'd always thought the "smells like puke" must be an exaggeration because, you know, how could people eat it? But no, it really does smell that bad. little miss trampledamage didn't think it smelled bad though, she liked them - she really is growing up Canadian

 

[creek_chub]

To me, Hershey's just tastes like congealed sugar. Never smelled or tasted a puke flavor from it, but either way, I'm not a big fan.

 

[Sean Aaron]

But no, it really does smell that bad. little miss trampledamage didn't think it smelled bad though, she liked them - she really is growing up Canadian

Oh, my god, you're right! I actually had noticed Hershey's Kisses smelled funny, but I forgot because it's been so long since I had them. I think the Hugs mitigate that by having white chocolate swirled in.

 

[edisraf]

Milk chocolate! And check the label. The best (read most expensive) chocolate will list cocoa butter and chocolate liqueur. Unfortunately, it is getting harder to find.

A good friend has a business making chocolates, including chocolate truffles. He was a professional photographer, and an amateur chocolate maker. On a trip to Europe, he met the purportedly "best chocolatier in the world," Mr. Hans Burie." Mr Burie wanted to learn photography, so they traded skills. I don't know what Mr Burie's photos are like, but the chocolates are great! (and I even get a discount!)

raf

Will there be any chocolate up in heaven?
This is something I truly got to know!
'Cause if there ain't any chocolate up in heaven
I got to fill my pockets 'fore I go!
from Chocolate in Heaven @??? me

 

[Count Zero]

I used to like Cadbury's Dairy Milk too. I'm not sure if the British version would be the same flavour as that you get in Germany, as I think it's blended differently in each country to suit national tastes. (The same is true with coffee.) I've always preferred British versions over the European versions.

There isn't a German version of Cadbury's Dairy Milk and you can only buy it from British specialty shops. Thankfully, almost every major German city has one.
I didn't know other countries had their own version. Interesting.

Anyway, I've been vegan for quite a few years now, and even after all this time, Dairy Milk is possibly the only thing I miss not having.

Hey, a fellow vegan! I've been only at it for a few weeks and still figuring things out. But, all in all, it hasn't been half as horrible as I feared it might be.

Dark chocolate doesn't do much for me, sadly. A more satisfying alternative is homemade chocolate cake, with as much cocoa in it as I dare.

Mmh, sounds like a plan. What milk substitute do you use? Soy or rice milk?

I think it's a pity that dark chocolate usually only comes in plain. Except for the above mentioned marzipan filling no one seems to have come up with something a little creative, e.g. dark chocolate with nuts. (Ok, Lindt has some Mousse au Chocolat fillings but they're not vegan.)

I've seen plenty of dark chocolate combos but I live in the city ad there are lots of fancy chocolates around. Don't know if any of them are vegan.

I should have been more precise. There are indeed a number of interesting dark chocolate combos from various brands but unfortunately, whenever it gets a bit more sophisticated concentrated butter is added. So far, the only thing beyond just plain dark chocolate (and a large number of those also contain concentrated butter) I've found is Ritter Sport marzipan.
There's allegedly a specialty shop somewhere in this city where you can buy vegan versions of Twix and Mars and stuff like that. I'll probably check that out someday soon.

 

[Kestra]

I should have been more precise. There are indeed a number of interesting dark chocolate combos from various brands but unfortunately, whenever it gets a bit more sophisticated concentrated butter is added. So far, the only thing beyond just plain dark chocolate (and a large number of those also contain concentrated butter) I've found is Ritter Sport marzipan.
There's allegedly a specialty shop somewhere in this city where you can buy vegan versions of Twix and Mars and stuff like that. I'll probably check that out someday soon.

I totally want to ship you some fancy vegan chocolates but the shipping alone is like $75! Must find European version of what I have in mind ...

 

[lurok]

So far, the only thing beyond just plain dark chocolate (and a large number of those also contain concentrated butter) I've found is Ritter Sport marzipan.

Yum (with nostalgia). How does Ritter compare to Niederegger? Only know from years of exposure through city-of-origin family; guaranteed Christmas present.

 

[Count Zero]

I totally want to ship you some fancy vegan chocolates but the shipping alone is like $75! Must find European version of what I have in mind ...

Thanks. Actually, I did buy some real vegan chocolate (made with rice milk and all) but it didn't taste so good, to be honest.

Yum (with nostalgia). How does Ritter compare to Niederegger? Only know from years of exposure through city-of-origin family; guaranteed Christmas present.

You mean the marzipan? I'd always go with Niederegger or any actual marzipan from Lübeck. The chocolate isn't anything special, I guess. Lindt makes some awesome marzipan chocolate combos, though, e.g. using walnut marzipan and white chocolate. Don't hesitate if you ever get your hands on those.
I actually have a rather low opinion of Ritter Sport, to be honest. I used to be an exclusive Lindt and Milka person. But Milka doesn't make anything I can still eat now. Ritter Sport's Alpenmilch chocolate used to be one of my favourites when I was a child, though.

 

[Jadzia]

There isn't a German version of Cadbury's Dairy Milk and you can only buy it from British specialty shops. Thankfully, almost every major German city has one. I didn't know other countries had their own version. Interesting.

I don't know if it's Cadbury's specifically that do it, but I know some chocolate manufactueres make things to suit national tastes, so I assumed Cadbury's would too. I may be wrong.

British chocolate is mostly cocoa butter, because that's what we like

What milk substitute do you use? Soy or rice milk?

I started with sweetened soy milk, but I quickly lost interest in it, and I'm happy to live without a milk substitute. When I make cereal I use water. If I have a hot drink I'll have it black.

I remember before I was vegan, cereal with water would taste quite metallic compared to cereal with milk, but tastes change when you go without something for any length of time. Cereal with water tastes normal to me now, as normal as cereal with milk tasted at one time.

On the rare occasions I fancy something creamy, I'll use coconut milk. It can be messy because of it's high saturated fat content, but it's far tastier than soy milk.


The main thing to be cautious of with a vegan diet is vitamin B12. There's disagreement over whether intestinal bacteria produce enough of it that can be absorbed. Your body will probably have enough stored (and will recycle it if you don't) to last you for a year or more, but it will run down eventually. Yeast extract is the only real source that's compatible with a vegan diet. I'm fortunate that I love the stuff.

 

[K'Ehleyr]

... I had a bottle of Jack Daniel's in one hand, and ice cream in the other. I turned to my friends and said, "I think someone broke up with me."

...
K'Ehleyr - I've done egg hunts for the kids these past two years, and because the weather was so nice this year I hid the eggs outside. I have to buy plastic eggs to put treats in because young master trampledamage doesn't like chocolate - he gets Tim-Bits instead (donut holes) - nothing as fancy as yours though, just eggs hidden in the garden, go fetch!

Oh I've done hunts that go into the copse behind us, hidden in the car, the 'cupboard of doom' ~ anything! Son is 18 but if he wakes up on Easter Sunday with not a letter from the Easter Bunny, he is most disappointed!

Can you not get away with saying a donut hole is nothing ~ it's just the bit that makes the donut round and actually doesn't exist?
Or that the donut was just made around a finger... Oh... new hunt... find the finger

 

[Count Zero]

What milk substitute do you use? Soy or rice milk?

I started with sweetened soy milk, but I quickly lost interest in it, and I'm happy to live without a milk substitute. When I make cereal I use water. If I have a hot drink I'll have it black.

So, you'd use water to make your chocolate cake?

I remember before I was vegan, cereal with water would taste quite metallic compared to cereal with milk, but tastes change when you go without something for any length of time. Cereal with water tastes normal to me now, as normal as cereal with milk tasted at one time.

Well, that's true, I mean about one's taste changing. The first time I made myself a soy latte macchiato I thought it tasted rather weird, not to say vile. But I grew accustomed to it quickly and now I really like the taste.
That's the only thing I really need a milk substitute for (I use a soy-rice milk blend brand, which is pretty cheap). I don't really eat cereals.

On the rare occasions I fancy something creamy, I'll use coconut milk. It can be messy because of it's high saturated fat content, but it's far tastier than soy milk.

I'll try that.

The main thing to be cautious of with a vegan diet is vitamin B12. There's disagreement over whether intestinal bacteria produce enough of it that can be absorbed. Your body will probably have enough stored (and will recycle it if you don't) to last you for a year or more, but it will run down eventually. Yeast extract is the only real source that's compatible with a vegan diet. I'm fortunate that I love the stuff.

Yeah, I've done some reading, although it seems the jury is still out on the whole B12 thing.

 

[Kestra]

You can take one of the boxed cake mixes here and instead of oil and eggs, use a can of coke and it tastes nearly the same and only looks slightly more moist. I'm not suggesting you actually do this, just that some things can be substituted and you can barely tell the difference!

I had a close friend in college that was vegan and I baked treats for her all the time (not with sodas, I promise!) so if you have any specific baking questions I might be able to help.

 

[Count Zero]

I've never baked anything in my life - well, that's not true, I did continue the Christmas tradition of baking a Lebkuchen nativity scene (and cookies). Ever since my parents stopped eating eggs years ago, they're actually vegan.
But I've never baked cakes or real cookies or anything like that and my Mum wasn't into baking, either. But maybe I should start. I do love chocolate cookies and muffins and can't have them at the moment, so it seems like a worthwhile endeavour.

I never would have guessed you could use soda instead of eggs, though. My mother uses an egg substitute for baking.

 

[Kestra]

Vegan applesauce can do wonders in the baking world! There's no reason to give up what you love.

 

[Marie1]

Chocolate is awesome. I neeeeeeeed it!! Especially Lindt milk chocolate...mmmmmm...

I also have a real weakness for certain types of potato chips... O.O

 

[Jadzia]

I don't really eat cereals.

I like my morning oatmeal, and it is the best source of protein for a grain

So, you'd use water to make your chocolate cake?

Yes. I've never tried making it with soy/coconut milk.

Cake can be brittle and flakey when you omit egg from the recipe, but I've invented a solution for that: add stewed baking apple, cornflour, and baking powder where it asks for egg in a cake recipe.

The apple contains pectin, which helps to set the cake and not be brittle. It's also an humectant, which helps to keep it soft and moist. It also contains malic acid which balances the alkalinity of the cocoa in the same way that milk would normally do.

 

[RevDMV]

Chocolate, like my women; dark, bitter and easy to break up....


That being said, Trader Joe's house dark is really yummy.

 

[lurok]

^Prize for first chocolate analogy.