Woo! I’ve almost kicked this stupid cold (and whatever the other mystery ailment was that was bugging me) and I’m finally feeling up to the task of blogging again. Now that I can taste properly again the chocolate is calling my name in a big way. Not that I didn’t finally find ways to enjoy some chocolate while I was sick. I found my chocolate comfort foods: CoCo Wheats and hot chocolate! It was staring me in the face the whole time (literally - they were sitting on top of the microwave. I wanted something good and hot and chocolaty and between the millions of hot chocolates I still have lurking around the kitchen and the half-dozen boxes of CoCo Wheats I always have on hand I was – sickness aside – a pretty happy camper. Others may like their chicken noodle soup, but me, I’ll take some CoCo Wheats. Not that I didn’t have chicken noodle soup, but the old standby, Campbells, is on the list of foods I really dislike. It just isn’t very good. Progresso, on the other hand, hits the spot.

Ok, so what’s been going on while I’ve been hiding beneath the covers trying to get better? Chocolove came out with a new limited edition bar for Valentines Day: Chilis & Cherries in Dark Chocolate. Like their Christmas limited edition this one is only available at Whole Foods Market. The Christmas one never made an appearance at my local Whole Foods and I’m kind of doubting this one will either. Not that I’m terribly enthused by the cherries in it. I’m really not that big into cherries (of the non-maraschino variety). Cybele of CandyBlog got to try it when she was at the Fancy Food Show and she found it pretty good. You can check out the press release here.

Yeah, Valentines Day. There’s a subject that needs addressing. My inbox has been flooded with tons of ads for Valentines chocolate and, while a lot of it looks really nice (some of the fine wine and fine chocolate packages look especially nice), you're not likely to see me ordering any of it. At least until after February 14th has come and gone. February 15th is one of my personal chocolate holidays when the heavy duty post-Valentines sales kick in. And the money I would spend on the Valentines chocolate needs to be kept aside for ordering a few more hot chocolates (I still need to get the Vosges – I’m dying to try it). But when there is chocolate at a deep discount in the offing odds are I’ll take at least a little home with me. And as a general note, if you do have an SO you are feeling like buying some chocolate for then go for quality. A box of chocolate from the grocery store just isn't the same thing as going out of your way to get something special. And in the internet age "out of your way" is just a few clicks away.

Also, just in time for Valentines Day, this week is Covered in Chocolate Week on Food Network. I don’t watch a lot on there these days that isn’t Unwrapped, Good Eats, or some competition special, but there is bound to be some good stuff to see. It runs every night this week starting with Good Eats at 7:00pm eastern and all day Sunday so set the vcr or dvr and get ready for some good TV.

That’s about it for tonight, but tomorrow I should have a roundup of recipes that have cruised past my screen recently and I’m working on a review of one of my favorite chocolate treats.

Night all!