Friday, July 20, 2007

Milka, It's Not Just For Breakfast Anymore

Milka chocolateWait, I think that's orange juice and I refuse to say "Got Milka?" No matter, have a candy bar instead.
Milka chocolate is as seductively smooth as Barry White on Whacking Day, and Milka's Strawberry Yoghurt bar is a fine balance of tangy creme filling (with dried strawberries) and thin layers of Swiss chocolate.
This chocolate is fun and delicious, not all serious and conceited like that *stuck up dark chocolate (please write me if you've ever spent $250.00 on a truffle). Maybe Milka is the people's chocolate, it even has a purple cow on the wrapper. (Oddly enough I think I saw a purple cow sometime in the late eighties near Prairie du Chien.)
Milka chocolate, created in Switzerland in 1901 (Wikepedia fact of the month), is now made in Germany and other European countries. This particular 3.52 oz Strawberry Yoghurt bar was made in Germany and eaten straight out of the fridge right here in Southern Wisconsin.
Kraft calls Milka their number one European brand, surpassing the mighty Toblerone.
*Knipschildt's La Madeline au Truffe, for those of you too lazy to follow the link, costs $250.00 for one stinkin' chocolate mushroom. Coincidentally, it looks like something we found along the river in Praire du Chien.
The Knipschildt's ("nipshits?") website says it's a rare French Perigord truffle in 70% Valrhona dark chocolate, heavy cream, sugar, truffle oil and vanilla for the ganache, rolled in cocoa powder on a bed of sugar pearls in a silver box.
Pass the Milka.

Thursday, July 12, 2007

Boo Fudge

cranberry nut fudgeBoo, fudge you say?
Why drive through the summer insanity of the Dells to get your fudge fix when this brilliant Cranberry Nut fudge is waiting for you in historic downtown Baraboo. The ripened walnuts and rave of cranberries make this fudge a perky hunk of heaven. Cranberry Nut fudge rivals the Pierce's Door County Cherry Walnut.
That's Joan and Ralph Pierce, owners of Gem City Candy. Gem City, it's not just the place next to Fan Faire Costume & Dance.
One of the many things I love about fudge is how you can sneak slices with no one the wiser. Not that I'm systematically bleeding dry two bags of candy meant for someone's birthday, but I suggest a paring knife for this type of pilfering rather than the plastic knife provided with each colorful Gem City fudge box.
Recommended by Joan Pierce, we dived into the Mud.



Devil's Lake Mud
is a mind altering combination of chocolate and vanilla fudge, pecans, and caramel. It's what fudge should taste like. Smooth enough to cut with a plastic knife (if you don't care about leaving marks), and more than enough reason to motor west.
So Elizabeth, I can't think of any place in Madison to get good fudge, but who cares when the alternative is a trip to Boo.

Saturday, July 07, 2007

The Badger Claw Revisited

I sent the girls on a short errand to Baraboo yesterday before all this heat. They lollygagged to no end, but came back with the goods and the answer to my Badger Claw question. It is made by the Baraboo Candy Company. Mystery solved.

New Badger Claw Packaging
That sweet man Ralph Pierce answered our Cow Pie questions even though he does double duty between Boo Candy and his own store, Gem City Candy (along with his lovely wife Joan). He also fished out this pretty new Badger Claw box which will soon be available in the Madison area.
The Baraboo Town Square, where you'll find Gem City, is the loveliest of places, and of course the Pierces make their own fudge. (I believe they'll throw you in the pokey for not making your own fudge west of Sauk City.)
Apologies to BufaloGirl for the lack of posts. We were up a lazy river as often happens in the summer months. And thank you to Mar der hey for including us on her blog roll.
Please enjoy these scrolling lyrics.



MILLS BROTHERS lyrics

Sunday, July 01, 2007

Cocoa Deli Popsicles

According to the Cocoa Deli website these killer lollies have been out and about in the UK for almost two years. I hadn't seen them until last month when I rescued one of each flavor from a Middleton Walgreens.

Wrapped Cocoa Delis
"What, Belgian chocolate truffles shaped like popsicles," I asked no one in particular.
Cocoa bean pieces in a lush chocolate truffle give the Milk Chocolate Fudge Popsicle a snap. Cocoa lingers warmly on your tongue long after you've sucked the final remnants of chocolate through small holes at the top of the plastic stick. Although filled with the same amount of truffle as the white chocolate raspberry, the wall of Belgian milk chocolate on this popsicle doesn't overwhelm.
The Caramel Crunch Truffle tastes even richer when eaten at room temperature. The whole thing was so sweet I had to drink a glass of water in order to forge on. I found the butter toffee and cocoa cookie pieces overkill—like lighting a shot of 151 on fire. The caramel truffle is flanked by milk chocolate and lacks the savory cocoa afterburn of the milk chocolate fudge flavor.

Unwraped Cocoa Deli Popsicles
The White Chocolate Raspberry Truffle was the only popsicle that melted at room temperature. The pink berry filling burst through a hole of melted chocolate, making it easier to lick off and separate from the nasty white chocolate. No reflection on Cocoa Deli, I'm just not a fan. The ambrosial raspberry truffle is made with dried and concentrated raspberries.
In Sum
The popsicle presentation might be whimsical enough for kids, but the taste may be too rich for some adults. Leave it to the Brits to make the 1.6 oz Belgian Chocolate Caramel Crunch Truffle Popsicle. It took three sittings and a Big Gulp full of water to knock off the Caramel Crunch.
Cocoa Deli Chocolate Truffle Popsicles, like the Big Gulp, should not be taken lightly.