Mmm...chocolate...

We don't do much celebrating for Valentine's Day.  My birthday is one week after, so I'd much rather have Jamie spend his time and energy on that (I love birthdays!).  I like getting a card, but beyond that, I don't really care.  However, Jamie found a new chocolate shop, so I got more than I expected.  

Let me back up a bit.  As I've said before, I love chocolate.  I've always loved to eat it and make chocolate desserts.  Back when I started baking, there weren't a lot of options, of course, so I used Hershey's cocoa and Baker's unsweetened and other chocolates.  Nowadays there are lots of other things out there for both baking and eating.  I don't know how many of them I would have discovered for myself, but Jamie insists on introducing me to them.  For quite a few years now, he has filled my Christmas stocking with chocolate.  Seriously, there's almost nothing else in there, and it's not a small stocking. =)  That's how I first tasted Scharffen Berger (Christmas 2006), for instance.  Some of it's plain chocolate of different brands and percentages, and some has other flavors and textures added.  He's also been known to buy me chocolate for my birthday, Mother's Day...  you get the idea.

I still haven't made much of a dent in the stuff from this past Christmas, as you can see in the picture of my pantry (below).  Most of the ones in the plastic bags and tubs are various percentages of El Rey, which is currently my go-to chocolate for baking.  I can get the discos in bulk at Central Market.  I also get Valrhona cocoa and blocks of Callebaut unsweetened chocolate there.  I love being able to buy the stuff in bulk--I get the amount I want, and the prices are great.  (They have interesting flours and spices in bulk as well.)

Now I just have to decide what I'm going to use to make the Almost Fudge Gateau for this week's Tuesdays with Dorie.

For those who are curious, the chocolates in the top picture are from Michel Cluizel, Askinosie, Enric Rovira, and Viva Chocolato! (which is also the shop where Jamie found everything).