Quick Thoughts on Last Meeting and Chocolate Recipes

Hi Everyone!

Thank you so much for all of your thoughts on Frindle and all of your cool made-up words. I really liked how some words were invented off the top of your heads (whose spellings I can't remember) while others were based on words that already exist (like "hungy" and "spectracula"). Also special thanks to Amy and Kenny for their Frindle cake! That was very creative.

Now let's get on to the next book, "The Chocolate Touch." Does anyone have a favorite chocolate food? Do tell us! Also, if you have a favorite recipe with chocolate in it, please share. My favorite chocolate food is chewy chocolate chip cookies. I also like Kit Kats.

Ok. This may be cheating, but did you know that Cincinnati chili has chocolate in it? So here is a recipe for Cincinnati chili from What's Cooking America:

Cincinnati Chili Recipe

1 large onion chopped
1 pound extra-lean ground beef
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon ground allspice
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon red (cayenne) pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa or 1/2 ounce grated unsweetened chocolate
1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 tablespoon cider vinegar
1/2 cup water
1 (16-ounce) package uncooked dried spaghetti pasta
Toppings (see below)

In a large frying pan over medium-high heat, saute onion, ground beef, garlic, and chili powder until ground beef is slightly cooked. Add allspice, cinnamon, cumin, cayene pepper, salt, unsweetened cocoa or chocolate, tomato sauce, Worcestershire sauce, cider vinegar, and water. Reduce heat to low and simmer, uncovered, 1 1/2 hours. Remove from heat.

Cook spaghetti according to package directions and transfer onto individual serving plates (small oval plates are traditional).

Ladle chili over spaghetti and serve with toppings of your choice. Oyster crackers are served in a separate container on the side.

I look forward to reading about your favorite chocolate foods and recipes!