A while ago when chatting to my friends little girl whose 9th Birthday was approaching I asked her what kind of party she prefer to have. She responded (with gusto I might add) A chocolate party. So your probably wondering what has a chocolate party got to do with a Chocolate Cake Recipe?

And so while shooting the breeze later with her mom we thought we’d endeavor to make a party which was altogether chocolate themed.

Obviously the cake was going to be the easiest part as a chocolate birthday cake is not rocket science whether you decide to make to make or buy and I had a terrific dependable easy chocolate cake recipe.

So that was one thing out of the way and quite a few more to go. After a quick chat we decided the best way to go about it would be to separate the party into 5 segments (Invitations, food, birthday cake, games and decorations).

So I went on home to do some research on decorations and games (and to look up my celebrated chocolate cake recipe that I had bragged a lot about) and Debbie was looking after invites and food.

We decided to get together over hot chocolate the following day when the youngsters were at school pool our ideas and see what we had come up with. It turned out it was quite impressive and so the chocolate party was born.

Decorations were first. Balloons were placed in groups of 4 with 3 brown on the outside and one of a different color in the center. So for example you would have 1 green (peppermint) balloon ringed by 3 browns (chocolate), and then applying cotton and sticky tape you fix peppermint chocolates so that they hang from the bottom of the grouof balloons. So for a red center balloon you would hang strawberry or cherry chocolates, yellow for caramel, and so on.

The streamers are then strung along from balloon group to balloon group entwined around each other as 2 brown and a color of your choice. We normally do the Birthday’ Child’s favorite chocolate in this case pink (strawberry cream).

Following on the list was Invitations. These would have been easily achieved on the computer, a few pics of chocolates and all the party particulars typewritten on in a fancy font and color would have done the trick but we chose to go for the do-it-yourself approach and get the children involved.

So we all kept the wrappings off our chocolate bars (friends and family included) until we had a sufficient amount. We then simply spread out and flattened the wrapping and glued it on to white cardboard, removed a corner (so it appeared as though a chomp had been taken from the chocolate) and wrote with brown pen the particulars of the party on the reverse side.

Now that the invitations were taken care of that brought us to the chocolate party food. Deb had done herself proud. on the menu were the regular party basics of pizza pie, sausage rolls and party meat pies, along with ham and cheese sandwiches ( at least you can say you had a bit of good food at the party).

Chocolate Nutella spread was on triangular bread, there was an ample amount of chocolate salty balls (all the kids love them and a whole lot of the adults). Chocolate crackles, chocolate models of handbags and ballet shoes, (we made these from streaming out melted chocolate into (clean) soap molds.) snowballs, a few purchased chocolates and rather a lot of hand made chocolate treats that we had recipes for from a chocolate cookbook. These included chocolate truffles, vanilla balls (we substituted the rum (they’re nine year old kids after all!) chocolate pie and chocolate slice.

The games were a breeze, we played the standard party games (musical chairs, pass the parcel,etc) and handed out chocolate bars for prizes. (winners and losers) The kids had a blast, each child took a bunch of chocolate balloons with them and Deb and I put the rum back in the rum balls and binged something crazy!

Yummy Cadburys Chocolate Selections

Cadburys Chocolate has always been a friend to the sad and lonely. It has always been able to lift your spirits when you’re feeling down even if only for just a few moments. Now I’m not saying chocolate is a cure for depression or if you eat it you will no longer be lonely but surrounded by the beautiful people. That would be a ridiculous statement.

All I am saying is that for the few minutes it takes to eat that piece of chocolate pie or to lick the spoon that you have just made chocolate frosting with if you close your eyes, and explore the taste in your mouth, then just for a few minutes your problems can disappear.

Just imagine if all the people in all the world could savor a square of Cadbury’s all at precisely the same time, then for 5 minutes this world would be a truly peaceful place to live. While this does sound easy (and I can already see you looking for the link to sign up to so you can become part of our Choctopia ) and living in a chocolate world, where you are paid in coffee creams and walnut whirls sounds right up your alley. It sadly just would not be possible.

For starters the Lactose intolerant would be up in arms as they would be unable to join in. The Vegans would be protesting on the steps of parliament, the diabetics would be looking conspicuous and edgy with their carob bars and of course the problems in third world countries would be insurmountable. No air-conditioning would turn all the chocolate white causing a racism war. There are obviously no dentists in the desert so of course people would be in terrible toothache pain and would not be able to eat their allotted pieces of peace chocolate.

On the plus side soldiers would have to put down their guns to unwrap the silver paper off their delicious chocolaty treats. Politicians would have time to think before they spoke while still sucking on their peanut brittle (and let’s face it, no matter what part of this wonderful, wacky world you live in, a politician that thought before speaking would be a plus and a novelty).

Chocolate shops would be the new McDonalds; they would be on every prime piece of real estate in the western world. No one would complain about living next to a choccy shop in face house prices in the area would probably go up as that delicious chocolaty smell drifts through the neighbourhood.

Chocolate fountains would pop up in people’s front yards and family secret chocolate cake recipes would be shared freely as the feel good endorphins released by chocolate float through even the grumpiest of pores.

So while there are lots of reasons why living in a chocolate induced stupor would be good there sadly will never will be a chocolate utopia as there are a lot more sane people out there that know the bad, and practicality of the whole idea definitely outweigh the good. On the bright side as long as we are good to our planet, keep the cows well fed, the cocoa trees well watered and the boffins in white coats at the Cadbury Institute happy. Then we will always have our delicious, creamy chocolate.

The history of chocolate starts with the cocoa tree which is native to the forests of South and Central America and grows to approximately 20 foot high.

This quite delicate tree starts to produce fruit in its 4th to 5th year. Large red or yellow pods encase a white pulp that hides its treasure of anywhere between 20 to 50 cocoa beans.

The cocoa bean was cultivated for centuries by the Maya Indians, the Mexican Aztecs and the Incas of Peru where they had ceremonial significance and were associated with the festivities of births and marriages. They were often used as money or a tribute at these events. In some areas only those of the highest ranking could enjoy the wonderful drink boiling these beans could produce.

When the Spanish conquered Mexico in 1519 they were so taken with this chocolaty drink (although they did add sugar to sweeten the taste) they introduced the trees to Trinidad where they closely guarded their secret s of cultivation and preparation. It wasn’t long however before the trees spread to the West India Islands and The Philippines’. The Dutch are believed to have introduced them into Indonesia, Sri Lanka and the Gull fog Guinea, South America however remained the chief exporter and producer until 1891.

In the Seventeenth century the drink was introduced to the noblemen and women of the courts of Spain, Italy, Germany, France and England. Chocolate still remained an expensive luxury even though the secret to its preparation was no longer a secret. When the first chocolate house was opened in London in 1657, the cost of a pound of chocolate was more than 6 months wages putting it way out of the price bracket of your average 17th century Londoner and making it only available to the very wealthy. This was due to the heavy import duty imposed on cocoa beans.

Both drinking and eating chocolate are relatively new inventions that were developed during the 19th century. The chocolate of today was not produced until a Dutchman discovered how to press the cocoa butter out of the beans.

The pressed beans could then produce a much less fatty drinking chocolate that was much more palatable than the rich buttery drink the Aztecs had made centuries earlier. The cocoa butter could then be used to make eating chocolate. In 1847 these techniques were perfected by J.S. Fry and the delicious bit of heaven that we know today as chocolate went on sale.

Now while the history of chocolate is all very interesting, does it really matter to those of us who just want to gorge ourselves on the sweet creamy taste, how it got here. Or just that it did. The weird thing about history is that it changes all the time and while most things get better and progress naturally forward, Why is there always someone that wants’ to screw with a good thing. Something weird is happening to chocolate, it’s progressing and getting politically correct, it’s getting better for us while losing its delicious taste.

Chocolate doesn’t have a hard job to do, it doesn’t have to fund the cure for cancer or date Britney Spears it just has to tantalize our taste buds and make us smile as we swallow.

Chocolate lovers all over the world it’s time to pick up your chocolate molds get out of your chocolate fountain and put down your chocolate cake (only for a minute you can pick it up again as soon as we’ve made our point,) and tell the chocolate makers NO! We don’t want anymore inferior chocolate; we don’t want the no-name, no frills, sugar-free, low calorie, low fat, carob chocolate.

We want our Cadbury’s, Mars, Lindts, Hershey’s and all those other fine quality chocolates tasting as rich, creamy and delicious as they should. After all History teaches us to learn by our mistakes and you can’t improve on perfection!

In Great Britain, Cadbury means chocolate, just as Hershey means chocolate to Americans. Cadbury’s products are sold throughout the world however and they have a reputation for quality. Cadbury’s chocolate empire began with founder John Cadbury when he sold tea, coffee and chocolate in the UK and to the colonies in India and Pakistan. The company went from strength to strength and merged with the beverage company, Schweppes in 1969.

Today, Cadbury Schweppes employs 59,000 people and has its main factory at Bournville in Birmingham, England. They are the only company of its size to produce organic, Fairtrade products due to its take over of Green & Blacks. Cadbury’s chocolate is sold in the United States under the Cadbury name but is actually made by the Hershey Company.

The product range is very wide and keeps in touch with modern tastes and lifestyles. The traditional staples that people have grown up with are the mainstay of the business. There are ten varieties of Dairy Milk chocolate bars, including Fruit and Nut and Wholenut and the plain chocolate bars have taken their name from the Bournville factory. Caramilk contains caramel and the famous Cadbury Crème Eggs have a delicious center. Other popular Cadbury’s chocolate products include the Flake bar, the Picnic bar with nuts and the Fudge bar.

Chocolate comes in many forms and there are Chocolate Mini Rolls, Curleywurleys, Chocolate Fingers and Chocolate Shortcake Biscuits. Milk Tray is a box of assorted chocolates and is a popular gift on Mothers Day and Valentines Day. Drinking chocolate is popular too and there is Cadbury’s Cocoa and Hot Chocolate and Mocha. Cadbury’s Highlights is a range of drinking chocolate with different flavors, including mint, fudge, café latte, orange, espresso, toffee and dark chocolate.

Cadbury World is the visitor center at Bournville and is a popular UK tourist attraction for families. Visitors can go on a tour of the factory and sample taste the products. There is a lot to learn about chocolate production in general and the history of Cadbury’s chocolate in particular at the museum. Young children can go on a magical car ride and there is a play area, restaurant, shops and a picnic area.

The company is part of British culture and instills brand loyalty, far greater than any other chocolate provider. The products are not overly advertised because they have such a high profile by virtue of the company name.