Celebrating chocolate in the best possible ways
\u00a9 iStock\/5second<\/p><\/div>\n

Savoring the Cultural Traditions of Chocolate<\/h2>\n

All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn\u2019t hurt.
\n<\/em>\u2014Charles M. Schultz<\/p>\n

Have you ever had a craving for chocolate-covered bacon? How about chocolate jalape\u00f1os? Could you resist a chocolate-covered mushroom?<\/p>\n

Despite the challenges of the year 2020, we should rightfully honor any national day that delivers pure joy. One of those days that rises to the top of the bliss list is National Chocolate-Covered Anything Day (December 16). So, let\u2019s celebrate its cultural traditions.<\/p>\n

Someone who knows how to celebrate chocolate
\u00a9 Meredith Mullins<\/p><\/div>\n

Just how this accolade came about, no one really knows. And I\u2019d venture to say, no one really cares about the origins when the tribute involves such sweet reward for both chocoholics and chocolatiers.<\/p>\n

Chocolate artisans take full advantage of the holiday spirit
(in this case, a chocolate elf workshop by Paris master Patrick Roger)
\u00a9 Meredith Mullins<\/p><\/div>\n

Every Chocolate Has Its Day<\/h4>\n

Life is good when there\u2019s a day when you can dip anything you want in chocolate and drizzle or cover familiar and unconventional edibles with the \u201cfood of the gods\u201d (which is how chocolate has been known since its early days in Olmec\/Aztec\/Mayan civilizations when it appeared as a spicy drink).<\/p>\n

From Mayan spicy cocoa to the souped up American version of today
Photo courtesy of PxHere<\/p><\/div>\n

There are other national chocolate days that try to compete\u2014at least one every month. For example:<\/p>\n

\n
• Chocolate-Covered Cherries Day (January 3)<\/li>\n
• Chocolate Souffl\u00e9 Day (February 28)<\/li>\n
• Chocolate-Covered Raisins Day (March24)<\/li>\n
• Chocolate-Covered Cashews Day (April 21)<\/li>\n
• Chocolate Mousse Day (May 2)<\/li>\n
• Chocolate Pudding Day (June 26)<\/li>\n
• Milk Chocolate Day (July 28)<\/li>\n
• Chocolate Chip Cookie Day (August 4)<\/li>\n
• Chocolate Milkshake Day (September 12)<\/li>\n
• Chocolate Cupcake Day (October 18)<\/li>\n
• Bittersweet Chocolate with Almonds Day (November 7)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

  It\u2019s fitting to give each of those days justifiable attention, but only the egalitarian Chocolate-Covered Anything Day embraces diversity and welcomes experimental pairings of all kinds. There are no rules. You have a blank canvas. Chocolate anarchy.<\/p>\n

  

  There are no rules about chocolate on chocolate.
  Photo courtesy of PxHere<\/p><\/div>\n

  Dipping Favorites<\/h4>\n

  The most common \u201canythings\u201d to be dipped in chocolate are favorites, such as ice cream, donuts, and things that are already chocolate, like brownies or the enigmatic morsels in the traditional chocolate box where speculative theory and intuition about what is hidden inside often lead us astray. (How do you put the dreaded toffee back after you\u2019ve taken a bite?)<\/p>\n

  As Forrest Gump learned . . .<\/p>\n

  Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you\u2019re going to get.<\/em><\/p>\n

  

  Life’s eternal mystery\u2014what lies within
  Photo courtesy of PxHere<\/p><\/div>\n

  Gaining favor at reception chocolate fountains and chocolate fondue parties is the fruit world. Just about every fruit works well with a little chocolate coating\u2014from everyday apples, oranges, and bananas to exotic kiwi, mangos, and watermelon.<\/p>\n

  

  Chocolate fondue with fruit\u2014a healthy trend
  \u00a9 iStock\/margoullatphotos<\/p><\/div>\n

  Some food historians say that chocolate covered cherries were the first fruit to be enrobed in chocolate. This innovation arrived in the 1700s, when the French covered cherries with chocolate and kirsch (cherry brandy).<\/p>\n

  

  Sweet chocolate-covered cherries, with a bit of cordial as an added bonus
  Photo courtesy of PxHere<\/p><\/div>\n

  Chocolate lore gives a Chicago woman credit for the first chocolate dipped strawberries\u2014in the 1960s. The two main ingredients were imagined aphrodisiacs, so it\u2019s no wonder they became popular right away (and remain so today).<\/p>\n

  

  When in doubt, try chocolate-covered watermelon.
  \u00a9 Meredith Mullins<\/p><\/div>\n

  Opposites Attract<\/h4>\n

  As in human nature, odd pairings often make the most interesting experiments. Partnering sweet chocolate with salty and crunchy friends works well in taste and texture.<\/p>\n

  Try potato chips, pretzels, biscotti, French fries, peanut brittle, coffee beans, and pickles with a coat of chocolate. Nuts are a no brainer. They are perfect as a chocolate-coated treat.<\/p>\n

  

  Partnering sweet and salty can be a successful friendship.
  Photo courtesy of PxHere<\/p><\/div>\n

  As part of the creative culinary chocolate path, rubbing chocolate on steak or creating a chocolate wine sauce for beef is surprisingly good.<\/p>\n

  Mexican cultures have always used chocolate in their cooking, for example in the delicious mol\u00e9 sauce that combines chilies and chocolate. And don’t forget your daily servings of vegetables.<\/p>\n

  

  Sampling all food groups in chocolate-covered experiments
  \u00a9 Meredith Mullins<\/p><\/div>\n

  Although we let National Chocolate Covered Insects Day (October 14) slip by without much fanfare, we can add crunchy ants, scorpions, and crickets to the mix, since they clearly fall into the category of \u201canything.\u201d<\/p>\n

  

  These scorpions are just begging to be dipped in chocolate.
  Photo courtesy of PxHere<\/p><\/div>\n

  If all this insect talk has made you hungry, you can order your own chocolate covered insects from several online suppliers. My favorite is Educational Innovations<\/a>\u00a0(a teacher supply site) that offers edible, farm-raised, chocolate-covered insects to give brave students (and you!) a taste of another world.<\/p>\n

  

  A tasty spread of farm-raised (edible) insects
  Photo courtesy of Educational Innovations<\/p><\/div>\n

  International Flare<\/h4>\n

  While the idea of \u201cnational days\u201d is associated with U.S. culture, that doesn\u2019t stop other countries from experimenting with chocolate coverings\u2014from chocolate-covered edamame and chow mein noodles to a range of Kit Kat chocolate bar flavors in Japan, including adzuki (red bean), hojicha (green tea), and roasted corn.<\/p>\n

  

  Start National Chocolate-Covered Anything Day with a breakfast drizzled with chocolate.
  Photo courtesy of PxHere<\/p><\/div>\n

  Celebrating the Day<\/h4>\n

  Chocolate is not only versatile, but can provide health benefits. It can introduce manganese, copper, and iron into your nutrition regimen and, some experts say, can relieve stress and supply antioxidants.<\/p>\n

  So, in the spirit of the holiday season and for chocolate lovers everywhere, why not celebrate National Chocolate-Covered Anything Day in style.<\/p>\n

  

  In the spirit of the holidays . . .
  \u00a9 Meredith Mullins<\/p><\/div>\n

  Sit back with a chocolate rimmed margarita and decide what inventive creations you can smother in chocolate on this special day\u2014to pay tribute to old and new cultural traditions.<\/p>\n

  

  Even the chocolate carving is smiling.
  Photo courtesy of PxHere<\/p><\/div>\n

  Oh, I see.<\/strong> With a \u201cfood of the gods\u201d and a treasure that some say releases the same chemicals as happens when falling in love, what have you got to lose?<\/p>\n

  For ten fun chocolate facts, see the OIC chocolate story here.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

  Comment<\/a><\/i>\u00a0on this post below, or inspire insight with your own\u00a0OIC Moment\u00a0here<\/a>.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":null,"protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":39167,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[99,199,227],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-39140","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-heritage-culture","category-usa-mappoints","category-worldwide-mappoints"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.oh-i-see.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39140","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.oh-i-see.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.oh-i-see.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.oh-i-see.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.oh-i-see.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=39140"}],"version-history":[{"count":35,"href":"https:\/\/www.oh-i-see.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39140\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":39212,"href":"https:\/\/www.oh-i-see.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39140\/revisions\/39212"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.oh-i-see.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/39167"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.oh-i-see.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=39140"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.oh-i-see.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=39140"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.oh-i-see.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=39140"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}