Absolutely Chocolate: Book Review &
2 Year Blogaversary Giveaway

Absolutely Chocolate: Irresistible Excuses To Indulge
From The Authors Of Fine Cooking

Today, dear friends, you are in for a treat. We have a new guest reviewer in our midst. It isn’t Legend. It isn’t Tsunami. It’s Prince Charming – a self-proclaimed chocaholic whose passion for chocolate is second to none!

Prince Charming received this honor because, from the moment he laid eyes on the cookbook, he claimed it for his own. He not only coveted it – he fast fingered it too! The book mysteriously disappeared from my desk shortly after its arrival in my home – resurfacing in my presence only as-needed. Whenever my royal troops tried to retrieve the book – his armies quickly countered. Finally, the Paper Princess issued an edict: Return It or Review It! Prince Charming recognized creme de la creme when he saw it, so chose the latter – thus, a new blogger and book reviewer is born!

So – enjoy the review. Enter the giveaway. Try the recipes and tips we’ll be sharing. And, support our sponsor, the fabulous The Taunton Press, by visiting their website and treating yourself, your family, and your friends to their fabulous books, DVDs, and magazines!

Absolutely Chocolate – Book Review

When I evaluate a cookbook, I have very simple philosophy.  I hope to find one or two recipes I like and possibly some ideas that I can incorporate into my own creations.

I set my standards high. Many books miss the mark. When it comes to Absolutely Chocolate – Irresistible Excuses To Indulge, however, the editors of Fine Cooking have absolutely exceeded my expectations!

When the book arrived, the first thing I did was to scan the recipes. At first, I was so overwhelmed by the sumptuous photography and the incredible selection of chocolate choices, I decided to go slow. I went back to the beginning and read the Introduction and the Tips scattered throughout the book. I am so glad I did! Reading these portions of the book is akin to taking a crash course in the art of chocolate. It helped me to understand some of the errors I have made in the past and gave me the confidence to tackle more challenging recipes in the future.

After reading the Introduction and the Tips, I was eager to try my first recipe. I sweet-talked The Paper Princess into helping me bake:

• Brown Butter Banana Cake with Chocolate Chips (recipe forthcoming)

The recipe was delicious! The instructions were clear and easy to follow. The cake was unbelievably moist, with just the right balance between the banana and chocolate flavors. I wasn’t the only one who was left pining for more when the cake was done. My wife liked it so much, we made it twice!

Chocolate Chip Butter Pound Cake
One of 125 Amazing Recipes in Absolutely Chocolate

Being somewhat skeptical about our good fortune right out of the gate, The Paper Princess and I tested two more recipes:

• Chocolate Chip Butter Pound Cake
• Chocolate Chip Muffins

Each creation came out extremely well, producing delectable treats with very good flavors and textures. I should note that most of the recipes don’t call for chocolate chips – most use chocolate – but I chose these three recipes because I had an abundance of chocolate chips on hand.

Based on my experience, I cannot say enough good things about Absolutely Chocolate! I have yet to find a recipe that has not tasted delicious or turned out well. With over 125 amazing recipes to try, the only decision is what to make next!

Overall Rating
Five Stars Out Of Five Stars

2 Year Blogaversary Giveaway

It’s hard to believe, but on October 4^th, Create With Joy will be two years old! To celebrate, I would like to offer you the chance to win your very own copy of Absolute Chocolate! This contest is open to ALL of my followers – US and International, old and new. Thank you for your support – you are the BEST!

Giveaway Rules

To enter this giveaway, please leave a SEPARATE COMMENT with your NAME and CONTACT INFORMATION for each entry that you complete. I will notify the winner by E-MAIL, so make sure to include this information in your entries!

1. Required: Follow Create With Joy on GFC, Twitter, and/or by E-Mail Subscription. You will receive 1 entry for each method you choose. Please leave your GFC Name, Twitter ID, and/or E-Mail Subscription Address in your entry for verification purposes.

2. Optional: Share this giveaway with your friends! You can do this by sharing it on your blog – on Facebook – or on your favorite Giveaway Links. You will receive 1 entry for each place you share. Be sure to include a verifiable link with each entry.

3. Optional: Share this giveaway on Twitter using the tweet below! You can tweet up to three times a day. You will receive 1 entry per verified tweet.

Please Copy & Paste The Following Tweet For Your Twitter Entries

#Win Absolutely Chocolate via  @createwithjoy1 #Recipes #Chocolate #Parties #Gifts #Contests #Cookbooks

The Fine Print

This giveaway will close on October 8, 2011. The winner will be chosen using a Random Number Generator. Once I have verified that the winner has complied with the contest requirements, I will contact them via e-mail and announce the winner on the blog. I will then forward their contact information to the publicist at The Taunton Press, who is responsible for mailing and distributing the prize.

** BEST OF LUCK TO YOU ALL **

Disclosure Of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book from The Taunton Press for review purposes. I was not monetarily compensated for this review, and was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely those of the reviewer.