tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64070773317124760022024-03-13T15:39:15.934-07:00Van Otis ChocolatesThe Van Otis Blog includes ramblings by various authors about anything to do with chocolate.Van Otis Chocolateshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13776268381300281749noreply@blogger.comBlogger75125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6407077331712476002.post-76232106149742110992014-03-21T12:20:00.001-07:002014-03-21T12:20:22.799-07:00Celebrate Easter with Van Otis
Once again, New England weather may wreak havoc on an impending
holiday. Parkas and knit caps will replace dresses and bonnets. Colorful eggs
will be hidden in dirt-encrusted snow banks, and the plastic Easter grass
lining our baskets may be the only green we’ll see for months.
Van Otis always offers ways
to brighten the holidays with gifting and celebration solutions. On Saturday,
March Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6407077331712476002.post-12865555119294154472014-02-07T09:25:00.002-08:002014-02-07T09:25:54.953-08:00Valentine's Day
It’s almost Valentine’s Day,
a day of candy hearts, sappy greeting cards, and sweet expressions of love. This
holiday comes a mere 44 days after you shouted from the rooftops that, from now
on, you’ll only eat gritty protein bars and kale cooked 31 different ways.
Some would claim the holiday
originated to honor a saint, who was persecuted for promoting love. I believe that some guy couldn't Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6407077331712476002.post-17754390885788366692013-12-02T15:03:00.001-08:002013-12-02T15:03:10.190-08:00MAKE YOUR OWN CANDY CANE
Van Otis Chocolates is opening its doors on
Saturday, December 7th, from 10am to 2pm, for a candy cane demonstration at 341 Elm Street Manchester,
NH.
Customers will be able to watch our experienced candy
makers handcraft candy canes the old fashion way. At the end of the
demonstration, you will be handed a free sample ready to be given your final
touch.
The event is suitable for candy Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6407077331712476002.post-79384419031315097122013-11-25T07:36:00.000-08:002013-11-25T07:40:30.120-08:00
PHYLLIS
Let’s talk turkey.
This year,
Thanksgiving is three days before the month of December. There are 26 days
between Thanksgiving and Christmas, allowing four weekends to shop, decorate,
mail cards, hang lights, sing a carol, wrap, tag, bake, celebrate, reflect, and
generally prepare for Christmas.
This presents
the dilemma of holiday decorating. Do you forgo the cornucopia and Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6407077331712476002.post-38572324847900001492013-03-31T18:15:00.000-07:002013-03-31T18:15:39.867-07:00Easter
Several
years ago, I admitted to the delinquent nature of our household’s mystical
creatures in a blog titled Hop Out of Bed – It’s Easter! You would think that a public admission would have sparked improvement. Alas, it has not.
Part of the difficulty is that some holidays have incredibly erratic schedules. The Easter bunny
gets super confused every spring. He can't even count on Easter Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6407077331712476002.post-35325817680786584062013-03-11T09:22:00.002-07:002013-03-11T09:22:49.363-07:00Time Change
It’s that
time of year again – set your clocks ahead by one hour or “spring ahead”, which
is a cheerful way of saying you just lost an hour of time.
Twice a
year I roam about my house thinking, why
does a chronically late family have so many clocks?
Our lack of
punctuality could be blamed on the inconsistent settings. It’s not uncommon to
see digital displays of 10:08, 10:12, and 10:Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6407077331712476002.post-10319181802439963962013-01-22T14:46:00.001-08:002013-01-22T14:46:09.977-08:00Curses, Foiled Again
Valentine’s Day is right
around the corner. You know how I know? There are shiny pink and red displays
everywhere. Heart-shaped candies compete for my attention in the grocery
aisles, convenience store racks, and at my favorite craft supply store -
because nothing says “I love you” like grabbing candy at the checkout counter
while purchasing glue sticks.
If your love is not fully Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6407077331712476002.post-17804650829532686802012-12-13T07:08:00.000-08:002012-12-13T07:08:21.393-08:00Holiday Cards
I have done fairly well with my holiday shopping. I made a list, purchased
early and online, and wrapped as I bought. I can proudly (and obnoxiously) announce
that I’m nearly done. My remaining list consists of those hard-to-buy-for folks
with no corresponding gift ideas.
You know the type. When you ask for gift suggestions, they reply with
something like, “You don’t need to buy me a giftAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6407077331712476002.post-85545854855068822062012-12-03T07:57:00.000-08:002012-12-03T07:57:09.212-08:00Corporate Gifting
Several years ago, I wrote a blog about my job responsibility of employee
recognition. Along with this task, I was also responsible for finding the perfect
holiday gift to recognize our customers and thank them for our business
partnership.
I really enjoyed this part of my job but was surprised each year by the
difficulty of the task. I am a highly skilled shopper with YEARS of training –
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6407077331712476002.post-23658556510659640412012-11-05T08:05:00.002-08:002012-11-05T08:58:22.849-08:00Chew on This
My fraternal grandparents were very appreciative gift recipients,
although somewhat eccentric. Old and worn was for daily use; new and nice was
saved for a special occasion.
For years my grandfather wore slippers that were tattered, torn, and worn
through the soles. Of course many family members noticed this, so he received
new slippers nearly every Christmas. When my grandfather passed Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6407077331712476002.post-69490500859228455142012-11-05T06:05:00.000-08:002012-11-05T06:05:45.284-08:00First Aid
Let’s
review the contents of my first aid kit – bandages, antibiotic wipes, aspirin,
latex gloves, dark chocolate, and a lancet. One of these things is clearly NOT
like the others – the lancet. No one in their right mind wants me operating a
sharp, pointy tool during a crisis. No one.
The other
items have clear health benefits. While wearing latex gloves, you clean a cut
with antibiotic Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6407077331712476002.post-76216662665240962982012-10-29T06:50:00.000-07:002012-10-29T06:50:29.950-07:00Chocolat
One of my
favorite movies of all time is Chocolat.
If you haven’t seen it – DO! The acting, scenery, and storyline are fabulous.
It has multiple plotlines, some dealing with serious topics, but remains quirky
throughout. The authenticity of the little town and characters make you want to
move there. Of course, then you’d be living on a movie set.
I won’t
ruin the story for you if you haven’tAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6407077331712476002.post-74051777986132106412012-10-19T10:42:00.000-07:002012-10-19T10:42:12.725-07:00Let the Games Begin
The Olympics reminded me how important it is to train for any sport. Therefore, I started early and believe I’m prepared for fall sports season. I streamlined the time it takes me to maneuver a folding canvas chair in and out of its ridiculously compact carrying case. I can throw my voice to carry “Go Team” a fair distance. I’ve also worked my rotator cuffs so that I can swat mosquitoes inAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6407077331712476002.post-31071190379890455082012-08-07T08:20:00.000-07:002012-08-07T08:20:33.195-07:00Van Otis Cookies
Van Otis makes the BEST handcrafted
chocolates, and now they’re making cookies?!?
Nope. They're not. But you can.
I recently perused Van Otis’ retail shop in Manchester, New Hampshire
with a super friendly and helpful member of the VO staff. We were on a mission
to find a combination of ingredients that would take chocolate chip cookies to
the next level, and I think our first Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6407077331712476002.post-29863838485665654502012-07-10T08:46:00.003-07:002012-07-10T08:46:58.675-07:00Be a Winner
Every once in a while my husband and I talk about what we’d do with a major
lottery prize. And like most couples who do this, we don’t actually buy lottery
tickets. However, we do occasionally purchase raffle tickets to support a cause
and have been winners.
My husband once bought a single raffle ticket at a hunters’ banquet and was
the big winner of some fancy, schmancy gun. I Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6407077331712476002.post-42340181927635208852012-06-13T11:17:00.002-07:002012-06-13T11:17:39.459-07:00He's #1
I like that
I can buy my dad a Van Otis Chocolate Trout for Father’s Day and don’t have to
sit for six hours hoping to catch a
real one.
I love the
imagery of dad and daughter dipping a line while enjoying the serenity of a
pond, surrounded by the music of spring peepers. However, my need for immediate
gratification, fear of slimy things, and aversion to heat, humidity, and
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6407077331712476002.post-49624058590025391282012-06-05T08:19:00.002-07:002012-06-05T08:19:53.986-07:00Spummer?
This beautiful spring weather has been lovely but confusing. For example, this
morning when I barked a third get-out-of-bed warning, my daughter lifted an
eyelid and said, “We have to go to school?” She is very bright – academically.
The cause for confusion is that our weekends have been filled with
traditional summer activities. We’ve had so many BBQs that we’ll be craving a
Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6407077331712476002.post-21795887435643769722012-05-17T06:35:00.000-07:002012-05-17T06:35:01.813-07:00End of the World
December 2012 marks the conclusion of a b'ak'tun - a time period in the Mesoamerican Long Count calendar which was used in Central America prior
to the arrival of Europeans. Some interpretations suggest that the 2012
date marks the end of the world or a similar catastrophe.
Are you preparing for major devastation on December 21, 2012? If so, you may want to Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6407077331712476002.post-21104071333576115692012-05-10T09:25:00.002-07:002012-05-10T09:25:32.296-07:00Happy Mother-in-Law's Day
I’m fortunate to have a
wonderful mother, but this Mother’s Day blog is dedicated to my mother-in-law
(MIL). She deserves all the love, happiness, and yummy goodness available at
Van Otis Chocolates. VO Chocolate Covered Creams will be the perfect gift this
year!
My MIL is fabulous and best
of all, she’s funny. She’s rarely intentionally funny, but she can laugh at
herself along with the Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6407077331712476002.post-68961161070446707722012-04-25T11:16:00.000-07:002012-04-25T11:16:28.751-07:00Pomp and Circumstance
Spring is
often a time of celebrations. Whether you’re planning a graduation,
anniversary, or other gathering, impress your guests with the Van Otis EliteSwiss Fudge Chocolate Fountain by Sephra. If you live in the Manchester, NH
area, the Elite fountain is also available for rental. Call Van Otis at (800)
826-6847 for more information.
As I’ve
mentioned in previous blogs, (Chocolate Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6407077331712476002.post-19112997696936478392012-03-22T08:58:00.002-07:002012-04-04T06:27:14.254-07:00And Speaking of White Chocolate...Put this mix in several bowls and spread them around your next party setting. Be prepared to hear people exclaim that they can’t possibly like it because they don’t like white chocolate. Next they'll get mad at you because it's so addictive. It’s going to happen. I guarantee it. Someone might also give you an award for being the best party host on the planet. I won’t guarantee this, but it Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6407077331712476002.post-28654040447265209832012-03-22T08:14:00.002-07:002012-03-27T08:03:21.642-07:00Party in a BagEaster always helps me turn the corner from winter to spring. I’m willing to exchange snowflake for springtime decorations, including my retired Van Otis candy molds. Some people have connections to get courtside seats; I have connections to get old pieces of metal shaped like bunnies and chicks. I win. Every Easter, I try to outdo myself with new basket displays and unique content. After Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6407077331712476002.post-47440177093515079852012-03-22T06:31:00.004-07:002012-03-22T08:25:22.924-07:00MeteorologistsIf you live in New England, all you’ve done lately is talk about the weather. You mention it every day to at least seven people at work. Some people are even subjected to your morning AND afternoon reports. You post, tweet, text, and tout your observations, using lots of exclamation points for emphasis. Gorgeous day! Went for a walk – beautiful outside!! Just sang harmony with the robins to The Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6407077331712476002.post-57857188230041596722012-03-07T09:40:00.001-08:002012-03-08T08:45:03.074-08:00PB&JPeanut butter and jelly sandwiches are further proof of my assertion that salty and sweet should be represented during every dining experience. I tried using this logic on my kids when defending my love of chocolate ice cream with plain potato chips, but they still think I’m weird.I was unable to find solid evidence of the origin of the popular PB&J. It appeared in history during the 1904 Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6407077331712476002.post-68000645406539368032012-02-28T07:09:00.006-08:002012-02-29T08:18:57.283-08:00Mystery SolvedYou know that popular saying, “Which came first, the chocolate coating or creamy center?” Well, maybe it’s not as popular as, “Which came first, the chicken or the egg?” But it’s a mystery that YOU can solve!Go beyond Van Otis’ enticing display cases and step into a world where handmade confections are made. You can watch chocolates leave the enrobing line, as they’re coated with chocolate and Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com0