Rachel Dunn Chocolates- Concord, CA

How can you not like a chocolate factory that Oprah recommends?  I found out about Rachel Dunn chocolates because of the pumpkin bread that was sold at the Clayton Valley pumpkin patch this past fall.  It was yummy and delicious!  There is a factory in Concord with a retail store, open Monday through Saturday.  The place can even be rented out for private tours and chocolate making!

Resources:

Rachel Dunn Chocolates
1021 Detroit Avenue
Concord, CA  94518
(925) 798-8050
www.racheldunnchocolates.com

birthday parties/private tours-(925) 798-4321

Factory Retail Store- 10:00AM-5:30PM  Monday through Saturday

The Buddha explains true love.....

I remember in high school when I was a senior in an English class with Ms. Wilson, I had to select a topic to do a report on, I wanted to write about love, but my teacher said I could only do Platonic Love.  When I really started doing at scholarly and religious writings about platonic love it was fascinating!

My friend had told me that when she had read the book, Buddha Love, it helped to change her definition of what what love should look like.  Today, as I was looking for more on the topic, I found a blog about a conversation between Buddha and King Pasenadi from a book, "Old Path, White Clouds."

Here is an excerpt, but the whole passage is on the blog below, "Because the nature of such love depends on the concepts of 'me' and 'mine,' it remains entangled in attachment and discrimination....."

Resources:

The Buddha explains true love
see blog below for full excerpt:

thebuddhistblog.blogspot.com/2006/01/buddha-explains-true-love.html

Favorite relationship books

My favorite relationship books are the following:

Buddha Love

Dancing with Anger

Dancing with Fear

Men are From Mars, Women Are From Venus

These books have all been recommended from friends and have heard about all of them through friends!

Don't even think of changing him or her!

A friend told me about the acronym, DEAR, which translates to "Don't even think of  changing him/her!"  I firmly believe that when people change it is because the person wants and is personally ready to do so!  A partner cannot convince or make someone change.  This is one of the biggest relationship mistakes I see among my friends who are in relationships.  I think everyone intrinsically wants to be loved unconditionally, rather than being told they'll be loved if.... and when......

cooking sumptuous Surf and Turf

Valentine's day is over, but it not too late to cook your loved ones a delicious meal.  I love the meat and fish selection at Whole Foods market!  There are a few places I'll buy meat, and Whole Foods is one of them.

www.wholefoodsmarket.com/blog/sumptuous-surf-and-turf

Community Rumba, Berkeley, CA

Every other Sunday there is a community jam session at La Pena Cultural Center in Berkeley.  The jam session welcomes drummers, singers, and dancers who perform rumba.  This event is free.

Resources:

Community Rumba
3:30-6:00PM
Every other Sunday
La  Pena Cultural Center
3105 Shattuck Avenue
Berkeley,CA
(510) 849-2568
LaPena.org

Hot Chocolate Bar- Two types, plus garnishes

What's better on a cold, winter evening then hot chocolate, especially if you are in the mountains with snow falling outside.

Here are two types of hot chocolate, classic plus winter white:

Classic Hot Chocolate-

1 pound of bittersweet chocolate, chopped
1 cup of heavy cream
1 cup of sugar
2 teaspoons of vanilla extract

Winter-White Hot Chocolate

1 pound of white chocolate, chopped
1 cup of heavy cream
2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
sugar, to taste

For either variation (each makes 8 servings,) bring 7 cups of milk to a simmer in a small pan over low heat, then whisk in the ingredients.

Garnish Station-  Drinks can be customized with ginger candies, crushed Butterfingers, coconut flakes, mini marshmallows, sliced Kit Kats, and Caramel Syrup.  Chocolate -dipped biscuit sticks and peppermint sticks function as stirrers.  For a more adult addition, decanters of dark rum and vanilla vodka.