My Chocolate Addiction

By Rachel

"Other things are just food. But chocolate's chocolate." - Patrick Skene Catling

True confession: I'm addicted to chocolate. Yep. Had to go out and buy two more bags of candy to replace what I snuck out of my kids' stockings. I tried to quit cold-turkey but had withdrawals and ended up eating the cookies we baked for Santa. Guess I will be on the Naughty list next year. I just can't seem to get enough!

The high from chocolate is truly a spiritual experience - cacao means "food of the gods," you know. That's why Eden's Tree of Knowledge was really a Chocolate Tree and not an Apple Tree. Think about it:

1. Apples are hardly a temptation. Chocolate.....NOW we're talkin' something worth sinning for!
2. Adam and Eve were naked - if you were naked with someone wouldn't you rather be using chocolate rather than an apple?
3. Chocolate improves skin. Eve had lots of skin showing; she wanted it to look good.
4. Chocolate is an aphrodisiac. The Garden seemed kinda' dullsville. Our woman wanted to liven things up.
5. Eve didn't have to worry about outgrowing her clothes.

Chocolate is women's food! All women's get-togethers should include some kind of chocolate. In honor of our passion for chocolate here is my favorite chocolate cake recipe:

Chocolate Addiction

1 box (about 18 oz.) Devil's food cake mix
1 package (3.5 oz.) instant chocolate pudding mix
1 - 1/2 cups of semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/4 cup and 2 tablespoons of butter
2 tablespoons light corn syrup
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)

Mix the Devil's food cake mix (should be called, Goddess food cake mix) and small box of instant chocolate pudding; prepare and bake according to the cake mix directions. I prefer to bake my cake in a bundt pan but you can use the pan of your choice. Once the cake has cooled, combine the chocolate chips, corn syrup and butter in a double broiler and cook over medium-low heat. Stir until the chocolate chips are melted and the mixture is smooth (like how your legs used to feel before cellulite); then add the vanilla. Spread the glaze over the top of the cake and sprinkle with chopped pecans or walnuts if desired. Hide from children. Try to wait until your girlfriends arrive before digging in.

Tip: Spray the measuring spoon with non-stick spray before measuring the corn syrup and it won't stick to your spoon.