It is hard to believe that Thanksgiving is almost here already!  That being said — I am cooking my first Thanksgiving dinner this year, so I am all about finding all the help I can get.  While looking for some ideas and recipes, I can across Better Homes and Gardens and found that they have a lot of helpful information.  They have an excellent tasty recipe section that has cranberry sauces, holiday salads, spice-rubbed turkey, turkey stuffings, and even a wine guide just to name a few.  They also have a lot of crafts and decorating ideas. You can make the Wheat Centerpiece, Thanksgiving Crafts for Kids, Thanksgiving Day Cards, Tic-Tac-Toe, and the Wild Turkey.  We can’t forget the Turkey Roasting Guide which is what I really need.  Best of all, its free!  The roasting guide helps you figure out defrosting and cooking instructions for your turkey, as well as chicken, beef, pork, and other large cuts of meat. You can even select the time you want to serve your meal and get a personalized cooking schedule.

If you are looking for some great ideas for Thanksgiving, make sure you check out Better Homes and Gardens.  I know I am glad I did!

You know you are about to eat some good chocolate when you see the following warnings:

• This chocolate has plenty of texture. It is not slippery smooth like processed chocolate.
• This chocolate is full of complex flavors that explode in your mouth. The flavor profile has not been muted by a commercial process.
• This chocolate has a natural look, of course. It is not shiny.
• Sorry, but our experience is that after indulging in some of our chocolates, you might never be able to fully enjoy a traditional candy bar again.

What chocolate am I talking about? IgnaFire Chocolates are some of the best chocolate you will ever eat.  If you are craving chocolate, one piece of this will solve your craving, because it is that good.  IgnaFire chocolates are made straight from the cacao bean.  There is no commercial processing and no added cacao butter.  They don’t use the extensive heating and industrial processing that a lot of other chocolate placs do.  This keeps all the healthful flavanols and antioxidants that occur naturally in the bean along with all its natural flavor.  I am not kidding when I say one on these pieces of chocolate will curve any sugar you have.  Since I am lactose intolerant, my favorite part of this chocolate is that no dairy products are added!  This also works well for vegans too!  When you first bite into a piece of this chocolate, it does have a different texture.  However, the chocolate really does seem to melt in your mouth.

Besides having awesome chocolates, the company that makes IgnaFire Chocolates is concerned about the environment.  What better gift than one that is environmentally friendly to the planet?  The packaging is completely compostable.  The boxes the chocolate comes in are handmade paper with no glue.  This allows the boxes to be used over and over again.  The boxes also are compostable.  The printed information that is included with your chocolate is printed on dissolvable potato paper.  That literally just washes down your kitchen sink.  Lastly, the cellulose bag that the chocolate is in will compost in 45-60 days.  I have never seen a company so carrying about the environment.

Ignafire Chocolates will be some of the best chocolates you will ever eat.  I highly recommend picking up box for yourself (if not others) and enjoy!  Great chocolate, saving the environment, how can you go wrong?

For those of you who don’t know, I love chocolate.  I often like to post about chocolate.  I recently found out that chocolate is actually good for me.  Did you know . . . .

6 squares of dark organic chocolate taken at one time with a glass of red wine monthly helps with anti wrinkle assistance or

4 squares of organic milk chocolate 4-5 times a week helps with osteoporosis or

4 squares of dark organic chocolate helps with memory loss?

To quote the site:

The Chocolate Therapist also includes a brief history of chocolate, instructions on “how to eat chocolate properly,” chocolate recipes, an appendix with information on the glycemic index and weight loss, websites on where to find healthy chocolate, sugar-free chocolate, Gelt chocolate, international chocolates and much more. By the time you’ve finished reading, you’ll be happier, healthier and eating chocolate guilt free every day.

Now, this makes the perfect Christmas gift for any chocolate lover you know (including yourself), because not only do you get The Chocolate Therapist Book, but you get the chocolate too (and the chocolate is excellent)!  Who can resist that?  I love the next time someone asks why I am eating chocolate, I can show them the studies showing how good it is for me and hopefully whip out some of the chocolate trivia I have learned (like did you know that the higher quality of chocolate, the louder it snaps when you break it?).

The winner for the Blue Egg Photography Stationary Giveaway is Chrissy:

Congrats and I’ll be emailing you shortly for your information!

All events are in Chicago unless noted:

Latin Cuisine - Macy’s is celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with Latin and Spanish cuisine with area chefs.  It is free on Friday and Oct. 1 at 111 N State St.  Please call 312-781-4884 for more information.

Autumn Cooking - Jeff Muldrow is teaching an autumn cooking class. $65.  Friday at 6:30 pm at Va Pensiero, 1566 Oak Ave, Evanston.  Please call 847-475-7779 for reservations and more information.

Kids Can Cook - Kids from 7 - 11 years old can learn to make dinner in a hands-on cooking class.  $40.  6-9 pm on Friday at Sunset Foods, 835 S Waukegan Rd., Lake Forest.  Please call 312-752-2206 to register.

Sweet Treats - Learn to cook pies and tarts with Joy Shields.  $40.  7 pm Tuesday night at Beverly’s Pantry, 1907 W 103rd St.  Please call 773-238-8550 to register.

European Adventures - Dominick Kwentus is teaching a 4 week course that cover Italian, Spanish, French, and German cuisine.  $192 for nonresidents and $160 for residents.  This will be held Oct. 1 - 22 at 6:30 pm at The Depot, 401 Thatcher Ave., River Forest Park District.  Please call 708-366-6660 for more information.

Mastering risotto - Daniel Tucker shows you how to make the perfect risotto.  $10.  Oct. 2 at 6 pm at Room 21, 2110 S. Wabash Ave.  Please call 312-328-1198 to register.

Teaching organics - The Organic School Project is hosting a benefit and silect auction supporting its outreach services.  $50.  Oct. 2 at 6 pm at The Golden Triangle, 330 N Clark St.  Please call 312-924-0195 for tickets and more information.

Pizza - Learn to make artisan pizza dough with Jonathon Fox.  $30.  Oct 4th at 11 am at 59 W. Grand Ave.  Please call 312-329-0400 to register.

Halloween Fun - Susan Maddox is teachinga hands on Halloween and Spooky Treats Class for ages 8 and older.  $45.  Oct. 5 from 10 am - 1 am at Le Titi de Paris, 1015 W Dundee Rd., Arlington Heights.  Please call 847-506-0222 to register.