Italian sausage is usually flavored with garlic and fennel seed.  There are two kinds available:  hot Italian sausage and sweet Italian sausage.  Hot Italian sausage contain hot red peppers.  Sweet Italian sausage leaves them out.

Have you ever really experience chocolate?  Do you know anyone who has?  That is why chocolate makes such a great gift come holidays, birthdays, etc.  Experience: Chocolate has come up with some great ways for you to give chocolate as a gift to other or even to yourself (I have to admit I like that last one).  They have something called Tasting Experiences.  What they do is you get a variety of gourmet chocolate tasting squares.  The collections consider the origin of the cocoa beans, cocoa content and manufacturing process and are designed to satisfy the desire of an experienced gourmet or pique the interest of a casual taster.  Here are a few you can try out:

Chocolate for the Vine™ – Our tasters’ pairing guide will help you marry these fine chocolates with your favorite wine.

Sweet Serenity™ – Milk chocolate from around the world with a focus on taste and smoothness.

Pure Rapture™ – Varietal, single-origin or estate-grown chocolate from the world’s foremost growing regions.

Euphoric Indulgence™ – Featuring some of the world’s best semi-sweet and bittersweet dark chocolate bars.

Now, if you live in the Boston MA area, you can even have your own Chocolate Tasting!  At these shows, you will learn how to taste the difference between three varieties of cocoa beans.

They even have gift baskets!  This is one gift basket any chocolate lover would like. These baskets include your choice of our Sweet Serenity™ milk chocolate Tasting Experience™ box, Euphoric Indulgence™ dark chocolate Tasting Experience™ box, or Chocolate for the Vine™ Tasting Experience™ box, plus chocolate covered cocoa nibs, Mexican drinking chocolate, and other goodies.

The prices for the chocolate collections start at $24.99 and vary according to the collection. The gift basket is on sale for $49.95.  I have been lucky enough to try out four of the flavors of chocolate that they have:  neuhaus, Valrhona Jivara, Michel Cluizel Chocolatier Paris, and Amedei Tuscany Toscano Brown.  This is some of the best chocolate you will have.  However, my favorite has to be the neuhaus.  It is milk chocolate that just melts in your mouth.  It has a smooth taste with my aftertaste.  Milk chocolate has and always will be my first love.

If you are needed a Christmas gift for a chocolate lover, definitely check out Experience: Chocolate.  Its is your one stop shop for some the of the chocolate in the world!

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.

Here are this week’s four questions. This week they’re about candy.  If you want to join Val’s Meme, check it out here.

#1. Candy. Do you prefer sweet or sour candy? Sweet

#2. Gum. Love it? Hate it? What kind is your favorite? Love it.  Anything that tastes like bubble gum, I like.

#3. What is your favorite candy? Its a tie between M&Ms and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups.

#4. Share a recipe for anything that you can include a piece of candy in.

Mini Pizza Cookies

1 20 oz tube of refrigerated sugar cookie dough
2 cups (16 oz) prepared pink frosting
M&Ms Chocolate Mini baking Bits
Variety of additional toppings such as shredded coconut, granola, raisins, candy, nuts, small pretzels, snack mixes, sunflower seeds, popped corn, and mini marshmellows

Preheat over to 350 degrees. Lightly grease cookie sheets and set aside.

Divide dough into 8 equal portions. On a lightly floured surface, roll each portion of dough into 1/4 inch thick circle. Place about 2 inches apart on prepared cookie sheets. Bake 10 - 13 minutes or until golden brown on edges. Cool completely on wire racks.

Spread top of each pizza with frosting. Sprinkle with M&M’s Chocolate Mini baking Bits and 2 or 3 of the suggested toppings.

This is a great easy to make recipe for kids too! They truly enjoy being able to decorate their own “pizza”