Some days you just know you should update your blog, but the heat and humidity fogs your brain and you just can't seem to get it done. Well today it is a beautiful 79 degree day with very low humidity and my brain seems to have come unfogged!!
The summer brought a lot of new things into my life including a new dog for my grandkids, a trip to Philly for the Chocolate Convention (how fun is that) and more and more team members for our DCD team.
We have discovered the joy of White Chocolate sipping chocolate, had a Chocolate Sea Salted Caramel Recipe place in the top 15 on Epicurous.com and met lots and lots of new people.
www.dovechocolatediscoveries.com/daytonchocolaters is our great website and will open up a whole new world of delicious Dove Chocolate Products but my favorites are by far the White Chocolate yummies.
Also discovered is the wonder of the Quarter Auction. This event is the "new bingo" in and around our area.
Here is how it works. A group of direct sales reps form a group, select a charity and rent a hall. Everyone in the group prepares a select number of "packages" of their products to be auctioned off. The public shows up, pays a few dollars to get in, another couple of dollars for a numbered paddle, and buys raffle tickets or door prize tickets (all this money goes to a selected charity). The "auction items" are all on display in the hall and tables are set up in long rows. When the auction starts the auctioneer displays the Package, gives a description and a retail value. Then states a "bid" of 1, 2, 3 or 4 Quarters. This is where the fun begins.....anyone who really wants the package throws their quarters in a bucket that is passed down the table (sounds like a bunch of slot machines) and raises their paddle in the air. The auctioneer then pulls a numbered chip out of the bucket and if you are lucky enough to have the number YOU WIN. YEAH!!!
When you get 200 "mostly women" in a big room with lots of their favorite products and quarters you just naturally have a great time. They laugh, applaud and even sometimes scream....It's me it's me it's me...... By the way if you didn't throw in your quarter snd they call your number....well...too bad..YOU LOSE
In most scenarios the rep for the products get the quarters from the buckets to offset their expenses. Hopefully the attendees will be so intrigued they will order or book a party from the reps and everyone has a great time.
I don't really know how far from the crazy midwest this even has traveled but it is a great evening, raises money for a charity, helps the reps get their info into many hands and is an all around great time.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Monday, March 1, 2010
It's been a long winter
I've been gone for a while and it is time to come out of the cocoon and catch up. We have been up to our ears in Dove Chocolate. The business is really starting to take off and we may even turn a profit this month. YEA. When you have a home-based direct sales business it can be a lot of work with little reward. Fortunately I found Dove Chocolate Discoveries, selling Chocolate in the Home Party environment and it has been a hoot. What can be more fun that taking chocolate to someones home, giving them Chocolate Martinis, Candy and Brownies and showing them how much better premium chocolate is over the every day run of the mill chocolate.
Last night the hostesses dog was so facinated by the process she sat at the Chocolatier's feet and stared at her the entire party. I know she just wanted her to drop chocolate but she never did. Jazzy never gave up however and by the end of the evening she was the hit of the party. You never know what will add a dimension to a sales pitch. The party turned out great and ended a Snowy Month of February into a success.
The night before one of the husband's at the party was the only one who knew exactly how to temper chocolate. He was really into the products and added another dimension to the party. We really love it when the guys show up. Did you know that men buy more chocolate each year than women. They just keep it quiet and you don't realize it is there. My Dad used to hide his chocolate under the mattress. Of course all of us kids knew where it was and always found it and ate it. I think back and believe it was a game he enjoyed playing with us, but at the time we thought we were really sneaky.
If anyone is looking for a great way to supplement their income, have fun and eat chocolate you need to contact me to find out about Dove's program. My email for the business is sweetrewards@daytonchocolatiers.com or check our the website at www.dove-chocolate-discoveries.com/daytonchocolatiers.
Enough of this prothetizing, let's move into spring and shake off this snowy winter and look for those first crocuses poking out of the ground.
Last night the hostesses dog was so facinated by the process she sat at the Chocolatier's feet and stared at her the entire party. I know she just wanted her to drop chocolate but she never did. Jazzy never gave up however and by the end of the evening she was the hit of the party. You never know what will add a dimension to a sales pitch. The party turned out great and ended a Snowy Month of February into a success.
The night before one of the husband's at the party was the only one who knew exactly how to temper chocolate. He was really into the products and added another dimension to the party. We really love it when the guys show up. Did you know that men buy more chocolate each year than women. They just keep it quiet and you don't realize it is there. My Dad used to hide his chocolate under the mattress. Of course all of us kids knew where it was and always found it and ate it. I think back and believe it was a game he enjoyed playing with us, but at the time we thought we were really sneaky.
If anyone is looking for a great way to supplement their income, have fun and eat chocolate you need to contact me to find out about Dove's program. My email for the business is sweetrewards@daytonchocolatiers.com or check our the website at www.dove-chocolate-discoveries.com/daytonchocolatiers.
Enough of this prothetizing, let's move into spring and shake off this snowy winter and look for those first crocuses poking out of the ground.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Super Opportunity
As you may know I am a Independent Chocolatier for Dove Chocolate Discoveries. What this means is I get to bring delicious chocolate into the homes of my hostess and feed all their guest bites of super chocolate delicacies.
In December Dove has announced a special for anyone who wants to become a Chocolatier in their own town, Just $79 gives you everything you need to jump into a really fun business that is also profitable.
If you are looking for a way to earn extra income or even become a full time Chocolatier. Contact me at sweetrewards@Daytonchocolatiers.com for more information. It doesn't matter where you live, everyone loves chocolate.
Jessie Thatcher
Independent Chocolatier
In December Dove has announced a special for anyone who wants to become a Chocolatier in their own town, Just $79 gives you everything you need to jump into a really fun business that is also profitable.
If you are looking for a way to earn extra income or even become a full time Chocolatier. Contact me at sweetrewards@Daytonchocolatiers.com for more information. It doesn't matter where you live, everyone loves chocolate.
Jessie Thatcher
Independent Chocolatier
Catching Up
It's been a long time since I posted to my blog. This has been a difficult time for us. My beloved Mom passed in November and shortly after I came down with the worst cold I have ever had, turned into bronchitis and lasted forever. I am finally getting back to normal (somewhat) and hopefully will be more diligent with my postings.
I did find a great recipe from Nigella using Chocolate in a most unusual way. Thought I would post it since it is so cold and rainy out for us and snowy for most of the country. Try it and let me know if you enjoy it.
Stay warm with Nigella’s chocolate chip chili
The celebrity chef offers her take on two staples of cold-weather cooking
Keep your guests happy — and coming back for seconds — with recipe from the TV chef’s newest cookbook, “Nigella Christmas.”
INGREDIENTS
• 10 (or 5 linked pairs) chorizo sausages (not the salami sort), approx 1 1/4 lbs.
• 3 1/4 lb boneless beef shank, cut into 3/4-inch cubes
• 3 onions (about 1 lb), peeled
• 3 cloves garlic, peeled
• 1 fresh long red chile, seeded
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• Seeds from 3 cardamom pods
• 2 tsps ground cumin
• 1 tsp ground coriander
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp dried pepper flakes
• 1/4 cup tomato paste
• 1/4 cup tomato ketchup
• 4 x 15-oz cans red kidney beans, drained
• 3 x 14-oz cans diced tomatoes
• 1/4 cup bittersweet chocolate chips *use Dove Single Origin Chocolate Chips for a better taste
• 1 cup water (swished out in one of the diced tomato cans)
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
2. Finely chop, or process the onion, garlic and chile.
3. Heat the oil in a large ovenproof pan (with a lid) or cast-iron or enameled Dutch oven and fry the onion, garlic and chile until soft, on low for about 10 minutes, then add the cardamom seeds, cumin, coriander, cinnamon and red pepper flakes.
4. Stir the oniony spiced mixture together and then add the chorizo, sliced into 1/4-inch coins, letting them ooze their paprika-orange oil.
5. Drop in the cubes of beef, turning them in the pan with the chorizo and onion mix, to brown the meat.
6. Stir in the tomato paste, ketchup, drained kidney beans and diced tomatoes. Add the water and bring the chili to a boil.
7. Once bubbling, sprinkle the chocolate chips over the chili and give it a good stir. Put on the lid and transfer to the oven.
7. Cook at this low heat for 3 hours. Once cooked it is best left overnight to improve the flavor.
I did find a great recipe from Nigella using Chocolate in a most unusual way. Thought I would post it since it is so cold and rainy out for us and snowy for most of the country. Try it and let me know if you enjoy it.
Stay warm with Nigella’s chocolate chip chili
The celebrity chef offers her take on two staples of cold-weather cooking
Keep your guests happy — and coming back for seconds — with recipe from the TV chef’s newest cookbook, “Nigella Christmas.”
INGREDIENTS
• 10 (or 5 linked pairs) chorizo sausages (not the salami sort), approx 1 1/4 lbs.
• 3 1/4 lb boneless beef shank, cut into 3/4-inch cubes
• 3 onions (about 1 lb), peeled
• 3 cloves garlic, peeled
• 1 fresh long red chile, seeded
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• Seeds from 3 cardamom pods
• 2 tsps ground cumin
• 1 tsp ground coriander
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 tsp dried pepper flakes
• 1/4 cup tomato paste
• 1/4 cup tomato ketchup
• 4 x 15-oz cans red kidney beans, drained
• 3 x 14-oz cans diced tomatoes
• 1/4 cup bittersweet chocolate chips *use Dove Single Origin Chocolate Chips for a better taste
• 1 cup water (swished out in one of the diced tomato cans)
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
2. Finely chop, or process the onion, garlic and chile.
3. Heat the oil in a large ovenproof pan (with a lid) or cast-iron or enameled Dutch oven and fry the onion, garlic and chile until soft, on low for about 10 minutes, then add the cardamom seeds, cumin, coriander, cinnamon and red pepper flakes.
4. Stir the oniony spiced mixture together and then add the chorizo, sliced into 1/4-inch coins, letting them ooze their paprika-orange oil.
5. Drop in the cubes of beef, turning them in the pan with the chorizo and onion mix, to brown the meat.
6. Stir in the tomato paste, ketchup, drained kidney beans and diced tomatoes. Add the water and bring the chili to a boil.
7. Once bubbling, sprinkle the chocolate chips over the chili and give it a good stir. Put on the lid and transfer to the oven.
7. Cook at this low heat for 3 hours. Once cooked it is best left overnight to improve the flavor.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Rainy and cold already
The old nursery rhyme comes to mind today...rain rain go away! It is not only wet but it is cold already. It is supposed to be Indian Summer???
I don't know what was going on in my back yard last night but my youngest puppy Roxy had a very sleepless night, consequently I also had a very sleepless night! She cried, whined, scratched at the door and when I let her out at 3 AM she wouldn't come back in so I was tramping out into the cold dark and wet backyard to chase her back in. Of course she has slept most of the day today, except for those times when I very unkindly woke her up and made her run around the house.
I am finding out a lot about people and chocolate lately. People have very definite ideas about which kind of chocolate they like and they are almost militant about it. Dark, Milk or White....does it matter, I think so. One guest at a party was so against Dark Chocolate that she wouldn't taste anything until I assured her it was not the despised DARK chocolate. Personally if it is chocolate I like it. I particularly like European chocolate that is not particularly sweet. My sister has an exchange student from Italy and when she returned home her parents sent my sister a tin of Italian Chocolate, they hated it and gave it all to me. It was unbelievably delicious. I have never been able to find the same chocolate, but our Dove Dark Chocolate is equally good so I just enjoy the different items we have that are wrapped in this delicious chocolate.
White Chocolate lovers are just as adamant, except they all claim they don't like the waxy feel left on their tongues when they eat it. Dove White Chocolate has no oil, wax or other ingredients and consequently has no after taste or coating of your tongue when you enjoy it. It just melts aways and leaves you with a very satisfied taste.
Which every kind of chocolate you enjoy, be sure to get the best you can afford, because there is nothing better than fine chocolate, just like there is nothing better than fine wine.
I don't know what was going on in my back yard last night but my youngest puppy Roxy had a very sleepless night, consequently I also had a very sleepless night! She cried, whined, scratched at the door and when I let her out at 3 AM she wouldn't come back in so I was tramping out into the cold dark and wet backyard to chase her back in. Of course she has slept most of the day today, except for those times when I very unkindly woke her up and made her run around the house.
I am finding out a lot about people and chocolate lately. People have very definite ideas about which kind of chocolate they like and they are almost militant about it. Dark, Milk or White....does it matter, I think so. One guest at a party was so against Dark Chocolate that she wouldn't taste anything until I assured her it was not the despised DARK chocolate. Personally if it is chocolate I like it. I particularly like European chocolate that is not particularly sweet. My sister has an exchange student from Italy and when she returned home her parents sent my sister a tin of Italian Chocolate, they hated it and gave it all to me. It was unbelievably delicious. I have never been able to find the same chocolate, but our Dove Dark Chocolate is equally good so I just enjoy the different items we have that are wrapped in this delicious chocolate.
White Chocolate lovers are just as adamant, except they all claim they don't like the waxy feel left on their tongues when they eat it. Dove White Chocolate has no oil, wax or other ingredients and consequently has no after taste or coating of your tongue when you enjoy it. It just melts aways and leaves you with a very satisfied taste.
Which every kind of chocolate you enjoy, be sure to get the best you can afford, because there is nothing better than fine chocolate, just like there is nothing better than fine wine.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Quarter Auction
Well we experienced our first "Quarter Auction" last night. What a trip that was. The local Direct Marketing chapter held a benefit for Breast Cancer Research and we decided to see what it was all about.
You arrive and pay your$2 admission fee, buy door prize tickets and then check out all the items being "auctioned" off. There are 4 sections of the evening and all of the vendors donated prizes. You are supposed to figure out which one you really want and get ready to "bid".
You don't really "bid" you just have to throw your quarters in a bucket to take a chance of getting the prize. If they call your number you get the prize, if they don't....OH WELL....more quarters to the event.
We were lucky enough to get two of the items...better than some who didn't get anything and worse than some whose number seemed to be called over and over.
$40.00 later we were hoping to win a door prize....NO LUCK. Including our dinner the evening was an eighty dollar night.
It was fun, but you learn a lot your first event. There are things I would do differently next time. We did get to pass out a few Dayton Chocolatier cards and maybe next time we will be better prepared to push our own business.
If you get the chance to go to a Quarter Auction, take a roll of quarters and have a good time.
You arrive and pay your$2 admission fee, buy door prize tickets and then check out all the items being "auctioned" off. There are 4 sections of the evening and all of the vendors donated prizes. You are supposed to figure out which one you really want and get ready to "bid".
You don't really "bid" you just have to throw your quarters in a bucket to take a chance of getting the prize. If they call your number you get the prize, if they don't....OH WELL....more quarters to the event.
We were lucky enough to get two of the items...better than some who didn't get anything and worse than some whose number seemed to be called over and over.
$40.00 later we were hoping to win a door prize....NO LUCK. Including our dinner the evening was an eighty dollar night.
It was fun, but you learn a lot your first event. There are things I would do differently next time. We did get to pass out a few Dayton Chocolatier cards and maybe next time we will be better prepared to push our own business.
If you get the chance to go to a Quarter Auction, take a roll of quarters and have a good time.
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