CHOCOLATE IN THE TIME OF COVID: Guest Post by Janet Rudolph + #giveaway and #chocolate #recipe!

Please welcome back a beloved and honored member of our mystery community, a true chocolate maven, and one of our favorite fellow bloggers. Take it away, Janet Rudolph!  ~ Cleo

Thanks, Cleo and Mystery Lovers’ Kitchen, for inviting me. Many of you know I’m the Editor of the Mystery Readers Journal, blogger at Mystery Fanfare and DyingforChocolate, mystery convention organizer, and host of Literary Salons for mystery authors. I am also a chocolate judge at International Chocolate Salons. It’s a tough job, but someone’s got to do it. 

Not surprising, then, that Cleo asked me to blog about chocolate, and I knew what I wanted to write about: Chocolate, the Pandemic, Lockdown, Economic Recession, and how we’re all responding during these uncertain times. 

Some people took up exercise. Not me. I took up chocolate. Early on I began stockpiling chocolate for personal consumption (much more rewarding than toilet paper). Chocolate for me is a source of indulgence and comfort in these times of uncertainty. I ordered 15 of my favorite bars of Beyond Good (formerly known as Madecasse) 72% cacao bars. 

I justified my decision to consume chocolate knowing the many benefits of eating dark chocolate. As if one needs a reason to eat chocolate? But research has shown that dark chocolate increases heart health, balances the immune system, improves brain function, boosts athletic performance, and reduces stress. And, we are all deeply stressed during this pandemic and the economic recession.

According to Nielsen data, during the 17-week period that ended on June 27, U.S. consumers spent $3.7 billion on chocolate, up 6.3% from that time period last year. Americans spent over $2.9 billion on single serve and multi-serve versions of the chocolate. Dark chocolate sales were up 13.6%. Additionally, in the last month, forty percent said they purchased more chocolate as a result of COVID-19.

So what else besides chocolate consumption has spiked during the pandemic? Baking. How many banana breads have you made since the onset of Covid 19? I tried so many different Banana Bread recipes that my family and neighbors could hardly eat them all. Being a chocoholic, all of my banana breads contained chocolate chips. But for today’s post, I’d like to share my favorite recipe for Pandemic Chocolate Banana Bread. I mean, why not double the chocolate?

CHOCOLATE BANANA BREAD 

WITH CHOCOLATE CHIPS

Ingredients:

3 very ripe bananas

1/3 cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly

2 Tbsp cooking oil

1 large egg

1 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract

1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed 

1/4 cup white sugar

1/4 cup sour cream

2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp Kosher salt

1 cup all-purpose flour 

1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder (Dutch process is best—but whatever you have)

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips, divided

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease 9x5-inch loaf pan. 

Mash bananas in large bowl (I usually add a fourth banana and leave it lumpier). Add melted butter and oil to combine. Whisk in egg, vanilla, sour cream, and brown sugar until smooth. 

In another bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cocoa powder. Stir into wet ingredients until just combined. Fold in half the chocolate chips.

Pour batter into prepared pan and top with remaining chocolate chips. Bake for 50-60 minutes, or until toothpick inserted into center comes out kind of clean.

Cool in pan for 10 to 15 minutes, then remove loaf and place on wire rack. 

Janet's blogs are an absolute treat to follow. 

Check them out at the links below:

Mystery Readers Journal

Mystery Fanfare

Dying for Chocolate

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a chance to win a $15.00 Amazon Gift Card! 

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Holly S.!

Have you been eating more chocolate lately? Do you have a favorite Pandemic Chocolate Recipe you’d care to share? Janet would love to see it! Be sure to post your comment below...