When I was younger, it became a tradition to go to Hershey Park each year on my birthday. Sadly that tradition ended about 10 years ago but it was always so much fun!  Hmmm…. yes… most of us can not turn down chocolate so how can you not love a day spend smelling it? I can’t forget tasting it through out the day either. Hershey’s is an amazing company that has so many different products out there. Unless you are a complete chocolate scrooge, you are bound to find something you will love. The Hershey Company is the largest producer of quality chocolate in North America!

Chocolate lovers have a reason to celebrate!  Hershey’s Simple Pleasures Chocolates is a new delicious line of chocolates with 30 percent less fat compared to the average of the leading milk chocolates.  They are individually wrapped for easy portion control, making them the perfect afternoon sweet snack.

This new line is available in 3 varieties which includes, Milk Chocolate with Chocolate Crème, Dark Chocolate with Chocolate Crème and Milk Chocolate with Vanilla Crème.  These are a very smooth and creamy chocolate. I am not a big fan of Dark Chocolate so all I can really say about these is, it’s not the worst I have ever tasted. The boys liked them as their second choice. The Milk Chocolate with the Chocolate center was my favorite. It’s not a rich chocolate where you eat one and can’t tolerate another. I actually found myself going back for more on more than one occasion. The Milk Chocolate with the Vanilla center, none of us liked this one. It seemed to leave a film in our mouths. The center flavor wasn’t very appetizing.

Disclosure: MAK Media was compensated with product for this post. This post is not endorsed, sponsored or has any connection to Twitter, Facebook or any other Social Media network that may be mentioned. This post is the sole property of MAK Media, LLC.  All opinions are mine whether positive or negative. You can read more about our Policy Disclosure here.

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The other day while wandering around on Twitter, I received a tweet from the DELICIOUS Tweeps at @HersheysKisses.

I don’ t know how or why they tweeted to me but I always love when one of my favorite Brands finds me before I find them! I used to go to Hershey Park every year for my birthday when I lived in Pennsylvania. I miss that so much now that I am in Ohio! Anyway…..They sent me this amazing cookie recipe and I had to pass it along. How can you not love cookies and chocolate at that! Give these babies a try and tell them (and me!) what you think!

Ingredients

• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup Hershey’s Cocoa
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup (2 sticks) butter or margarine, softened
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup chopped nuts (optional)
• 2 cups (12 oz. pkg.) Hershey’s Special Dark Chocolate Chips or Hershey’s Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips

Directions

• Heat oven to 375°F.
• Stir together flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt.
• Beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla in large bowl on medium speed of mixer until creamy.
• Add eggs; beat well.
• Gradually add flour mixture, beating well.
• Stir in chocolate chips.
• Add nuts, if desired.
• Drop rounded teaspoons on to an ungreased cookie sheet.
• Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until set.
• Cool slightly; remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. About 5 dozen cookies.

Source

Disclosure: This is a personal post because I just felt like doing one. Not because I was asked to, paid to or given anything. That is still allowed right?

A few days ago I told you about participating in a 3T Throwdown. Head over to Food (Just Sayin’) and Shin Dig It to see how Toni and Tonya did! Mine didn’t come out like it was supposed to. My “lava” was “lava rock”. It wasn’t hard just solid. My recipe called for custard cups instead of ramekins. Mine were Pyrex and most ramekins are ceramic. I believe this was where the cooking time differed. I baked it the least amount of time. Here is the recipe and my results for the contest. If you try it please let me know how yours turns out!

Are you a Brand or representing PR Agency? Want to challenge me with your products? Shoot me an email with “Food Challenge!” in the subject line!

Ingredients:

• 2/3 cup Dark Chocolate Chips
• 1/4 cup Land O’ Lakes Butter with Olive Oil
• 3 ounces of Cream Cheese, softened
• 1 tsp Vanilla
• 1/3 cup Dark Brown Sugar, firmly packed
• 3 eggs
• 1/4 cup Flour

Directions:

• Butter (4) six ounce Ramekins
• In a microwave safe bowl, stir together Chocolate Chips and Butter. Microwave on high for 30 seconds and stir, then heat again for 10 seconds. Stir until all the Chocolate is melted.
• Stir in softened Cream Cheese and Vanilla.
• Beat on medium speed for 1 minute.
• Switch to Low Speed and gradually mix in Flour, only until combined
• In a large bowl, combine Dark Brown Sugar and eggs and beat for 2 minutes
• Using a rubber spatula, stir in chocolate mixture until no streaks remain
• Pour batter evenly into the baking cups.
• Bake for 13-15 minutes in preheated oven until tops are bubbly and puffed
• (I baked mine in the Pyrex Custard Cups for 13 minutes and they over cooked)
• The center will still be soft. Take out of oven and allow to cool for 5 minutes.
• Run a butter knife around the outer edges to free the cakes from the baking cups.
• Turn each cake upside down onto a dish
• Top with your favorite topping and eat!

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Disclosure: This is NOT a sponsored post. I did not receive any cash, product or sponsorship of any kind. All products used in this post were purchased by me. Any brands named were in no way involved in the writing of this post. I wrote this post because I love to cook and bake and want to share it with my readers!

My awesomely named friend Toni, from Food (Just Sayin’), has initiated a “Throwdown”! We will be making a Molted Lava Cake. I have never made anything like this before so it should prove to be interesting. You can follow out smack talk on Twitter using the hashtag #BakersSmack

Also joining in on the fun is Tanya from Shin-Dig-It. You are probably wondering how do you have a Throwdown when you can’t taste anything right? Since this is all for fun, it is an honestly policy. Obviously if you kill your recipe then you will wave the white flag. You can also have people try it in your home and give honest opinions. My sons would have no trouble telling me if something tasted like crap! lol

Look for our posts this Tuesday to see how everyone did!

Are you a Brand or representing PR Agency? Want to challenge me with your products? Shoot me an email with “Food Challenge!” in the subject line!