25 Apr Easter is Over. (Time for Chocolate)
Whew! Easter Sunday is over. Every church musician, support staff, and pastor is breathing a sigh of relief this week. Don’t get me wrong—it was awesome, jubilant, over-the-top, fabulous, joyous. Even the superlatives need superlatives to describe our Day of Resurrection festivities. I was thrilled with the worship, the fellowship, the Easter Egg Hunt, the music, the spirit of the day, and I’ve heard from many of our congregation that they had the same experience of joy and delight. It seems we all needed the hope that resurrection imparts.
After church and the egg hunt, we enjoyed a wonderful “coffee hour” together, including a big chocolate cake. It is always fun to see people enjoying the Easter goodies. Many people give up chocolate or desserts for Lent, so they are eager to dig into something sweet and delicious on Easter. As a hard-core Chocoholic, I consider it one of my pastoral responsibilities to encourage chocolate consumption in my church. In my opinion there cannot be too much chocolate in one’s diet. It deserves its own special food group.
On Sunday, one of the Calvary Faithful who knows my predilection well gave me a book entitled, Great Moments in Chocolate History. I cannot turn a single page without salivating, and that is before I have tried any of the recipes which, not surprisingly, all look amazing. Chocolate Tiffin with Raisin and Walnuts, or Mocha Chip Ice Cream Pie, or Chocolate-Ginger Mochi anyone? DUH!
Besides the recipes, the book traces the history of chocolate over the past 500 years or so. Fun facts are included, too. Did you know that the Mars company offered two million M & M’s for the return of Edvard Munch’s painting “The Scream,” which was stolen in 2004?
There are also numerous quotes such as:
“Chocolate is a perfect food, as wholesome as it is delicious, A beneficent restorer of exhausted power…It is the best friend of those engaged in literary pursuits.”
–Baron Justus Von Liebig German Chemist (1803 – 1873)
“Always serve too much hot fudge sauce on hot fudge sundaes. It makes people overjoyed and puts them in your debt.”–Judith Olney The Joy of Chocolate
“Life is short, and we should eat dessert first.”–Jacques Torres Dessert Circus
Clearly, I have found new soul mates in the Baron, Judith, and Jacques.
Wishing you a joyous (and chocolatey!) Eastertide.
Michelle
No Comments