Tempting Trio: Chocolate, Coffee, and Wine!

Yay! I finally spotted an article that says what I've known all along:  dark chocolate is good for me! 

The online slideshow/article lists 33 foods deemed to help us "stay young forever".  Chocolate keeps company with the likes of salmon, berries, broccoli, and other not so unexpected stuff.  To read about all 33 go to this MSN Health & Fitness link.  Each food listed also shares links to three pertinent recipes. 

In the interest of being thorough I reviewed the dark chocolate recipes. While tempting, I don't imagine they will be considered Weight Watchers friendly any time soon.  Or, like, ever.

But that doesn't matter.  What matters is that dark chocolate is GOOD for us! It contains resveratrol and flavanols, whatever they are---and does it really matter, buttercup? The point is, those whatchamathingies are in dark chocolate and they are GOOD for us! Yay! Apparently, they help protect our skin against sun damage and aid in circulation. Did I mention that dark chocolate is GOOD for us?

Who says I can't focus?

This is terrific news. It means that quarter pound bag of dark chocolate Peanut M&Ms is actually medicinal, right up there with my QT Toffee Coffee (caffeine helps reduce the risk of colon cancer and diabetes per WebMD) and Friday night glass. . .er, glasses. . .of vino (heart healthy per Parenting.com).  

Turns out I'm a health nut.  Who knew?

Take this news and run with it.  Finish off your coffee, rip open that bag of dark chocolate Peanut M&Ms and pour a big glass of wine. It'll be GOOD for you!

Til next time -

Lisa

Photos/clipart courtesy of dreamstime.com.

QT Coffee Queen

What is it about QT (QuikTrip) coffee that holds me in thrall? It isn’t the caffeine; I’m as satisfied with decaf as with the nuclear stuff. Whatever it is, I’m addicted.

QT is a convenience store/gas station chain with locations throughout Georgia and eight other southeastern states. I choose QT coffee over Starbucks on a regular basis which proves either: a) QT coffee is a great brew; b) I’m a redneck peasant with taste buds born in the gas tank of the General Lee; c) I’m a savvy shopper who prefers to pay $1.25 rather than $4.00 for a great cup of java; or d) All of the above.  

True coffee aficionados will argue my praises of QT coffee. After all, Starbucks is the coffee king, catering to delicate palates (and wide open wallets) while QT drips their joe in a continuous 24-hour rotation with latte and cappuccino evolving from powder. It doesn’t matter. QT coffee rocks. 

QT doesn’t just entice with yummy coffee. They have a whole glass cabinet full of fresh baked pastries, doughnuts, cookies, brownies, etc. They offer breakfasts of sausage, egg and cheese biscuits; lunchtime subs, sandwiches, hot dogs and taquitos; salads and fruit; plus all the usual convenience store power drinks and juices. If they had some place for me to sleep and do laundry I might never leave. 

Here’s the thing: A day without QT coffee is a day without sunshine. Take away my chocolate, my cheesecake, or even my beloved peanut M&Ms; but please, oh, please, do not leave me QT coffee-less! 

Fortunately, my husband is addicted to the stuff, too, so he understands my obsession. And the sight of my man clutching a QT coffee. . .ooh, baby. Joe and java. . .it's kismet.

So I’m off to QT for my second fix of the day. I’ll buy some coffee for my hubby, too, because a 20 oz. cup of QT coffee is just one more way to say, “I love you.” 

Coincidentally, QT also sells peanut M&Ms.  

I’m all a-tingle. 

Til next time –

Lisa