dailyprompt-1807

Daily writing prompt

What is the greatest gift someone could give you?

I know that some people start strict diets in the New Year, but for everyone else, it’s chocolate season. Let’s face it, you’ve now eaten every last Christmas cookie in the house, so when you want something sweet, you’re going to crack open that nice box of chocolates that you (hopefully) received as a gift. (Nobody ever buys a box of fine chocolates for themselves. It’s always a gift.) When you open it on Christmas (or your birthday, or Valentine’s Day), it might not seem that exciting, but you’ll be very glad you got it later on.

As previously mentioned (many times), I have a sweet tooth. As a kid, I remember reading “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” by Roald Dahl, while nibbling on a solid chocolate heart I’d received for Valentine’s Day. Reading Dahl’s fantastical description of magical, delicious chocolate, while actual chocolate melted in my mouth, was pretty much heaven for 10-year old me.

My ideal gift box of chocolates contains no nuts as a listed ingredient (because I’m allergic to a couple kinds of tree nuts), but if the box says only “may contain trace of nuts,” that’s OK. Artisanal boxes of chocolates from local chocolatiers like Chequessett or Chocolate Moonshine are good, as are fancy gold boxes from countries like Belgium, France, or Switzerland.

The other great thing about a gift box of chocolates is that it’s yours. You may share it if you wish, but you decide who gets one and when. (It helps to hide it after opening, especially if there are children or teenagers in your house.)

Here’s the box of chocolates I opened last night–a gift from my husband–which entitled him to one chocolate of his choice. I generously gave him first pick. He had a Midnight Swirl (“full-bodied 85% cacao dark chocolate ganache covered in dark chocolate”). I then had a Dark Chocolate Ganache Heart AND a Salted Caramel Lion of Belgium (amazing). Now I have fifteen fine Belgian dark chocolates left, but who’s counting?