Das Caramelinis are bite size, all natural French Salted Caramels. These Fleur de Sel gourmet caramels are hand made with care and made with 100% natural ingredients, and ingredients are procured locally whenever possible.

Each box is approximately 4 oz. and contain, 16-18 Carmel pieces.  The Carmelinis makes this a great everyday treat because of its size.  Carmelinis come in a variety of flavors, so you are sure to find one you will love!

Classic
The original flavor of Das Caramelinis is the flavor of Lavender & Honey.  Made from fresh and local cream and natural butter, acacia honey, and a subtle lavender flavor, each Carmelini is topped off with the rare Fleur de Sel salt from Brittany.

 
Cafe Cortado
Carmel is blended with freshly brewed expresso and whole coffee bean.  Topped with the wonderful Fleru de Sel.

 
Chocolate & Walnut
Dark Chocolate and toasted walnut is mixed with a hint of Ancho Chili for a unique flavor.  Polished with a sprinkling of the french salt.

Orange & Honey
Orange zest, Indian cardamon, and acacia honey create this refreshing Orange & Honey Caramel. Fleur de Sel tops off this creation.

Ginger & Pistachio
Candied ginger and chunks of freshly roasted organic Pistachio nut.  Of course, sprinked with the signature salt.

Chai Latte
Whole Indian Cardamom, Cinnamon, nutmeg and a touch of cloves creates the Chai Latte Carmelini.  Perfect for Chai lovers!

Lemon & Honey
Honey, Meyer lemon zest and Thai lemongrass are blended with a touch of Indonesian Green Peppercorns to create the unique flavor of this lemony Carmelini.

Chili Pecan
Sweet at first, and then your get the three pepper chili spice. Fresh pecans, from a small farm in Texas, are added in this indulgent bite size caramel.

Das Caramelinis are available at DasFoods.com or Amazon.com.

Price: $6.99 each or $15.75 for a 3 Pack on Amazon.com.

I’ve been extremely lucky this year, and thankfully, my luck hasn’t run out yet because I was able to head down to New York City last week for the launch of the new Euro-Pro Ninja Master Prep. Joined by some of my best blogging friends, our fearsome foursome, as well as a few others were able to experience first hand what the Ninja Master Prep can do.

Raspberry Orange Sorbet

Since this is a dessert blog, I seriously HAVE TO tell you about the amazing sorbet and sherbert that the Ninja whipped up effortlessly.  And yes, I tried it and it was AMAZING! I loved the raspberry orange combination of it and the Ninja made it just too easy to prepare. I’m sure you wouldn’t have to stop at the raspberry orange, and there’s a million other flavors that you could go with. I’m thinking pomegranate lime?? Can you imagine how good that would be?

Not only did we get to experience the launch of the Ninja Master Prep, we got to do it with class and in style. Staying at the Sheraton Times Square and having the awesome Robin Miller from Food Network as the most awesome host for our group. She definitely rocked and made using the Ninja look ridiculously easy- and it is!

You can make awesome smoothies and dessert drinks as well, like the Mocha Frozen Fusion Lite that Robin taught us all about or the Caramel Banana Smoothie. Sometimes those frozen slushy drinks hit the spot for the sweet tooth! And let’s not forget the drinkie-poos that can be made of the adult variety! Strawberry margaritas anyone?

For more info about the Ninja Master Prep and examples of great dinners, desserts and smoothies, please visit their website at ninjakitchen.com.

We have featured Chocolate Inked Sweet Shoppe in our Chocolate Manufacturers – Guide for Chocoholics.

Chocolate Inked Sweet Shoppe is located in the historic Village of Metamora, MI. Metamora dates back to the 1800′s and is also known as “horse country.” The building that CISS is located in was built over 150 years ago and has quite a history. It was recently purchased by friends and has been in the process of a complete renovation, the chocolate shoppe is located in the back half of the building. The outside of the building is in the process of being completed now, though when you walk into the shoppe  you will be taken back to years gone by. It gives you a quaint, warm and cozy feeling when you see the signature colors of teal and brown. The fireplace will make you want to sit at one of three tables that remind you of a old fashioned ice cream shoppe. You can enjoy the warmth of the shoppe as you wit with your laptop to access the only shoppe in the village with WiFi or you can relax as you watch a favorite program on the large plasma T.V. 
 
Sharon and Kevin make a variety of handmade chocolates, which include their signature handmade salted caramels, molded caramels, molded chocolates, truffles, specialty chocolates, nutty and krispy barks, dipped nuts, fruits, pretzels, cookies, and so much more. They offer muffins, cookies, brownies, cupcakes, and even Sharon’s signature cake that will truly bring you back. The signature cake can be ordered in any flavor with infused ganache, a chocolate whipped cream, or a fruit filling. Each cake is then drizzled with dark, milk and white chocolates. It is a mouth watering cake that will have you wanting more. “CISS” also does gift baskets for all occasions. One unique product that they have is chocolates that can be printed with photos, logos, and text. These chocolates are not made by Sharon and Kevin, they are made by their supplier in a nut free facility. They do personalized chocolates for all occasions, weddings, graduations, birthdays, funerals, etc. “CISS” also offers Cook’s Farm Dairy Ice Cream. Cook’s is a  working dairy farm and is well known in the Metamora area. You can order ice cream cones, handmade waffle cones and bowls that are dipped in chocolate, great tasting shakes, smoothies, sundaes, parfaits. Coffee, sweet tea, lemonade, canned soda, bottled water are other items that are available. You never know what may be available on any given day, there is always something different.
 
Chocolate Inked has a website for the personalized chocolates and you can call them with any questions and to place your orders. You can access the website at: www.chocolateinked.com
 
You will be pleasantly surprised when you enter the world of “CISS.”  With a tag line of “Have you been CISS’d today?” first time customers will leave with a special chocolate “CISS” so that they too,  “Have been CISS’d today!”
 
Chocolate Inked Sweet Shoppe
70 E. High St.
Metamora, MI. 48455
810-678-2022
Fax: 810-678-2022

Ingredients
450g/1 lb of strawberries
1 cup confectioners sugar
1 cup fresh cream
1 tub (250g/9 oz) mascarpone

Directions:
Wash strawberries and grind in food processor, set aside.
Add the confectioners sugar to marscapone and whip for only a minute.
In a separate bowl, beat fresh cream until stiff peaks.
Now, fold in fresh cream into mascarpone a little at a time.
Do not add all the fresh cream, leave a small amount for piping.
Lastly fold in the ground strawberries.
Spoon into bowls and pipe fresh cream on top and garnish with sliced strawberries.

Enjoy!

We featured Chocolations in our Chocolate Manufacturers – Guide for Chocoholics.

About Chocolations

Founder Maria Valente opened Chocolations in December of 2006.  Located in Mamaroneck, NY Maria Valente creates these local sweets by hand from local and fresh high quality ingredients. Maria’s creations include hand dipped truffles, creative barks, cheerful pops, cupcakes, and beautiful holiday figures such as bunnies and hens.  Her newest creation, rice crispy cakes!  You have to see it to believe it!

photo courtesy of Chocolations.com

Maria’s creations are award-winning. Westchester Magazine named Valente’s truffles best in Westchester in Febuary 2008. In November of 2008, Maria Valente’s antioxidant rich Good For You bar (with dark chocolate, dried blueberries and almonds) won as one of the top three chocolate bars in the United States.

Chocolation’s Mission Statement

Create fine affordable chocolates using excellent ingredients. Give entrepreneurial woman or those with a socially conscious focus a showcase for their goods, and share my resources with them. Model an environmentally friendly, socially conscious business.

Specialties

Crispy Cakes:

One of the latest specialties out of Chocolations,  is their Crispy Cake.  It starts with their homemade Crispy Treats shaped in a number of different ways.  Delicious butter cream is then added to decorate, and it’s finish with solid chocolate pieces to enhance the effect.  This is more than just a cake, it is the centerpiece, and a conversation piece all in one.  Great for weddings and parties.

Truffles Available:

Caramel, Peanut Butter, Classic Milk, Amaretto, Ginger Honey, Hazelnut, Jasmine, Latte, Bailey’s Irish Cream, Toasted Coconut, Concord Grape, Cappuccino, Classic White.

Good for You Bar:

Chocolations Good For You Bar’s are delicious candy bars filled with health benefits. The bar is a combination of dark chocolate, dried blueberries and almonds. All of which are an excellent source of antioxidants, which protect the body against free radicals. Aside from it’s defensive capabilities, the Good For You Bar is a combination off your favorite flavors in a tasty little convenient bar. This “Not-So-Guilty” pleasure is easy to fall in love with, but of course,  in moderation!

Contact Infomation:

Chocolations
914.777.3600 ph.
914.777.2948 fax
www.chocolations.com

Beginning to contribute here, I knew I wanted to reach out to some people to let you know about. Lucky for me, Danielle from DanzDZynes on Etsy was so super sweet to let me give her a little mini-interview! When I say “super sweet,” I mean that in every sense of the phrase. She not only makes the cutest scented mini junk food jewelry at DanzDZynes, but also makes some of the most sinful edibles at her other shop, Cupcakes In Jars- I know, I’ve had them! They’re decadent!!

What gave you the idea to create little scented foodie jewelry?

“When my second daughter was about five years old I bought her a dollhouse kit to put together and surprise her for Christmas.  It was 4 feet high and took me from August to December to assemble.  I decided to make her some play food to put on the dolls’ dining room table.  These consisted of a plate of cookies, a bowl full of multicolored ’round things’, and a cake that I had made out of a soda bottle cap covered in polymer clay.  I made a chocolate cake covered with tiny cut up toothpick bits for nuts.  She loved it so much that she asked if she could wear it around her neck.  I set out trying to figure out how to string it up for her.  She wore it every single day and would always tell me how much she loved it and that it should smell like chocolate because it looks so real.  *light bulb*.  The rest is mini food history.”

What does your family think about your creations?

“Do I have to tell my husband?  lol… My kids have been great about coming up with ideas.  I hear a lot of “hey mommy, you should make….” and “can you make me….”  Sometimes when I have made them something they particularly liked for dinner my son will come to me afterwards and tell me that I should make that item into a charm.  I know my little ones really love them.  Many times bulk pieces go missing and I have caught Barbie and her friends hanging out in the dream house having a cupcake party.”
What have you found to be the most popular item in your shop?

“That would be cupcake charms, hands down.”

Do you have any other “food hobbies”?

“I am ALL about food.  I sleep, breathe and, well…eat food.  I run a full-time cupcake and candy shop online as well as local wholesale.  I used to do cake decorating but unfortunately it is way too time consuming for me right now.  I hope to get back to it in the future.  It is one of my all-time favorite things to do.  I would love to be a pastry chef when I grow up.”

What was your favorite piece to make?

“I honestly love making every piece.  I especially love custom orders.  I have had many creative requests in the past (apple pie with cheese, pack of bubble gum, a Ramen soup ring, fried funnel cakes with hot fudge and powdered sugar to name a few).  I never ever tire of it.”

When it’s time for you to indulge yourself, what do you turn to? A favorite dessert?

“I am surrounded all day by sweet treats, so my indulgence is a nice big bowl of Kashi Island Vanilla cereal (only because I’m a rebel).  During the holidays, I do treat my family to chocolate covered cheesecake.  That is number 1-5 on my favorite desserts list.  :)”

From mac & cheese to peanut butter and jelly, from banana cake to Belgian waffles, if you don’t see what you’d like, you can always request a custom item from Danielle! Big thanks to Danielle for allowing me to interview her and for being such an awesome junk food jewelry chef!!

Photos property of Danielle @ DanzDZynes