“I am Chocolatey” T-Shirt by Tcho Chocolate.

Order them for the whole family and claim yours first.  Who gets “I am Nutty”?

Tcho, $15

I like homemade treats, but candy can be difficult to make. Plus Jo’s Candies certainly is better with a candy thermometer than I (or even Dan of Candy Addict).

A box of Toffee Nuggets comes with 3 milk chocolate and 3 dark chocolate toffees, covered in almonds. One box for $12.75, two boxes for $20.

Peppermint Crunch involves white chocolate that is mixed with peppermint oil and covered dark chocolate. One 9-ounce tin goes for $17.00.

They don’t skimp on the chocolate and they’re perfect with a cup of hot cocoa or a tall glass of cold milk.

There are two types of people: those who prefer baking and those who prefer cooking.

Despite my sweet tooth I am very much in the cooking camp. I am not very precise with measurements and I am liberal with substitutions. Therefore when I make dessert I usually make pudding, macaroons, fruit tarts and other things that can handle my lack of attention to detail.

These chocolate oat balls fit the bill. They’re no-bake, easy, and pretty.

Chocolate Oat Balls

Adapted from Anne’s Food, a wonderful blog

250 ml rolled oats
50 ml sugar
50 ml cocoa powder
pinch of salt
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup hot, strong coffee
50 g unsalted butter, very soft

Put all ingredients together. Roll into balls. Anne suggested rolling them in coconut or pearl sugar, but I tried coconut and couldn’t get it to stick. Perhaps because it was unsweetened and therefore not sticky?

Eat soon. Store in refrigerator, but, better yet, don’t store at all. The next day they will begin to dry out considerably.

There are two types of people: those who like smooth, plain chocolate and those who like doctored-up chocolate.

I’m a snob when it comes to quality chocolate and, with that assumption understood, I love chocolate with stuff in it. I appreciate chocolate more when there are various textures as I chew. It makes me slow down and enjoy what I’m eating. With smooth chocolate it’s all too easy to start daydreaming and then realize, after I’ve swallowed, “whoops, I forgot to taste that.”

Vosges makes some great chocolate. The above photo is the bottom-tier of their Exotic Caramel 2-Tier Hatbox. Each delicious piece has distinct flavors and, yes, textured fillings: nuts, seeds, sugars, extracts, cremes. There is a handy map which makes tasting each more of a game and less of a mystery.

I’m noticing on the website that there are caramel marshmallows. And peanut butter bonbons. And chocolate tortilla chips.

Oh my.