Chocolate Breakfast – The Ultimate Indulgence

I recently celebrated my 32^nd Christmas. That’s how long my husband and his madcap English family have been in my life and why I don’t feel a day over 32. As I live within a Monte Python parallel universe, outrageous humor, bizarre behavior, international cheeses and English chocolates flourish in abundance. For my family, it’s not unusual that the latter serves as our breakfast of choice on Christmas morning.

The family tradition has been to stuff our Christmas stockings and our faces with chocolate bars. The bulging stockings do contain the odd pair of toe socks, Groucho Marx glasses and jellybean-pooping plastic reindeer, but they’re mainly chock-full of chocolate… Not just any chocolate, mind you, it has to be English chocolate. That’s a challenge considering we all presently live in the U.S.

Mars, Nestlé and Cadbury brands are the family favorites and great pains are taken to purchase only chocolates containing the “original” English ingredients. The sour tasting “ear wax” American version of these confections is frowned upon and if discovered within one’s stocking is punishable by flogging with a licorice whip (not an English product).

The “real” Kit Kat bar is made in the U.K. by Nestlé; however, in the U.S., the Hershey Company makes it. Hershey also makes Cadbury’s Dairy Milk, stateside. If you check the labels on these tasteless confections, you’ll see that “sugar” rather than “milk” is listed as the primary ingredient. Soy lecithin and artificial flavorings are also added to the U.S. product. Why? The company claims that American’s prefer it. It just goes to show you how an entire nation can be programmed into thinking artificial is better than the real thing.

Anyway, on Christmas morning, even before the first gift is broken into, we all break open our Mars Bars, Curly Wurlys and Flakes. One cannot get enough of these rich, dark decadent treats – even if it is 6:00am on Christmas morning. Accompanied by a nice cup of tea or coffee we indulge without guilt, floating in cacao reverie to the sounds of Nat King Cole, Burl Ives, Mike Oldfield, Queen and ELP.

When the Flakes get too flakey, we switch to crunchy Twix, deliriously dipping them into our tea. A nice minty Aero bar or rose water Turkish Delight cuts the milk chocolate overload while little Malteasers and Smarties disappear mindlessly between breaks in the lively, often daft Holiday conversation.

Another cup of coffee and you’re sufficiently buzzed and ready for whatever bizarre gifts await you. Sometimes the best gift is the one you give yourself - the once-a-year treat of chocolate overindulgence.

We have friends who return home from trips to the U.K. with extra travel bags filled with Mars Bars in preparation for an episode of choccie gluttony.

I suggest that we all make every attempt to stock up on English Cadbury chocolate as soon as possible. The company has been battling off a hostile takeover from Kraft Foods for some time now. From what I hear, Hershey is also waiting in the wings with daggers dripping in wax-laced syrups.

If you live in the U.K., Canada or in India, you’re golden, but here in the States, you have to do a bit of searching around for those British delights.

The Indian supermarkets and English specialty stores are probably your best bet. I know that in Atlanta they're stocked in the British food sections of the supermarket and in some CVS stores.

You may notice that I have not included Amazon links to buy the aforementioned treats. That's not because I abhor Christmas commercialism. It's because all the "English" chocolates being offered on Amazon are the U.S./Hershey variety. Check out the jollygrub link as they offer the real deal. Alas, it’s unlikely those products will arrive before Christmas morning. Still, ..a good Chocolate Breakfast knows know season.

In case you're wondering, chocolate contains more antioxidants than your favorite green and orange vegetables.

Better yet, the BBC reported that chocolate melting in your mouth produces a brain activity and heart rate more intense than that associated with passionate kissing. It also lasts four times longer.

Some cultures use chocolate the way we use Viagra because it dilates your blood vessels and stimulates muscles. I guess that’s why many fine hoteliers place a piece of chocolate on your pillow each evening.

Even if you don’t celebrate Christmas, you can celebrate the fact that you made it through the entire year. Reward yourself! Your fellow quantum soup-mate is telling you to go for it because you deserve it.

Most of you have shared your thoughts, your comments and your talents here on Hubpages selflessly for all to enjoy. I wish you a heartfelt "thank you", along with best wishes for a very Merry Christmas.

Eat, Laugh, Love, and Enjoy the Season

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