Linda often has a fragrant candle burning in our home. Wispy spring and summery scents enjoyed for the past several months have been recently replaced by the warm and inviting scents of autumn. As the snow falls to stay, the aromas of evergreen and Christmas cookies will usher in the holidays.

The candle’s flame can often be as captivating as the scent released while it burns. Dashing to and fro as it will, the flicker of flame seems to have a life of its own, as silently it goes about releasing its light and fragrance about the house.

This year marks the sixth annual Candlelight Service of Remembrance we host each December at the funeral home. It is held in honor of the special lives we’ve been privileged to help “Remember Well” during the past year. The message and meaning conveyed in this special time of remembering – and the precious flicker of each special candle – is truly profound.

In honor of all the special lives represented each year, I wrote a brief poem that we share at each Remembrance Service. Perhaps if you light a candle in your own home sometime throughout the holiday season, or into the coming year, this verse may prompt you to give special thanks for those whose lives have helped to shape your own . . . even as the candle spreads its light and color and fragrance throughout your home.

MY LOVE LIGHTS A CANDLE

My love lights a candle
For all the world to see
The world won’t always understand it,
Yet it means so much to me.

The candle represents the life, you see,
Of someone that I love,
Its flame burns bright and beautiful
Inspiration from above.

The candle, just as life itself,
For a season brightly shines
With color, flame and fragrance,
Bringing joy to other’s lives.

Yet as this candle burns so bright,
Its very life it claims
And one day, when it shines no more,
It shall rest, though not in vain.

For other flames has this flame lit
In other’s lives to shine…
I am truly blessed and privileged
That one of them was mine.

Love lights a candle . . . pass it on. And Remember Well.

By Valerie Wheatley, R.D., L.D., L.D.N
Hy-Vee Registered Dietician
(309) 787-0273
E-Mail: 1106dietitian@hy-vee.com

Ever wonder how a real chocolatier evaluates chocolate? He or she focuses on five qualities: appearance, aroma, texture, mouthfeel and flavor. You can practice being a chocolatier too in your own home with a gathering of friends and family.

All you need is an assortment of premium chocolates varying in cacao content and eager tasters to join in the fun. Following are some tips for tasting chocolate.

First look: Place bits of assorted chocolates on a plain-colored paper. Note the color of the chocolate. Look for shades of ivory, gold, copper, deep reds and charcoal brown. Color is influenced by the type of cream, percent of cacao and where the beans are grown.

Next smell: Dim the lights, and keep the aroma in the air pure by burning unscented candles. Rub the chocolate with your thumb to warm it. Now cup your hands and hold the chocolate close to your nose. Take slow, deep breaths inhaling the aroma of the chocolate. Some chocolates will have a faint aroma; others will smell sweet and rich. Others will smell nutty, fruity, spicy, bitter or earthy scents. All in all, a piece of chocolate can have over 600 different aromas.

Then listen: Snap the chocolate by breaking it fast. Chocolate with a high cacao content will break sharply and cleanly, while others will break more softly.

Finally taste: Take a small morsel and let it melt in your mouth. Experience the mouthfeel. Is it rich and succulent or waxy and hard? Roll it around with your tongue; appreciate the nuances of flavors. Some flavors will present immediately while other flavors penetrate over time. Every person experiences different taste sensations. Ask your guests about their experience.

Plan a chocolate tasting in your home. Look for expert advice from the real chocolatier’s websites: Hersheys.com, Verybestbaking.com and Ghirardelli.com.

Chocolate Espresso Parfaits
Sweeten your sweetheart’s heart with a tasty blend of dark chocolate and tofu.
All you need
1 (12-oz.) pkg. Ghirardelli 60% cacao chocolate chips
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 tbsp. Hy-Vee instant coffee diluted in 2 tbsp. water
2 (15-1⁄2-oz. each) pkgs. silken tofu
All you do
1. Place chocolate chips, vanilla and diluted coffee in microwave-safe dish; microwave on HIGH 4 minutes or until melted. Whisk until smooth.
2. Place tofu in blender or food processor; purée.
3. Add chocolate mixture; blend 1 minute until smooth. Pour into parfait glasses. Refrigerate at least 3 hours or overnight.
Nutrition Facts: 250calories, 13 g fat, 30 g carbs, 7 g pro, 3 g fiber, 60 mg sodium.
SUGGESTED PAIRINGS:
Wine: Port or Framboise