Little Known Fact About Mars Milky Way Candy Bars

The Milky Way Bar from Mars was introduced in 1923. It was the first candy bar that was serious competition for the Hershey Bar. What is interesting is that Mars bought their chocolate for the Milky Way and it's other candy bars from Hershey's until 1965. As Paul Harvey would say, "now you know the rest of the story".

Fast Forward to 2009: Mars has built a state of the art factory down the street from Hershey's. They continue to expand their business globally and still use real cocoa butter in their chocolate products. Hershey's on the other hand is shrinking and compromising it's product ingredients.

"Carrie-Congrats on another fabulous month!...Nicole Cowen"

A postcard I received from my upline for my November
sales for Dove Chocolate Discoveries. Thanks to my upline
leader, Nicole Cowen of the Elite Sweets Team for the
recognition and encouragement you have given me!!!

Great Chocolate Cake Recipe

My friend Janice has published a Chocolate Cake Recipe that she absolutely loves!!! Here is the Dove Chocolate Version:

The Ultimate Chocolate Cake

Found this recipe in the Original Cake Doctor Cookbook 5 years ago and we've been happily devouring it ever since! It is sooooo easy to make.

CAKE
1 package (18.25 oz) Betty Crocker Devil's Food Chocolate Cake Mix
1 package (3.9 oz) Chocolate Instant Pudding Mix
4 large eggs
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup warm water
1/2 cup vegetable oil
12 ounces Dove Dark Chocolate (chopped into slivers with knife or melted)

FROSTING
1 stick (8 TBSP) butter
4 tablespoons unsweetened Dove cocoa powder
1/3 cup milk (whole is best)
4 cups sifted confectioners (powdered) sugar
Grease and flour a standard 12 cup bundt pan and preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

In a large mixing bowl, blend all of the ingredients (except the Dove chocolate) with an electric mixer on low for 1 minute, then on medium for an additional 3 minutes. Be sure to scrape down the mixing bowl as needed. After beating for the required amount of time, the batter will be thick and well blended. Fold the Dove Chocolate Slivers into the batter until they are evenly distributed.

Pour the batter into the bundt pan leveling with a spatula and place the pan in the preheated oven. Bake 45 - 50 minutes or until the cake pulls away from the sides of the pan and springs back when touched lightly with a finger tip.

Cool in the pan for 20 minutes. Turn cake onto a wire cooling rack to cool for 20 more minutes (use a knife to run around the edge and loosen cake if necessary).

While the cake is cooling make the frosting by placing the butter in a medium sauce pan over low heat for 2-3 minutes until it is completely melted. Stir in the Dove cocoa powder and the milk, bringing the mixture to a boil (stirring constantly) and immediately remove from the heat. Stir in small amounts of the confectioners sugar until the frosting is thickened, smooth and the desired consistency.

Pour the warm frosting over the cool cake. Work quickly to spread it with a spatula so it reaches all sides of the cake (sets up quickly). Slice and serve.

Dove Chocolate Discoveries Distributor Base Grows To 932 Chocolatiers

As of November, 2008 there are 932 Dove distributors, officially known as Dove Chocolatiers in the United States. The company launched nationwide in May of this year with a base of about 70 Chocolatiers who helped test market the concept and products on the East Coast prior to the Launch. The state by state breakdown:

AL 1
AR 2
AZ 13
CA 115
CO 28
CT 10
DE 16
FL 28
GA 14
IA 9
ID 3
IL 30
IN 13
KS 12
KY 10
LA 2
MA 26
MD 25
ME 6
MI 30
MN 19
MO 17
MS 1
MT 3
NC 28
ND 6
NE 5
NH 4
NJ 64
NM 5
NV 7
NY 56
OH 28
OK 6
OR 13
PA 158
RI 2
SC 10
SD 2
TN 15
TX 31
UT 5
VA 18
VT 2
WA 7
WI 21
WV 3
WY 3

The Chocoholics Diary.com: U.S. sales of premium chocolate

It is so interesting to follow the ups and downs of The U.S. chocolate giants Dove/Mars/M&Ms and Hershey's. Click on the link to read about the ongoing competition between the two.

Interesting statistics quoted in the blog: "U.S. sales of premium chocolate -- defined as sweets that sell for $8 or more a pound -- jumped 11 percent to $2.7 billion in 2006, per Packaged Facts, Rockville, Md. Dark chocolate sales grew 15 percent to $4 billion."



Click to read more:
The Chocoholics Diary.com: U.S. sales of premium chocolate

About.com Review of Dove Chocolate Discoveries: Cupcakes, Grahams and White Chocolate Drink Mix

A contributing writer on About.com recently tried some of our products. Here is my review of her report:

User Reviews

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5 I love Dove Chocolate..., December 18, 2008 By carriegeyer "in fact I love it so much that I am a Dove Chocolatier, who holds several Chocolate Tastings each month to introduce these and other Dove products not sold in stores. The Graham Crackers are everything the author says they are however we differ on one point...I prefer the milk chocolate grahams. But that is a matter of personal taste...I have been known to eat all the dark chocolate grahams after the milk chocolate ones are gone. They make an excellent snack at midnite or as a pick me up in the afternoon. I love them too much. The white chocolate smoothie mix is at it's best as a hot drink I think. Another use for the drink mix is to put it in a blender with milk, ice, pineapple or other fruit and coconut rum to taste...it becomes a pina colada. The cupcakes are phenomenol with the melted chocolate in the middle. Another trick is to scoop a plug out of the bottom and fill the cupcake with Dove's Chocolate or Raspberry Mousse. Then replace the plug and you have a gourmet Cupcake. Dove has products in 3 major categories: 1) box mixes such as Cupcakes and Brownies, 2) Ready to Eat Snacks such as the Grahams and Cinnamon Dusted Chocolate Almonds and 3)Gadgets, tools and tempering machines for candy makers. All products are sold from the catalog or at home parties. It is a fun business that is profitable. I must tell you that my own personal favorite product is the Mousse Mix. In 5 minutes I can have restaurant quality French style Mousse made in my kitchen. Let me tell you how easy it is: 1. Melt 4 ounces of Dove Dark or Milk Chocolate slowly in the microwave. 2. Whip 1 cup of heavy cream and contents of Mousse Mix Packet until medium peaks are formed. Add the melted Chocolate while still hot to the Mousse and blend. Serve in parfait dish or chocolate cups, on cake or with fruit. Makes 4-5 servings. Very elegant and rich! My family loves it. Can be frozen although we never have had any left over to freeze." So there it is: my review of the about.com review...see the original review by Los Angeles based pastry chef Elizabeth Labau at about.com

How to Make Reindeer Truffle Cookies for Christmas

Short how to article that will show you how to make whimsical Reindeer cookies. The antlers are Dove Dark Chocolate Leaves. Contact me if you want some for your reindeer cookies. To see the recipe click on.... A Touch Of Rosemary - NY Daily News

Have a Wonderful Christmas! Carrie Geyer

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Chocolate Dessert Cups Help Create an Elegant Dessert for your Dinner Party

Some great party Ideas and photos of uses for Dove Chocolate Dessert Cups are in the article at Food Rush - iVillage. Check it out! Click on: Food Rush - iVillage
This Dessert Cup is filled with Dove's Chocolate Mousse Mix, cracked Chocolate Almonds and topped with Dark Chocolate Leaves. Cocoa Powder is sprinkled on top of the Dessert. Contact me at "freechocolate@comcast.net" if you would like more info about these Dove products and other great ways to use them!! Carrie Geyer

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New Dove Factory Opens Within 10 Miles of Hershey, Pennsylvannia in Sept. '08

Mars tries to eclipse Hershey's in rural Pa. | APP.com | Asbury Park Press Read all about the new Dove Chocolate Factory just down the road from Hershey's. While Hershey's has changed their recipe to save money, Dove continues to use pure cocoa butter and watch their sales grow. Hershey's meanwhile is losing market share and cutting jobs world wide.

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Half Price Dove Chocolate in January!

Dove Chocolate Discoveries is rolling out new packaging for all of our products in January. So what will they do with all the chocolate in the old packaging? Sell it at half price, of course!!

While supplies last, these specials can be bought at Dove Tasting Parties...details will follow later today.

For a list of the Half Price Items go to my Squidoo Lens: http://www.squidoo.com/dovechocolatenews

The photo is from a vendor fair I did recently...you can see the new packaging with the orange striped chocolate bars. After the New Year, all the packaging will feature the turquoise blue circle and bright colored stripe. I can't wait to see it!!!

Crave More Chocolate...Eat More Dove Chocolate! Carrie Geyer

Welcome to the Dove Chocolate Update!!

I will strive to provide you with up to date information and advice about Dove Chocolate Discoveries, the Dove Products and my life as a Dove Chocolatier. See you tomorrow...Carrie