What is the first thing that comes to mind when Halloween approaches? Costumes, ghost stories, jack-o-lanterns? For me it is ... CHOCOLATE!
So this is a perfect time to talk about a favorite brand of mine → LEKKCO. This is a Belgian chocolate spread with all natural ingredients that is nut-free, gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan. It has only 4 grams of sugar and 60 calories per serving. And it tastes GREAT earning a Geek Daddy nod of approval!
The LEKKCO name is a blending of the Flemish words Lekker "something delicious" and Co "chocolate" tied to the Belgium originations of the brand's products. There are four flavors of LEKKCO to choose from: Dark Chocolate, Caramel & Sea Salt, Coconut and Caribbean Banana. It is available at over 2,500 retail locations including Kroger and Fred Meyer as well as online at amazon.com.
I love to dip pretzel sticks in LEKKCO to snack on while watching weekend football games and Halloween season horror movies. It also makes snacking on fruit like strawberries and blueberries extra tasty! I'll admit I've even included this Belgian chocolate spread into my breakfasts occasionally coating a toasted bagel with it. If you want to be creative, consider using it as an ingredient in a panini sandwich or a s'more-style desert. Oh so tasty!
Like my own daughter, the founders of LEKKCO have a child with dyslexia. I appreciate that they have decided that topic will be the company's focus for its charitable commitments. The brand's font is a variation of the dyslexie font which is designed to make it easier for dyslexic individual's to read. They've pledged to dedicate a portion of profits to support providing resources for public schools to assist kids with dyslexia. That is appreciated because we've found that the public schools my children have attended really honestly don't give a shit about helping kids with this learning disorder. There are many school aged children and their parents struggling with this disability so thank you LEKKCO for bringing attention and some resources to address this topic.
Buy a jar of LEKKCO using a Geek Daddy affiliate link and this dad blogger will receive a small commission at no additional expense to your purchase. Your support of ageekdaddy.com is appreciated! For more information, visit lekkco.com
Learn about what has become the world's favorite treat, CHOCOLATE, through a traveling exhibit on display through January 7, 2018 at the Cranbrook Institute of Science. Chocolate: The Exhibit explains the link between today's candy bars and an ancient tree from the rainforests of South America and explores how cacao seed have become a sought after world wide commodity. Get an up close look at lavish storage jars used by the Aztecs, chocolate serving sets from colonial era Europe, antique chocolate molds from the 1800's and classic candy packaging from the 1900's as you make your way through the exhibit.
Cacao Trees
Learn how chocolate originates from seeds of the Cacao trees (Theobroma Cacao) native to the rainforests of South America. These trees that are part of the understory of the forest produce football sized fruit pods filled with almond nut sized seeds. Cacao seeds are harvested to produce chocolate. It takes more than 100 seeds combined with other ingredients to produce a pound of chocolate candy.
Cacao trees really are limited to where they can be grown. They only thrive within 20° latitude of either side of the equator (equivalent of the distance between Detroit, Michigan and Orlando, Florida) and unlike many types of trees prefer shade to sunlight. So there is a limited geography where they can be cultivated. In addition to their native region within areas of South America, plantations that commercially harvest cacao seeds have emerged in Africa and Indonesia as well.
The pods that cacao seeds are sheltered in develop from flowers which appear on the tree's trunk and lower branches. These flowers aren't pollinated by bees to create these fruits though but rather by a tiny fly called a Midge. These flies thrive in the debris that makes up the floor of a rainforest and is a reason that flowers and the fruit pods that emerge from them tend to be located around the lower regions of the trees. Because of the specific conditions that cacao trees thrive in growing them exclusively in plantations can be an arduous task. The world's love of chocolate though has also made cacao tree plantations a financially lucrative endeavor.
Visitors to Cranbrook Institute of Science's Chocolate: The Exhibit walk through a display that highlights the ecology of the cacao tree and the process of harvesting its seeds and transforming them into chocolate. Learn about the negative impacts the world's love of chocolate has had in the past including the promotion of slavery and destruction of natural landscapes as well as the positive steps being taken by today's cacao farmers who are now working with scientists to grow cacao profitably without destroying rainforest habitats. A tour of the display culminates with a live display of a New York Stock Exchange ticker showing what cacao seeds ( "Cocoa" ) are being valued at on the world market along side other commodities such as pork bellies and soy beans.
Aztec Culture
The Aztec culture cherished cocoa seeds and the chocolate drink they made from them. Only royalty, priests, and others in the upper echelon of their society could partake in what was considered a drink of the gods. See elaborate Aztec pottery used to drink the beverage as well as artwork honoring the cacao tree and associating chocolate with their gods on display.
Aztec culture also utilized cocoa seeds as currency. Spanish Conquistadors misinterpreted the Aztecs meaning of treasure believing they had cities filled with gold. So they were dumbfounded to discover cities filled to the brink with cocoa seeds instead of precious metals. Their discovery though soon turned into liquid gold as chocolate became a popular drink throughout Europe with Spanish colonies having control of the precious cocoa seeds needed to produce it.
European Courts
Cacao seeds transported from the New World created a drink that delighted Europeans. Initially only available to the privileged classes, serving chocolate was a way to highlight one's wealth or status in European society. Examples of the china and utensils used to serve chocolate in those days is on display within Chocolate: The Exhibit.
Chocolate Candy
It really hasn't been that long in history that chocolate has been the candy and baking ingredient that we know today. Chocolate was known as a frothy drink until 1847. That year Joseph Fry mixed together a number of ingredients with cocoa powder that created a paste that could be molded into candy and began selling his creation in England. Following Fry's Chocolate Cream was the invention in 1875 by Daniel Peter and Henri Nestle of milk chocolate. Chocolate: The Exhibit has a number of examples of early chocolate molds from this era.
By the early twentieth century, chocolate was available as candy to the masses. It was provided to soldiers as part of their rations during World War I and World War II which led to a continued demand for chocolate when they returned home from the battlefield. Availability and advertising boasted the popularity of chocolate. A number of early packages from these years are showcased in this display.
Admission
Chocolate: The Exhibit is an interesting look at a beloved product that generate more than $20 BILLION in sales within the United States each year. Cranbrook Institute of Science is located within the northern Detroit suburb of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. Entrance to Chocolate: The Exhibit is an additional cost to the general admission fee for the museum. Tickets for this traveling exhibit are $8 for adults, $6 for seniors (65+) and children (2-12) with those under 2 years old being free.
General admission to Cranbrook Institute of Science is $13 for adults and $9.50 for seniors (65+) and children (2-12). The museum is also open on Friday and Saturday nights with reduced admission fees between 5 - 10pm. Those evening rates are $6.50 for adults and $5.50 for seniors and children.
For more information about the Cranbrook Institute of Science, check out this previous A Geek Daddy post about the museum.
Looking for a funny way to show some affection for your mother-in-law, be goofy with your kids, or show a wacky love of nature to your significant other in celebrating Valentine's Day this year? Or maybe you're looking for a way to let an ex know they did you wrong in a spirited but non-threatening way. Name a roach after them.
The Bronx Zoo has an extensive number of Madagascar hissing cockroaches in its insect exhibit and they'll let you name a roach after someone for Valentine's Day. Who wouldn't be endeared to know there is a hissing cockroach climbing around a display at New York City's famed Bronx Zoo sharing their name thanks to you. By participating in this off-the-wall fundraiser you can have a bit of fun at someone else's expense. Well actually it will be at your expense because you need to make a donation to the Bronx Zoo's Wildlife Conservation Society to name one of the zoo's lovely Madagascar hissing cockroaches but hey it'll be a tax deductible Valentine's Day present.
For $10 tax deductible donation the Bronx Zoo will send out to your designated recipient a digital certificate like the one below letting them know the honor you've bestowed upon them. If you'd like a personalized message can also be included within the certificate where you can wax poetic about your inspiration for the gift.
Want to be a bit more romantic? For $25 the Wildlife Conservation Society will mail a printed roach certificate along with something sweet made by the Nunu Chocolate company in Brooklyn, New York. Only $12 dollars of this gift is tax deductible but this option also includes chocolate being mailed to your special somebody. If you want your gift to arrive in the mail by Valentine's Day orders must be placed by Tuesday, February 2, 2016.
To name a roach after someone for Valentine's Day, visit bronxzoo.com/roach
According to the Wildlife Conservation Society, donations will help protect these misunderstood love bugs along with a lot of other animals big and small. I'm sure you'll get some people hissing at you on Valentine's Day with this approach to showing your love, or disdain, for someone but if you are scampering around for something unique to do this year why not have some fun naming a cockroach.
Fall is a great time for getting out of the house and going for a run. Autumn temperatures provide some of the year's most comfortable weather for running in Michigan and the region's fall colors can provide great scenery to take in and enjoy during a run. Whether your are an ultra competitive athlete or a casual jogger here are five great running events taking place this fall in Metro Detroit:
Dress up in your Halloween costume and race through the streets of downtown Pontiac which will be lined with ghosts, ghouls, and zombies to cheer runners and walkers on during this morning event. The event is sponsored by EREBUS one of the country's premiere haunted attractions during the Halloween season featuring four floors of spooky thrills. All entrants get a free ticket to the Erebus Haunted House ($28 value) that are good throughout that weekend Friday through Sundayplus the event itself will have a post event party with snacks, refreshments and a costume contest for the best dressed Halloween themed runners. Participants can also purchase additional Erebus tickets for friends and families for $20 each which is an $8 savings per ticket. Note Erebus is not recommended for children under 13.
There are a variety of Grave Diggers Dash option to choose on so that there is something must everyone can participate in ranging from a 1/4 mile kids run to a 5 KILLometer race and fun walk:
5K Run / Walk
Everyone gets a participation medal and a long sleeve tech shirt who has registered by 10/4/15.
Monster Mash Mile
A shorter course but everyone who registers before 10/4/15 gets the same swag as the 5K.
1/4 Mile Trick or Trot
Children 12 and under can run this special course receiving a finisher's medal and Halloween treats at the finish line. There will be a Trick-or-Trot fun zone for participants featuring a chance for children to get a photo with monsters, face painting, and other kid focused activities. Parents can run/walk with registered children for FREE during the Trick or Trot.
This event combines an electronic music festival with day and night color 5K runs and walks. Make your way through a vibrant course where you are splattered with brilliant colors - this is definitely not an event where you want to wear any expensive or valued shoes and clothing. The daytime wave of runners and walkers makes their way through the course beginning at 5pm and the night group's adventure begins during sunset at 7pm.
Color Fun Fest 5K features a massive finish-line festival featuring live DJ's, food, and the monumental EPICOLOR TOSS. Children under 12 are FREE! If you just want to go enjoy the post-race festival part of the event it costs $10.
The Great Amazing Race is a national skills competition, in which teams
of two people race through an obstacle course in competition with their
peers. Modeled after the TV show, this exciting adventure race has teams
completing a one-mile course speckled with up to 8 fun-filled outdoor
challenges. Clue cards provided at each stations directs teams to
complete a task (obstacle, game, relay, etc.), before advancing to the
next challenge station. Teams strive to arrive at the finish line with
the fastest overall time to be declared the winners.
How well you work together with your partner (communicate &
collaborate) is the most essential skill to winning the race. Waves
begin every 10 minutes … kids teams, then adult teams. The top 25 teams
from each local race qualify for regional championship race and chance
to win $1,500! Reserve your spot now as registration will close once 120
team limit is reached.
Here's some important info to know if you want to compete in THE GREAT AMAZING RACE:
The race is for everyone - runners, joggers and walkers - pee wees to grandparents.
A team consist of two people - Adult/Adult, Adult/Kid or
Kid/Kid. Kindergarten & Pre-K are allowed only if paired with an
adult.
Teams compete in 4 race divisions based on grade of the youngest team member. (Grades: K-2 / 3-5 / 6-8 / 9-Adult).
Each race offers 3 challenging levels ... easy, intermediate & difficult based upon age & fitness level of racers. Be aware that the difficult course consumes energies equivalent to that of a 5K.
Join Michigan's largest chocolate party which features 10K, 5K, and 1 Mile races. Here are the details on a really fun event:
Kona Chocolate Run: 10K/5K/Mile~ Celebrate upcoming
holidays with Cups of Hot Chocolate, Chocolate Chip Cookies, Guernsey
Chocolate Milk & Chocolate Fondue along with music in downtown
Plymouth! Heated Warming Tent next to Chocolate Buffet Tents
Full Zipper Jacket* - High qualityL. Jordan brand "Full zipper jacket with a hoodie, two zipper pockets and embroidered"; Men/Women fitted sizes for entrants; *Jackets guaranteed if registered by 11/8/2015
Post Race Chocolate Party:NEW2 Large Tents with 4 buffet lines.
Panera Bread providing cups of Hot Chocolate, Chocolate Cookies,
Guernsey Dairy serving Chocolate Milk and Schakolad Chocolate Factory
will provide Chocolate Fountain Fondues with cookies & sliced
bagels!
DETROIT THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE TURKEY TROT/ Detroit
Running this 5K that takes you along the annual Detroit Thanksgiving Day parade route with thousands of spectators watching and cheering you on is something everyone should try at least once as a memory making experience. For some runners it crosses an item off their bucket list and for others it becomes an annual tradition.
So there you have it - Detroit has these and many other running/walking events for people of all skill levels and ages to enjoy throughout the autumn season. Whether it is enjoying fall colors, a holiday themed affair, or an amazing race there really is something for everyone to participate in.
