Life List #35: Ruby Chocolate

Excitedly brought on the scene in 2017, Ruby Chocolate was unveiled in Shanghi as newly discovered cocoa beans who produced a new (4th) type of chocolate...naturally pinkish in colour.

Being the confirmed chocoholic I am...I had to try it.

Kit Kat kicked off the commercial use soon after...but I just couldn't get excited about pink Kit Kat Bars, and soon forgot about it all together.

Then a company from Taiwan started making Pure Ruby Squares.

So, here are mine.

One of the Squares looks like this.

A darker muddier pink than I was expecting.
About an eighth of an inch thick.

And that rich chocolate smell when you open a bit of candy or cocoa???

Not with these.

More of a waxy...maybe burned smell.

You know how good chocolate melts at body temperature?

Yeah...not this...held a square between my thumb and forefinger for maybe 3 minutes.  Not even an impression...forget melting.

Although this might be the perfect chocolate for the extreme heat in some countries...and it has to be comforting that with Ruby Chocolate there will still be chocolate products in Hell...

Then came the tasting.

No wonder this stuff is not taking over, and flying off the shelves.

In a word

Disgusting

In several words...

What the hell were they thinking. It is hard...tart to the taste...if you were blindfolded you would never guess this was even suppose to be chocolate.

No real chocolate flavor.

Just waxy and tart.

You can try it yourself here...

https://www.iherb.com/pr/Chocolove-Ruby-Cacao-Bar-3-1-oz-87-g/98252?gclid=CjwKCAiA3uDwBRBFEiwA1VsajKzmtHx92abbC1KvdMB_8Eq2RefQmAA7iDaUVAW_NoI3H6jIXo4_LBoCR10QAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Although, it is beyond me as to why you would.

Earlier this month the UK also released a Ruby Hot Cocoa Powdered
Chocolate drink.

Yeah...I'm going to have to take a hard pass on that.

Monday, we will check out The Belize Zoo!

More Anon.

(...still trying to get the taste out of my mouth...)

Life List #34: Dragon Fruit

Try Everything!

Today we tried Dragon Fruit!

Found growing in Asia, Mexico and parts of South America, dragon fruit grows as an exotic cactus.  Not the Prickly Pear fruit of the Southwest.

Dragon Fruit Growing

It is generally available as an import (here) in December and January and ranges from $3. to $5.

Mine was $5.00 at Walmart.

Dragon Fruit is also known as Pitaya and the Dragon name came about because of the thick skin and overlapping scalelike appearance. It is also known as the strawberry pear.

They come in three varieties.

Red with white flesh and fine black seeds.

Yellow with white flesh and tiny black seeds.

Red both inside and out with black seeds.

And can be sweet or sour.

The seeds are edible (much like kiwi fruit), but can be saved and dried to plant.

Easily grown, it takes nearly 5 years to flower and produce fruit of its own.

Since John was here (...and he says his middle name is Guinea Pig...) we opened and tried it together.

After buying it is recommended to let it sit for several days (until the tips of the dragon-like scales turn brownish and it is ripe)

So we did.

Our Dragon Fruit opened.

 

 It is easy to see why this is used in salads and drinks...as it has very little flavor of its own. Almost no smell.  Absorbing the flavor combinations around it.

(think tofu)

The texture is a great deal like Kiwi...without the great taste.

I found it slimy, tasteless, and not something I will probably ever buy again.

But it is off the Life List....and I can honestly say I've (...we've...) given it a try!



Tomorrow...Ruby Chocolate!

Virtual Belize: The Rum Factory

As Captain Jack Sparrow would say

"Welcome to the Carribean, Luv..."

Today we tour The Traveller's Rum Factory in Belize City and maybe even get a couple of recipes!

Part Museum...part Modern...with samplings at the end of the tour.

And you can buy and try Traveller's Belizean Rum for yourself here...

https://www.universalfws.com/p-2122-travellers-1-barrel-rum.aspx

Tour

https://youtu.be/MoJJOH-xALQ

And some additional recipes straight from  the factory.


Panti Rippa

1 ounce Coconut Rum

2 ounces Pineapple Juice

Serve over ice.


Belizean Breeze

1 ounce Coconut Rum

3 ounces Pineapple Juice

1 teaspoon cherry juice

Serve over ice.



Dragon Fruit Mojito

12 mint leaves

2 ounces dragon fruit

2 ounces rum.

1 ounce lime juice

2 teaspoons white sugar

Crush mint leaves with Dragon Fruit

Shake with ice and rest of ingredients.

Top with soda water.

1Barrel – Cran Barrel
1 oz 1Barrel Rum
2 oz Cranberry Juice
Serve over ice
​
Kuknat Coconut Rum – Panti Rippa
1 oz Coconut Rum
2 oz Pineapple Juice
Serve over ice
​
Cristal Lite Rum – Belizean Breeze
1 oz Parrot White Rum
1 oz Fruit Punch
1 oz Black Berry Wine
Soda Water
Serve in tall glass
​
Cristal Lemon Rum – Rumarita
1 oz Cristal Lemon
2 oz Triple Sec
2 oz Lemon or Lime Juice
Blend

What is Dragon Fruit?

Well, I'm glad you asked.

This is Dragon Fruit.

And tomorrow we are going to try one for the very first time.

Another item on my Life List!

Come along with me.

More tomorrow!

1Barrel – Cran Barrel
1 oz 1Barrel Rum
2 oz Cranberry Juice
Serve over ice
​
Kuknat Coconut Rum – Panti Rippa
1 oz Coconut Rum
2 oz Pineapple Juice
Serve over ice
​
Cristal Lite Rum – Belizean Breeze
1 oz Parrot White Rum
1 oz Fruit Punch
1 oz Black Berry Wine
Soda Water
Serve in tall glass
​
Cristal Lemon Rum – Rumarita
1 oz Cristal Lemon
2 oz Triple Sec
2 oz Lemon or Lime Juice
Blend

1Barrel – Cran Barrel
1 oz 1Barrel Rum
2 oz Cranberry Juice
Serve over
​
Kuknat Coconut Rum – Panti Rippa
1 oz Coconut Rum
2 oz Pineapple Juice
Serve over ice
​
Cristal Lite Rum – Belizean Breeze
1 oz Parrot White Rum
1 oz Fruit Punch
1 oz Black Berry Wine
Soda Water
Serve in tall glass
​
Cristal Lemon Rum – Rumarita
1 oz Cristal Lemon
2 oz Triple Sec
2 oz Lemon or Lime Juice
Blend

Life List #33 Virtual Belize: Belize City

Belize, for me, has always conjured up the image of sugar white beaches, rum drinks, thatched hut resorts and crystal turquoise water.  Above all RELAXATION.

Belize City is not THAT Belize.

We will get there.

That Belize is outside the city...found on the two hundred islands that dot its Carribean coast.

But not here.

Like Napoli,  Belize City has a reputation worldwide for its crime rate.
 

(...since this is virtual we will spend some time poking around here...in real time most  tourists fly into the airport here...but leave almost immediately for those beaches and rum drinks...)

Into to Belize City

https://youtu.be/mjUKmMsZHbU


The city was once the capital city of the British Honduras.  This is important to know because

1.  English is the Official language here.

2.  Everyplace takes USD (without exchange) and the rate is one USD to 2 Belizean Dollars. So if an item says $20. You get it for $10 US.

Belizean Dollar Coins

Only Independent since 1981...Belize is very young and still finding its way yet.

Come on...let's tour the city...

(...from the saftey of our keyboards...)

Belize City Tour

https://youtu.be/cpjM3WeqHao

Initially, what hits you is how poor this city is...a striking contrast to its people. Most of which are smiling and friendly.

Like any city...there are areas to be avoided.

George Street with its gang activity, mostly related to drugs, is one of these.

Downtown Belize

https://youtu.be/ZjuZm4xJvUw


George Street

 With crime-scene tape evident after a mob boss killing occurring earlier.

Apparently, the locals know what they are talking about when they say

"You just no go there, man."

Although there are buses and cars visible...the main way around Belize City is
by bicycle...or BMW....which does not mean what you think it does...but it Belizean for

"...better me walk..."

On the waters edge in the city is an Official Tourist District where meals...tours...dives...guides and such can be arranged for USD.

Brightly painted and well kept, making you forget for the moment you are in a third world country.

An illusion, to be sure.

Tomorrow, we will check out the Rum Factory!

Virtual Belize: Itinerary

Nestled between Mexico and Guatemala...the coastline sports almost 200 tiny islands in the Carribean Sea.

So much to see/do/and try.

Belize City (...hazardous in real travel...but quite safe in virtual)

Tour the Rum Factory (...Welcome to the Carribean, luv...)

See some of the Mayan Ruins.

Check out the geology, flora and fauna of the area.

Including a trip to the Zoo.

Check out some of the local cusine and learn to make/try a few Belizean dishes.

Check out some of the music .


Virtually dive the Blue Hole and around some of the Islands.

Check out Caye Caulker

Check out Ambergris Caye

See Blackbeard's Caye 

Buy some of the Marie Sharp items.

See Palencia

And whatever pops up as we explore.

This is my winter adventure so we have until March!

Three months in virtual Belize.

We'll begin tomorrow with the city!

First Friday of the New Year...and 2020's New Virtual Adventure

Had to look at the day and date this morning!

Damned mid-week holidays, anyway.

Two in a row.

Thankful that by Monday life will be closer to normal!

(...whatever that is...)

Very sad and disturbing start to the New Year in my apartment building yesterday.

A wellness check/reported foul odor complaint became the horribly obvious when maintenance crew opened an upstairs door to find a deceased-for-some-time resident.

Followed by police and a hearse...and a smell of long-dead that lingered even downstairs for most of the day necessitating citrus sprays and doors blocked open to the outside for fresh circulating air.

Sad, because even after the death was discovered there were no family members coming...no friends here...no one.

How terrible to die totally alone, unnoticed.

Isolated.

And to be dead, and no one notice you are gone.

Sobering.

Grateful for my lover...my children...my family and good friends...who notice when I go missing even for 1 day on FB...or the phone...or out with the transit in our community.

And to those who do live a hermit's existence...reach out...stay involved in life...don't die alone and forgotten.

No movie this week...but there was a book

A collection of 13 short stories by Joe Hill.

(...also known as Stephen King's son...)

Not the out and out horror of his old man's ghouls and goblins...but the terrifying horror and struggle of fractured, flawed individuals.

Tales of people like you or I...who just jumped the rails at one point or another.

The most shocking and chilling of the collection- to me

All I Care About is You

I read this one on Christmas Eve, and by the end just sat quietly stunned.

(...your results may vary...)

Well worth the read!


And what is a New Year without plans for a New Virtual Adventure?

Working up an itinerary I'll share Monday...as we start 2020 in Belieze!

 
Enjoy the relaxing weekend...

We've earned it!

Happy New Year!!!

2020...and the picture seems appropriate.

This year is The Gift I'm giving myself.

I touched on this (and blogged it) after Diane and Brenda and I had our Christmas Tea for the year together...where we decided after way-too-many years that THIS is going to be  Our Year.

My Year.

And in the light of that spirit...slept in until 9:30 and it was decadent!

My Resolution for the Foreseeable Future?

Started the year with coffee and chat with John & Gadget...Sofi having already been brushed and fed and loved and played with...and curled up....back to sleep on her (my?) soft throw.

(...I'm definitely coming back as a pampered house-cat...)

And I encourage every one of you to make 2020 YOUR Year, too!

Going to get some things accomplished that I have been putting off.

Make a list of things I still need to fix here...and buy, to make life easier.

Do a room by room de-clutter...think Swedish Death Cleaning...then KEEP it that way.

Weighed in...and realized from November to Today (...when I always stop the Fast at the end of the year...because I like to EAT...) I have gained 12 pounds...so tomorrow I'll start back on the ADF (...alternating day fast...) until this is resolved.

(...I knew I had gained quite a bit as my clothes were getting snug...)

Still with the ADF I have managed to stay the same size since 2014. Simple. 600 calorie intake on the FAST days...and normal eating on the non-fast days.

(...but not tonight...tonight is all about an Italian Feast of Sausage and Peppers, Zucchini and Parmesan, Garlic Bread and Salad...the Rest of the Panetone Sweetbread...and maybe a bit of wine...)

But first a candlelit bubble bath.

Because I can.

Give yourselves the Gift of 2020.


Love,

Carla


Oh, and my Warren Moment

"I have a PLAN for that"

(...as it applies to savings...)

Going to halve my non-fixed expenditures this year, and bank the other half in savings.

The end of 2019 was a disaster financially, and one that I NEVER want to repeat.

By padding my savings account...I won't.

Wishing everyone a Happy "YOU" Year!

 

"I can live without the tree..."

                             ~Sofi