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Last 7 Days

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• Will the view kill property values?

• City of Lodi considering furloughs and trying to avoid layoffs

• Wine and Chocolate Weekend in Lodi filled with food, fun and a golden ticket

• Counties suing state to keep money-spigot flowing

• Thieves forgo fuel, attempt to fill up on cash during gas station robberies

• Regional Roundup

• Boy suffers injuries when struck by car on his way to school

• Correction

February 9th, 2010

• Middle College High School rated one of the best — and a bargain, to boot

• Lodi decathlon boasts top team in county

• Man who sparked counterfeit case pleads guilty

• Local businessman will visit Haiti to look for family

• Man who claimed to be Yosemite Sam pleads guilty to meth charge

• David Harmer seeks Republican congressional nod

• Lack of evidence in case against suspect in 'drug deal' stabbing

• Regional Roundup

February 8th, 2010

• Public Meetings

• Locals pick best, most memorable Super Bowl commercials

• Regional Roundup

February 6th, 2010

• The Home Depot hopes to join Costco at Reynolds Ranch

• Meet Larry, Curly and Moe

• Baboon business

• Regional Roundup

• Several Lodi venues let you watch the Super Bowl in style

• Lodi Library celebrates 100 years of serving the community

• Culinary craft

February 5th, 2010

• Kids, teachers help Haiti by collecting pennies for Learning Link

• Lodi, Galt students reach out to help Haiti earthquake survivors

• Tasered suspect claims he is Yosemite Sam

• Hours of sweat and work go into putting on crab feeds

• Things looking up for state's real estate

• Correction

• Regional Roundup

• Stray bullet strikes Lodi home; police suspect gang activity may be factor

February 4th, 2010

• Managers at Geweke Toyota answer questions about recall

• Lodi City Council votes to replace play structure at Century Park

• Lodi extends ban on pot shops for another year

• Mokelumne River triathlon set for June

• Family, friends to run half-marathon in memory of Galt family

February 3rd, 2010

• Correction

• Delta College trustees again collide over stipend committee

• Bad bugs, weeds are hot topics at Grape Day

• Lodi-area senators Dave Cox, Lois Wolk admit to gifts; Tom Berryhill case pending

• Lodi Unified School District president issues warning to speakers over cuts

• Galt City Council avoids budget cuts — for now

• New Lodi Memorial Hospital emergency room opens to the public without a hitch

• Regional Roundup

February 2nd, 2010

• Local business leaders say tourism, Costco, Home Depot may play roles in city's future

• Correction

• Former Lodian Erica Davis is first paraplegic woman to summit Kilimanjaro

• Regional Roundup

• No snow leopards, otters for Micke Grove

• McNerney leads in campaign cash

• Police: Train victim was a Lodi teen

• Big rig plows 7 cars

• Jumpers across California

The following stories have received the most reader comments during the last 7 days.

• Will terrorists be given Miranda warnings? (75)
• Lodi Unified School District president issues warning to speakers over cuts (64)
• President Obama's first year (45)
• Many reject the politics of 'no' (45)
• Islamic symbol in mosaic — what is all the fuss? (44)
• Writer comments on Neely column (42)
• The Home Depot hopes to join Costco at Reynolds Ranch (41)
• Time to shed the convenient sham of 'Don't ask, don't tell' policy (34)
• We need to conduct respectful conversations (30)
• Tasered suspect claims he is Yosemite Sam (25)

ADVERTISEMENT

Crazy for chocolate

How to give this rich, creamy treat on Valentine's Day

The appearance is dark and smooth. The smell beckons to all who open the box. The taste is creamy, rich and luxurious as it melts in the mouth.

This food that stimulates all the senses — chocolate — has always been a popular gift for Valentine's Day. How many different ways can you say 'I love you' with chocolate? Local chocolate retailers have shared what they have available for the big day.

Assorted chocolates

For those interested in the simple chocolate taste, A Taste of Heaven offers chocolate truffles, chocolate caramels or chocolate malt balls. If a more complex chocolate taste is desired, Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory offers specialized chocolates such as avalanche bark, which is peanuts mixed with white ribbon chocolate, Rice Krispies, marshmallows and chocolate chips.

"We make everything in our store," said employee Alex Licata. "Ninety-five percent of what we sell, we make."

The store also offers peanut butter cups made in heart shapes and Rocky Mountain nuggets. There are different types of chocolate bark such as Tiger Butter, which is peanut butter with white ribbon chocolate.

Food dipped in chocolate

A variety of foods can be dipped in chocolate and Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory offers chocolatedipped strawberries and pretzels dipped in white chocolate and decorated with Valentine colors.

A Taste of Heaven has a variety of nut products made by The Lodi Nut Factory, including chocolate-covered almonds in heart-shaped containers. They also offer fruit covered in chocolate.

Fudge

Looking for fudge? Try going gourmet with Merrilyn's Gourmet Wine Fudge. Merrilyn Wilmoth uses her own recipe, which she prepares in her kitchen.

"Everyone always says they have never heard of it before," she said.

Wilmoth's fudge comes packaged in a four pack, each wrapped like Tootsie Rolls. She also has fudge-filled hearts, berry fudge and Chardonnay fudge.

"The beauty of fudge is that you can eat it just like fudge or you can melt it and dip strawberries in it, melt over popcorn or melt it in your coffee," she said. "It's a lot more than just the fudge."

Wilmouth also makes tipsy turtles, which is wine fudge mixed with caramel, pecans and wine fudge drizzled on top.

"It's to make you tipsy," she added.

Cookies

Chocolate biscotti and chocolate-covered cookies in decorative boxes are available at A Taste of Heaven. If you're searching for something a little more unique, they also have chocolate fortune cookies.

"Those are really fun around Valentine's Day," said owner Jackie Powell.

Chocolate drinks

For those who prefer chocolate in liquid form, Mon Pettit Chic has hand-painted chocolate martini glasses and coffee mugs. Recipes for chocolate martinis and chocolate coffee are on the bottom of each. Owner Christi Morris said it is more like chocolate with no calories.

She also sells Mexican and American varieties of Moonstruck hot chocolate mix.

Contact Features Editor Pam Bauserman at pamelab@lodinews.com.