Chocolate Celebration Features Tastes, Recipes, Games

Chocolate lovers enjoyed sampling candies, baked goods and exchanging recipes at the first "A Taste of Chocolate" at St. Stephen Catholic Church in Valrico Nov. 9.

The sweet-filled event was a fundraiser for the church's bereavement ministry.

Nearly 100 chocolate lovers shared tastes of their favorite chocolate recipes including chocolate flan, chocolate pizza by Jan Thompson and chocolate cakes by Dianna Erdelac of To Di For Special Desserts and Sarah Shirina of Cakes by Sarah Beth.

The evening also included ice cream with a choice of chocolate toppings, chocolate beverages and chocolate candy created by Anita Fox and The Original Leena's Chocolates in Valrico. Leena's also donated a chocolate fountain for the evening.

Parishioner and admitted chocoholic Nancy Slade was on hand with her newly released book, "A Guidebook for Chocoholics." She also created two gift baskets and donated books for a raffle.

For the kids, there was a game of chocolate bingo and painting with chocolate syrup.

The event raised more than $800 for the bereavement ministry.

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