BARBIE DAY: I Left My Heart in San Francisco

Yesterday was Barbie Day. National Barbie Day is celebrated annually on March 9, marking the official debut of the Barbie doll at the American International Toy Fair in New York City on March 9, 1959. Created by Ruth Handler, this day celebrates the iconic fashion doll's history, impact on pop culture, and evolution as a symbol of imagination and, more recently, diversity. So for this year's Barbie Day, here's some 'chocolate' and San Francisco Barbie information.

If truth be told, I fancied myself 'too old' for Barbie Dolls, so I never had any or played with anyone else's dolls. Nevertheless, I secretly admired the dolls for their clothes. I had designed clothes for my paperdolls, and I could easily have seen myself designing for Barbie. Alas, that was another career not fulfilled. (If you're looking for some really outstanding Barbie outfits with impeccable tailoring, design, and details, don't miss my friend Kathleen Taylor's Etsy shop - KathleenTaylorsStuff)

And, in case you don't know, Barbie is a chocolaholic. She is very partial to See's Candies, as am I. I finally got my first Barbie doll, the "I Left my Heart in San Francisco" Barbie, when I did a special event for the San Francisco Convention and Visitors Bureau (now known as San Francisco Travel). I love this Barbie--so San Francisco! She's dressed in an early 60s outfit, with hat and gloves, out for a day of lunch and shopping, with a wonderful See's Candies shop in the background. I like to think she's a lady who lunches, probably in Union Square. 

The following See's Candies dolls use to sell at See's. No longer, but you can find them on eBay, and other sites.

Extra Nutty Peanut Butter Fudge Brownies: National Peanut Lovers Day!

Here's a great  recipe for Extra Nutty Peanut Butter Fudge Brownies adapted from Pillsbury using their box Brownie Mix.  I don't usually use boxed mixes, but this is a good recipe. Of course you can make your own brownies and just add the layer of peanut butter fudge and 1/2 cup chopped peanuts.

I really like the clean salty taste of plain roasted peanuts, rather than the recommended honey-roasted peanuts in the original recipe.

I also add chocolate chips to the recipe and cut down on the peanut butter chips. You can never have enough chocolate!

EXTRA NUTTY PEANUT BUTTER FUDGE BROWNIES

Ingredients
2 (15.8 oz) pkg. fudge brownie mix with chocolate syrup
1/2 cup oil
1/2 cup water
 2 eggs
1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk (not evaporated)
7 ounces peanut butter chips
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1/2 cup roasted salted peanuts, coarsely chopped

Directions
Heat oven to 350°F. Spray with nonstick cooking spray or grease bottom only of 13 x 9-inch pan.
In large bowl, combine brownie mixes, chocolate pouches from mixes, oil, water and eggs; beat 50 strokes with spoon. Fold in chocolate chips. Pour about half of batter into sprayed pan.
In large saucepan, combine condensed milk, peanut butter chips and peanut butter; cook over low heat for 5 minutes or until chips and peanut butter are melted, stirring constantly.
Spoon and spread peanut butter mixture over batter.
Drop remaining half of batter over peanut butter layer.
Sprinkle with chopped peanuts.
Bake at 350°F. for 35 to 40 minutes or until edges begin to pull away from sides of pan.
DO NOT OVERBAKE. 
Cool 2 hours.
Refrigerate 1-1/2 hours or until completely cooled before serving.
Cut into bars.

SAN FRANCISCO CHOCOLATE SALON: March 28

 

MARCH 28, 2026
ADVANCE TICKETS AVAILABLE 

When: March 28, 2026
11:00am - 5:00pm 
 

Where: San Francisco County Fair Building
Hall of Flowers
Golden Gate Park
1199 9th Ave at Lincoln Way
San Francisco, CA 94122
 

Adults Tickets:
$25 Advance Tickets 
$30 Tickets at Door 
For more information, go to www.SFChocolateSalon.com

OREOS: America's Favorite Cookie -- History, Truffles, and More! National Oreo Day!

Oreo Ad: 1960

Happy Birthday, Oreo! Today is National Oreo Day! The Oreo is America's Favorite Cookie! This cookie debuted on March 6, 1912 produced by the National Biscuit Company (Nabisco, now owned  by Kraft). The original Oreo was packaged as a Trio: the Mother Goose, the Veronese, and the Oreo Biscuit. Oreo was the most popular, and soon was a stand-alone, well as far as cookies go, because you always need milk with Oreos!

In 1921, Nabisco dropped 'Biscuit' from the name and called it 'Oreo Sandwich.' In 1948 it was called the 'Oreo Creme Sandwich,' and today it's marketed as the Oreo Chocolate Sandwich Cookie. Over the years there have been many variations -- Mini Oreos, Double Delight, Triple stuffed, Lemon-Cream, Chocolate Covered Mint Oreos, Halloween Oreos--even Oreo O's Cereal made by Post. For those who are interested in cookie history, the Hydrox chocolate sandwich cookie predated Oreos by four years. Read more here.

So how do you eat your Oreos? Do you dunk them? Do you open them and lick the filling and then eat the cookies? Or do you just bite and chew?

I've posted scads of Oreo-based tasty treats here on DyingforChocolate.com. But here's an easy recipe for Oreo Truffles -- recipe from Kraft. You'll find similar recipes all over the Internet. This is so easy, and you'll only need Three Ingredients: Oreos, Cream Cheese, and Chocolate. Yum! I substitute fair trade organic dark chocolate for the Baker's, but if you don't have any, Baker's is fine.

OREO TRUFFLES

Ingredients
1 pkg. (8 ounces) Philadelphia Cream Cheese, softened
1 pkg. (15.5 ounces) Oreo Cookies, finely crushed (about 4-1/4 cups), divided
2 pkg. (8 squares each) Baker's Semi-Sweet Chocolate, melted

Directions
Mix cream cheese and 3 cups cookie crumbs until well blended.
Shape into 48 (1-inch) balls. Dip in melted chocolate; place on waxed paper-covered baking sheet. Sprinkle with remaining cookie crumbs.
Refrigerate 1 hour or until firm. Store in tightly covered container in refrigerator.

Hint: for Dipping, use two forks to make it easier (and less messy) or a special dipping utensil you can find online or at a kitchen store. I melt chocolate in a double boiler, but if you're careful, you can melt it in the microwave.

And what are Oreos without a cold glass of milk?

Oreo Elevator Ad

Have an Oreo Today! Happy Birthday, Oreo!