GOOBERS: History & Memories for Chocolate Covered Nuts Day!

Today is National Chocolate Covered Nuts Day. I don't think I've ever met a chocolate covered nut I didn't liked, especially chocolate covered macadamia nuts. However, I got to thinking about the whole chocolate covered nut thing, and I realized that my love of chocolate covered nuts goes back to Goobers at the Movies! I always bought Goobers or Raisinets from the concession stand. My favorites. Goobers, though, were the best: fresh roasted peanuts covered in milk chocolate. Goobers are still made, but I miss the original box, the smell of the box, as much as the product. I just love the crunch of these small covered peanuts. The candy used to be made of just peanuts and chocolate. 

Goobers was introduced in the United States in 1925 by the Blumenthal Chocolate Company. Nestlé acquired the brand in 1984. A large number of other chocolate covered peanut brands exist, but Goobers was the original, at least for me. Peanut M&M's, came much later, and when they were introduced, I liked them, too, but not at the movies. I was a traditionalist. Peanut M&M's are nothing like Goobers. Peanut M&M's have larger peanuts, and a hardy candy shell covers the chocolate and the peanut. Goobers are inconsistent in size which I consider part of their charm and enjoyment. Often you'll just get chocolate without the nut. Occasionally you'll even get a raisinet. Whether or not that's a quality control issue, I don't care. It was always a surprise and a good one.

I'd like to say I've moved on from Goobers, but I really haven't. Oh yes, I love dark chocolate more than milk, and, especially with chocolate covered nuts. Also, the quality of the chocolate as well as the freshness of the nut is very important. As a Judge at the San Francisco International Chocolate Salons, I always take all of this into consideration when I judge the toffees and chocolate covered nut truffles, but I'll always have a place in my heart for Goobers.

CHOCOLATE WALNUT MOUNDS & WALNUT KNOW-HOW: National Chocolate Covered Nut Day

Today is National Chocolate Covered Nut Day! I love Walnuts, and I was lucky to find a small cookbook entitled Diamond Walnut Recipe Gems at the Flea Market. There's no date on the cookbook, but from the lack of zipcode, and the type of illustrations and recipes, I figured it was published anywhere from 1955 to 1965.

What I love most about this cookbook (well, pamphlet, really) are the first two pages on Walnut Know-How! Be sure to scroll down. Lots of good information!

Here's an easy recipe from the Diamond Walnut Recipe Gems Cookbook for Chocolate Walnut Mounds. Make this to celebrate the day!

CHOCOLATE WALNUT MOUNDS

Melt one 6-ounce package (1 cup) semi-sweet chocolate pieces over hot, not boiling water, stirring constantly. Beat till cool. Stir in 1 1/2 cups Diamond Walnut halves and large pieces. Drop in clusters on waxed paper. 

From the Cookbook:

 

Walnut Know-How: Chocolate Walnut Mounds

Today is National Chocolate Covered Nut Day! I love Walnuts, and I was lucky to find a small cookbook entitled Diamond Walnut Recipe Gems at the Flea Market. There's no date on the cookbook, but from the lack of zipcode, and the type of illustrations and recipes, I figured it was published anywhere from 1955 to 1965. Diamond Walnuts still has some great recipes on their website.

What I love most about this cookbook (well, pamphlet, really) are the first two pages on Walnut Know-How! Be sure to scroll down. Lots of good information!

Here's an easy recipe from the Diamond Walnut Recipe Gems Cookbook or Chocolate Walnut Mounds. Make this to celebrate the day!

CHOCOLATE WALNUT MOUNDS

Melt one 6-ounce package (1 cup) semi-sweet chocolate pieces over hot, not boiling water, stirring constantly. Beat till cool. Stir in 1 1/2 cups Diamond Walnut halves and large pieces. Drop in clusters on waxed paper. 

From the Cookbook:

 

Hazelnut Caramel Toffee Bon Bon: Chocolate Covered Nut Day

Today is National Chocolate Covered Nut Day! I've posted several recipes for Chocolate Covered Nuts, so here's a link to some of my favorite chocolate covered nut recipes. Each recipe will vary with the different chocolate and nuts you use. Try a variety. I also have a link to my post on Goobers from last year's Chocolate Covered Nuts Day! Scroll down for a new chocolate covered nut recipe: Hazelnut Caramel Toffee Bon Bons! Go nutty! Have some Chocolate Covered Nuts today!

Margaret Maron's Chocolate Covered Fried Pecans
Goobers
Candied Chocolate Almonds

And here's a fabulous easy recipe for chocolate covered Hazelnuts from the Hazelnut Council

HAZELNUT CARAMEL TOFFEE BON BONS

3/4 cup Hazelnuts, toasted, skin removed, divided
1/4 cup Toffee candy bits
1 1/4 cups (10oz) Semi-sweet chocolate chips or chopped chocolate
1/2 cup Heavy whipping cream
1/2 teaspoon Madagascar Vanilla
1/4 teaspoon Salt
20 (6oz) Caramels, unwrapped, cut in half
40 Hazelnuts, whole, toasted, skin removed

1. Process 1/4 cup hazelnuts and toffee in food processor or blender until finely ground; set aside.
2. Microwave chocolate chips and cream in small microwave-safe bowl on high for 1 to 1 1/2
minutes, stirring every 30 seconds until most of chocolate is melted. Do not overheat; lumps will melt when stirred. Stir in hazelnut mixture, vanilla and salt until blended. Cover and set aside until cool, about 1 1/2 hours.
3. Flatten caramel piece and wrap around one whole hazelnut forming a round ball; repeat. Dice remaining 1/2 cup hazelnuts; set aside.
4. Form 1 heaping teaspoon chocolate mixture around each caramel and roll in diced hazelnuts. Let
set until firm.

Tip: When handling ganache, work quickly in a cool room.

National Chocolate Covered Nuts Day

Today is National Chocolate Covered Nuts Day. I don't think I've ever met a chocolate covered nut I haven't liked, especially chocolate covered macadamia nuts. However, I got to thinking about the whole chocolate covered nut thing, and I realized that my love of chocolate covered nuts goes back to Goobers at the Movies! I always bought Goobers or Raisinets from the concession stand. My favorites. Goobers, though, were the best: fresh roasted peanuts covered in milk chocolate. Goobers are still made, but I miss the original box, the smell of the box, as much as the product. I just love the crunch of these small covered peanuts. The candy is made of just peanuts and chocolate. Nothing else.

Goobers were introduced in the United States in 1925 by the Blumenthal Chocolate Company. Nestlé acquired the brand in 1984. A large number of other brands exist, but Goobers are the original, at least for me. Peanut M&M's, came much later, and when they were introduced, I liked them, too, but not at the movies. I was a traditionalist. Peanut M&M's are nothing like Goobers. Peanut M&M's have larger peanuts, and the hardy candy shell covers the chocolate and the peanut. Goobers are inconsistent in size which I consider part of their charm and enjoyment. Often you'll just get chocolate without the nut. Occasionally you'll even get a raisinet. Whether or not that's a quality control issue, I don't care. It's always a surprise and a good one.

I'd like to say I've moved on from Goobers, but I really haven't. Oh yes, I love dark chocolate more than milk, and, especially in chocolate covered nuts. Also, the quality of the chocolate as well as the freshness of the nut is very important. As a Judge at this year's San Francisco International Chocolate Salon, I'll be taking all this into consideration when I judge the toffees and chocolate covered nut truffles, but I'll always have a place in my heart for Goobers.