When I go to church or do any other religious activities Tobias calls it my "perfect life of piety". This photo is for him.
So I am giving up chocolate for Lent, which, if you know me well, may seem a bit weird, since I'm not much of a chocolate lover. Or it may seem completely normal, because it's easy to give up something that you don't care that much for anyway. However, you should know that I have developed a bit of a chocolate habit of late, so in fact I am giving up something that I do find myself wanting on a daily basis.
I notice a lot of non-religious people observe Lent for a whole host of reasons. Since they are already heathens, I have no comment on this.
My dad, who is religious, said he hoped to lose weight by giving up pastries for Lent! For shame! I chastised him until he agreed that using Lent to lose weight is not at all the thing.
In my case, I am doing it for strictly spiritual reasons. I intend to pray every time I find myself wanting chocolate. Thus will I become closer to God. If I happen to kick my newfound chocolate habit in the process, is that so wrong?
Since I have never observed Lent before, I do wonder what form these prayers will take. I know they're not supposed to be about the thing you're giving up, but I can imagine that mine might be, at least at the beginning.
perhaps..
Dear Lord,
I wish I could have some chocolate. Won't you make it be Easter NOW so that I can? Thanks in advance.
Amen
or...
Dear Lord,
There's no reason why I can't both pray AND eat chocolate is there? I don't see any.
Amen
or...
Dear Lord,
Okay, if you really want me to continue with this observation, give me a sign. Give me a sign now. If I shouldn't eat chocolate, let the wind blow. If I should, make that cloud move. Okay?
Amen
or even...
Dear Lord,
Valrhona! Ghirardelli! Callebaut! Blanxart! Cuizel!
Amen
Since I am giving up neither eggs nor milk nor butter, it didn't make too much sense to have your basic Shrove Tuesday pancake dinner last night. So I compromised with...
New Recipe Number 17: Potato Pancakes - this is online and it was great.
with sour cream and sausage and apples and
New Recipe Number 18: Chocolate Chocolate-chip Pancakes - from the All New Joy of Cooking. Not bad, but a bit of a chocolate overload. Sweetened sour cream on top takes the edge off.
Come Easter, this Valrhona Noir bar with 71% cocoa solids is going to be a very welcome treat
