Works for Me- Choctoberfest

A night full of chocolate and girlfriends... what could be better? Not much, unless the evening starts with my husband helping clean the house and then taking my kids out for the night.

I am a chocoholic. I probably need help, really. People buy me gifts like plates and pitchers and notepads and cards that talk about chocolate. Apparently people know about my addiction. Somehow they figured me out. Not sure how, unless it was all the chocolate at Bible study breakfasts and the drooling over desserts on girls' nights out.

Several years ago I began hosting "Choctoberfest." It is a super easy, laid-back, fun night that you could try this October with your friends. The first year, I sent out invitations to my girlfriends and invited them to bring a small chocolate treat to share. I think about 12 friends came and Cindy's Mocha Palace was bursting with chocolatey goodness. Last year I think I had 65 girls. We were scrunched but happy. This year will be the sixth annual Choctoberfest! It is a great opportunity for people to invite their neighbors or girls they know who need girlfriends. All we do is eat chocolate and talk.

I typically provide the paper products and drinks, and everyone else brings chocolate goodies. It is amazing to see what people come up with! Friends told me months ago they are already planning their recipe! I usually have some contests and prizes, and we simply hang out and laugh a lot. I always have extra plates and foil so everyone can take some chocolate back home to their hubbies and kiddos.

Choctoberfest is now a tradition and people ask me in August when it will be! As it has grown, I've given up on invitations and now do emails and word of mouth.

Want to try a Choctoberfest of your own? Here are some things I've done:

*Sent invitations on brown paper with Hershey's Kisses stickers
*Showed the clip from Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory where Charlie finds the golden ticket. Taped under someone's plate was a golden piece of foil. It was hilarious watching people dive for their plates. The one with the golden ticket won a prize.
*Printed out quotes about chocolate and placed them around the living room
*Awarded a prize for the person dressed the most "chocolatey." People have been known to wear six shades of brown to win!
*Had people vote for their favorite dessert, for the most chocolatey, most creative, best presentation, etc. Prizes for the winner? Chocolate, of course!
*Had a "How Well Do You Know Cindy's Chocolate Addiction" Quiz where people had to guess which chocolate dessert in town is my favorite, which chocolate drink at Starbucks, etc.
*Candybar Game- cut up several different candy bars without their wrappers; people write their guesses. Most correct wins a ginormous chocolate bar!
*I pick up chocolate candles or cute little pottery bowls to hold candy and buy a couple gift cards for prizes.

For the non-chocolate lovers among your friends (are they REALLY friends, then?!), provide some fruit and pretzels for the chocolate fondue and they can just eat that!


Here's one of my favorite chocolate recipes for you, too:

Chocolate Sour Cream Cake

4 eggs

1/2 C warm butter

1/2 C veg. oil

1 C sour cream

1 small pkg instant chocolate pudding

1 pkg chocolate cake mix

9 oz chocolate chips

Mix first four ingredients. Add chocolate pudding mix. Continue to beat. Add cake mix; beat well. Fold in chocolate chips. Pour in greases and floured bundt pan. Bake 350 for 1 hour. Check at 50 minutes. Cool thoroughly before turning out. Sprinkle with powdered sugar.

Happy Choctober!

For more Works For Me Wednesdays, check out Rocks in my Dryer.