Monday, May 4, 2009

Choco-ALOT (If you're really hungry you might want to skip this post)

Last Tuesday, our homeschool group took the sweetest field trip! We toured Dinstuhls Chocolate Factory/Store. It wasn't the first time we toured there, but it had been a few years and way too long, so I was happy to go back! It truly has been a favorite field trip of mine! They were the nicest people and when you combine that with lots and lots of chocolate, well......need I say more????? Come on along with me and I'll share this heavenly field trip with you, but please note I'm not responsible for any increasted appetites after reading this post! :)



Here's our group (well the kids) outside Dinstuhls before the tour began:



First imagine walking through the door to the aroma of every kind of chocolate treat you could imagine....milk chocolate, dark chocolate, white chocolate, chocolate covered strawberries............heavenly smells I tell you! You look around and there's chocolate everywhere, mouth-watering chocolate.....behind the counters.... and out on the shelves!



Well we passed through there and went back behind the scenes and watched a slide presentation on how we get chocolate, how the company was started, the process it goes through, etc... It was very interesting. The kids were very attentive.





From there, we really went behind the scenes....right into the factory. Can you imagine going to work everyday with a chocolate fountain, dipping candies into chocolate? These people obviously enjoy their jobs!

They had samples for us to taste right there. See those at the far right? That's cashew crunch...a speciality of theirs and my personal favorite! Yummy! (I snuck back over for seconds by the way...and Joy didn't like hers...so guess who got it?)



Nobody had to be coaxed!



Just look at this fudge!



They make their own heavenly marshmellows! They were so light in your mouth. Yes, the guy was standing there while Lori and I were photographing it and asked if we wanted a taste.....and you know we didn't refuse! (I'm the gal that loves those marshmellow peeps and can eat a whole box!)



The kids asked really good questions and some funny ones and our tour guide, Andrew (a 5th generation candy maker), really enjoyed answering them. He was great and the children were totally captivated!





Here they were making pralines.







Here candy goes on getting a bottom layer of chocolate.



Here goes the chocolate down the conveyor belt headed to the "chocolate fountain".



At the end it was showered with chocolate.....immersing it into chocolate...beautiful chocolate!



This reminded me so much of the I Love Lucy episode where she and Ethel were working in the chocolate factory and all was well.....they were loving that job and pretty confident with themselves about how easy it was....until production sped up and they couldn't keep up! They were stuffing chocolate everywhere.....in their mouths, in their shirts and aprons.....do you remember that?



(They even had this postcard hanging on their bulletin board of the Lucy episode)!

This lady was obviously keeping up with her job though!



At Dinstuhl's, custom orders are welcomed and no request is too hard or unique.



They make chocolate in every shape you can imagine!





Joy and I brought Colt home a chocolate electric guitar!

A few years ago when we went, they had similiar houses (but Christmas houses)...an entire village of chocolate houses....it was quite a sight!



Around Easter, they made a 75 lb. solid chocolate bunny rabbit with chocolate eggs in his basket. A man came in and bought it to be sent to St. Jude Hospital. I thought that was so thoughtful! Can you imagine the delight of those children?

At the end of our tour, there was much shopping going on in the store and as we left, each adult was given a chocolate sampling box and each child was given a goodie bag of chocolate and other candy treats to take home!

And did you know that chocolate is actually very good for you? I have it straight from the mouth of a 5th generation candy maker. So there, go get you some chocolate.....it's good for you! :)



(Well maybe not THIS much)!

44 comments:

Carmen S. said...

OH MY GOSH!!! I would LOVE to work there, LOL! Looks like a fun trip, thanks for sharing, now I'm off to find some chocolate!!!!!

Carey's Farmhouse Kitchen said...

I have one word! Yummy!

Looks like the kids and you had a great time.

Carey
http://americangirlprimitivesnsuch.blogspot.com/

Lois Christensen said...

Oh my word, does my house smell like chocolate now!!! I would have felt like I died and went to heaven! How did you manage without eating everything!!! Looks yummy and I'm sure the highlight of the kid's trips!!!

Never So Simple said...

YUMMMMMMMM! I always knew chocolate was good for you I have been saying it for years. How can something so good be bad for you. :) I absolutely love chocolate. What a great trip to go on. Great pictures also.

Donna

Zaroga said...

What a great tour! I would love a piece of fudge.

Yankee Ridge Primitives said...

WOW!!! OMGosh, Ide be in total heaven working there, or even walking IN smelling the wonderful scents! Your pictures made my mouth water and crave some serious chocolate!

Cat Nap Inn Primitives said...

Hey Tammy,
I love field trips and this one would have been a total blast..oh chocolate glorious chocolate..great now I am craving chocolate..milk kind right now..smooth and creamy..you are making my mouth wata...:)

Raggedy Angel said...

OOOOOOOOh....I can smell all the yumminess! What a great trip!
Beth

At Home With Amy said...

What a fun day that must have been. I think I gained 4 pounds just looking at all your pictures. Thanks for sharing.
Blessings,
AMY

basketsnprims said...

Tammy ~
Thanks for the tour of the chocolate house. Chocolate is my favorite food group, LOL. We have a chocolate factory in a nearby town & there's nothing like it. Simon occasionally buys me the seafoam or angel chocolates cuz I can't find them anywhere. That fudge looks so delish. It looks like the kids had a great time. I bet Colt liked his choc. guitar. Have a wonderful week.
hugs,
Pam

Anne said...

mmmmmmmm,one of my biggest weaknesses.......I think I have 10lbs of chicolate sitting right on my hips..lol
Looks like a great time!
Anne

Anonymous said...

Looks like you all had a real fun trip!! Oh my goodness, how yummy looking all that chocolate candy looks Tammy!! I definately can't resist chocolate of any kind!!

I do remember that episode with Lucy and Ethel working in that chocolate factory... I still chuckle when I think about how fast she was shoving the chocolates in her mouth... and all over the place too!! That was one of my most favorite episodes! We always watched I Love Lucy!

I've got this craving for chocolate!! Hmmm, I just remembered that I have a box of 100calorie chocolate pretzels sitting there in my pantry!! Chocolate pretzels...here I come!! :)

Have a great day!
Love & Blessings,
~Lynn/OKC

Karen said...

All I can say is Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm! What a great tour!

Backwoodsprim said...

Wow! Now THAT'S the ultimate in field trips!!! :)
I'm going to look for the bag of chocolate chips DD hid! LOL!!!

That "I love Lucy" episode is DD & my favorite!! I can watch it over and over and still laugh myself silly every time!!
What a great wholesome show!

Thanks for sharing this post!
Now where are those chocolate chips??? :)

Backwoodsprim

Sue said...

What a wonderful field trip! I am now craving chocolate...and pralines! The episode with Lucy & Ethel is one of my favorites. Thanks for sharing these great pictures with us.

Michelle said...

I'm jealous! Thanks for sharing!!!

Shelley said...

I am CRAVING chocolate right now and need to get my hand on some! Loved seeing their chocolate creations!

Mandy said...

Tammy, you're killing me being the chocoholic I am!

It was seriously making me think about the I Love Lucy show right before I got to the picture you posted!

That looks like a great field trip!

Mandy

ohiofarmgirl said...

Oh, my mouth is watering. lol Dianntha

Happily Ever After said...

Hi Tammy,

What a cool trip. I bet the kids and adults too enjoyed that trip so much. It seemed very interesting. You had me when you mentioned chocolate covered strawberries!!! That would be a neat tour...I enjoy learning how items are made, the process, etc.

The kids looked like they are having a great time.

The chocolate ducks were so adorable.

Thanks for sharing the tour.

Blessings,

Gigi

Birgit said...

Oh my, what decadent goodness! The trip looks like fun and what a treat to get to see how they make all their luscious goodies and taste them too!
So glad you all had a fun time. :)
Hugs~ Birgit

Kimberly said...

Oh, yum!



Thanks... now I'm off to do some hunting in the kitchen.


;)

Denise said...

Darn it!! I should have listened to the warning about being hungry and reading this! Now I want GOOD chocolates!

XXDenise

Unknown said...

OMGOSH, How fun was that!! I'd love to sample some but my waistline wont like it..lol..

Blessed Beyond said...

What a fun and awesome trip! YUMMY!

Hope you have a wonderful week!!!

Hugs and Blessings,

Linda - Behind My Red Door said...

What gal doesn't love a little chocolate. And I am with you on the marshmallows and peeps. OH YUM _ one of those fresh marshmallows and a pice of dark chocolate together = heaven on earth - or in my mouth at least.

What a fun trip for the kids and moms. Next time I want to go with you!

hugs, Linda

CozyGirl said...

Oh my goodness, all that chocolate looks so delicious! What a fun field trip:-)Hope you are having a good week Tammy!
Janae

Madison said...

That looks like the most fun field trip!!! Looks like you and everyone else had a great time!!!

Love, Madison

Luke Holzmann said...

I wasn't particularly hungry when I arrived here... then I saw the first picture.

...now I'm hungry.

[smile]

~Luke

Debbie said...

I can almost smell the chocolate while reading! It definately looks like a fun place to work and I'm sure it held the kids interest.

Thank you for sharing!

Debbie

Michele said...

Oh my gosh Tammy...I would have had such a blast there...me and chocolate go hand in hand!!!

It looks like the kids had a great time!

Yummo!
Hugz,
Michele

Farming On Faith said...

What a wonderful Homeschool Field Trip~looks oh so fun!
Blessings~
Carrie

Kim said...

Tammy,
For moments like this, when someone says chocolate, I have chocolate chips hidden in my freezer. I believe its time for some chocolate.:O My kids and I would be going back every year on that fieldtrip and they will be out in just a couple of years.:(
Thanks for sharing,
Kim in OK

Country Chick said...

Hi Tammy, Great Post! I would have loved that field trip and so would my girls!

Hey, come visit at my blog sometime, I have an award for you!

Take care,

Janine

Parsley said...

Love your blog. I have a recipe for those chocolate clusters...I think. I will post it on my blog this week. Feel free to come by everyone.

Have a blessed day.

Something Nice and Pretty said...

What a great post Tammy:)
Yes, I remember the Lucy show of them stuffing their faces and it was so funny!!!

We have a Sarris chocolate place here where they serve icecream sundays that are so good:)
Have a great Mother's Day:)
Rondell

Anonymous said...

Oi. Parabéns por seu excelente blog. Gostaria de lhe convidar para visitar meu blog e conhecer alguma coisa sobre o Brasil. Abração

Paula said...

Oh my, this made my mouth water, Tammy!
I know how heavenly those candy stores smell... they have several of them in Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg and I HAVE to buy coconut haystacks every time we're driving through! (So Hubby can eat them all before we get home then plead the fifth! LOL)

Colleen/And Baby Makes Five said...

That sure is some serious temptation, Tammy! It's good to see Joy smiling and well...

Terry said...

Hi this was my first visit with you and I had a blast .
Oh how I miss those homeschool field trips .
I don't think we ever had one as yummy to the tummy as this one.
I love your sweet blog and can't wait to come by again .
Blessings to you and yours.
May you have the best of the best for Mothers Day .

Julie said...

Now--that was eye CANDY--how fun to take a tour of a chocolate factory. Hope you have a great day. Julie

Angela said...

I just watched that episode of I Love Lucy a few weeks ago. I love that episode.

•♦•©The Olde Weeping Cedar •♦• said...

Wishing you a BEAUTIFUL Mother's day, Tammy :)

Hugs-Kath

Farmchick said...

Oh my..that looks good! Hope you have a blessed Mother's Day!!