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After visiting no fewer than six (six!) grocery stores both in Wisconsin and Rhode Island, Pete and I are now convinced that nobody carries Dutch-process cocoa powder anymore. We used to have no problem finding it, but during the past six months it's disappeared from the shelves -- according to our small survey, not only those of the big regional chain grocery stores, but also small and large local markets and hippie-type places like the Co-op. (I've heard rumors that Trader Joe's carries it, but fortunately Penzeys came to the rescue. I love you, Penzeys, even though your lack of apostrophe annoys me!) Why the lack of alkaline-chocolate love? A girl's gotta make her homemade Oreos!

In other news, I decided to finally replace the 1960s-era Osterizer blender that we have -- it still works wonderfully, but the blades are now far too dull to crush ice. I was amused to find that Target carries one exactly like the blender like we're retiring, apparently even down to the jet-engine level volume that the old one emits while turned on. Moreover, the controls are pleasantly binary -- I hate having to choose a setting from the dozens of overwrought adjectives that litter the controls of most modern models. Now I won't have to waste time scratching my head about whether I really want my smoothie pulverized, liquified, whipped, crushed, severely beaten down, etc.

Dutch cocoa, try the site thedutchshop.com and look for Droste's cocoa. They have it. We have it here too in West Michigan, which is like a small Dutch settlement. I bet every store in Holland has it.

Dutch cocoa, try the site thedutchshop.com and look for Droste's cocoa. They have it. We have it here too in West Michigan, which is like a small Dutch settlement. I bet every store in Holland has it. If you are ever here, go into Meijers or D and W. They both have it.