Pep(per) Squad

{Vosges Amalfi Bar, Henri Bendel candle}

Until recently, I was never a big fan of pepper. I remember growing up, my dad would pepper EVERYTHING, always twisting the grinder back and forth and back and forth to crack the fresh peppercorns. It was disgusting.

But when I started cooking regularly a few years ago, I realized pepper wasn't disgusting. Far from it. Pepper was like the cheerleader at an otherwise boring sporting event, like football or soccer. (They have cheerleaders at soccer games, right? Like, the JV squad at least...right???)

Soup for dinner? "Ra Ra Sis Boom PEPPER!"

Chicken salad again? "We've got flavor, yes we do! We've got flavor, how 'bout you?!!"

Boring white chocolate and candles? "Gimmie a P...Gimmie a E...Gimmie a -PPER...what does it spell?? PEPPER!!"

Yeah, you heard me. A white pepper candle and a pink peppercorn studded white chocolate bar. I know...you're first inclination is be grossed out. I get it. We alllllllllll get it. But seriously. They're great. And what's even greater is that I bought these two items independent of each other. It was only when I got home that I realized I was on a straight pepper binge. Look for me on an upcoming episode of "My Strange Addiction."

So anyway, the point is, the candle smells amazing. It's not pepper in the way you'd think (a la, inducing of sneezing fits); it's sweeter and rich. And the chocolate bar is exceedingly complex.

It's sweet and creamy white chocolate, enveloped by the mild flavors of pink peppercorn and the acidity of lemon zest.

That's right--I said "enveloped."

Have you ever eaten a dessert peppered with...pepper???