Happy National Chocolate Day, everyone! Today’s post is two-fold…to share with y’all an array of decadent, scrumptious, mouthwatering, chocolate recipes, and to pay tribute to the talented blogger who created them…
Last week, chocolate lovers and the food blogging community alike lost one of their brightest stars when Joan Hayes of Chocolate, Chocolate and More passed away suddenly and unexpectedly in her sleep. Today, Joan’s blogging friends and comrades are honoring her by sharing her story and her recipes all over social media, just in time for this food holiday that she loved so much.
I didn’t have the honor of personally knowing Joan in real life, but many of my close blogging friends did, and she was an influential and beloved member of the food blogging community. Everyone who knew her or spent time with her raved about what a special, funny, generous, and loving person she was. Her loss is being mourned by her friends and also by the loyal followers of her wildly popular and successful blog, Chocolate, Chocolate and More. But most of all, she leaves behind a grieving family including her three children.
Joan always expressed a desire for her blog to live on should anything ever happen to her, and her sister and family members are now working hard to make sure that happens. They also have the full support of the food blogging community, of which Joan was such an integral part. It is our hope that, by continuing Joan’s work and sharing her past recipes, her blog can continue to generate revenue for her kids. You see, every time someone visits Chocolate, Chocolate and More to browse one of her recipes, or every time one of her recipes is shared on social media, the blog earns a teensy bit of income. So we want to keep Joan’s blog going and her recipes spreading…for her legacy…for her kids…and to help heal the hearts that have been broken since her loss.
If you love chocolate, if you enjoy baking, if you appreciate warm storytelling by a sweet, down-to-earth, and much-missed lady, I encourage you to follow Chocolate, Chocolate and More via e-mail, Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, Twitter…whichever happens to be your favorite! Thank you for taking the time to read about this amazing lady today, and feel free to search the hashtag #chocolateforjoan for more tributes and recipes. In the meantime, I hope you enjoy this round-up of some of Joan’s best chocolate treats… 🙂
Brownie-Bottom Cheesecake Bars
No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Cheesecake Bars
Double Chocolate Zucchini Muffins
Chocolate Covered Peanut Butter Crackers
Death by Chocolate Devil’s Food Cake
Little Debbie Swiss Roll Milkshakes
Triple Chocolate Cheesecake Bars
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Kristin says
This breaks my heart especially for her children. I didn’t know of her blog before, but I will be visiting if it can help her family.
Samantha at Five Heart Home says
I know, Kristin…it’s so tragic. I just got done attending a conference where she was supposed to speak, and she is so dearly loved and missed by the food blogging community. Thank you for visiting her site to help her family.
Mary says
This is a beautiful tribute to an amazing friend. She would’ve loved seeing so much chocolate shared in her memory.
Samantha at Five Heart Home says
What a sweet comment, Mary…thank you. 🙂
Teri Giese says
Am a mother of 4 girls, so my heart goes out to her girls. Only have an account on Pinterest, and have only been following blogs since March. Joan was 1 of the first I found. The title first caught my attention, the hubs is a chocoholic. But, since at the time I was recovering from another serious surgery, and quite grumpy, her warm smile kept me hoping for an email every day. When I got better could not wait to get in the kitchen. So love this community. Joan and all of her loving friends. So touched by all the personal stories I have read. Wanted to help, so I started a board on Pinterest in her honor. “The Best of Chocolate”.Will work on pinning all her awesomeness and more of any other chocolate besties from my new blight family. Love and peace
Samantha at Five Heart Home says
What a sweet thing to do, Teri! I’m sure that Joan’s family and friends not only appreciate your sentiment, but the fact that you created a Pinterest board to try to help. Joan was indeed part a wonderful, supportive community of bloggers and blog readers, and it is so touching to read comments like yours. Thank you for sharing, and I hope that your surgery recovery went smoothly.
The Better Baker says
Oh what a gorgeous lineup of goodies…and special tribute to Joan. Very sweet. Thanks for sharing with us at Weekend Potluck.
Samantha at Five Heart Home says
Thank you, Marsha…Joan definitely had a gift for chocolate! We’re all so lucky that her legacy lives on. 🙂
Raquel says
These look amazing! I will miss Joan! I knew her online for 3 years. Pinning and following you on Pinterest!
Samantha at Five Heart Home says
I totally agree, Raquel…every one of Joan’s recipes look amazing! And I’m sure it was a pleasure to know her for three years…I’m sad for you and all of her friends who miss her now.