The Great Nibs Challenge

My friend, Jess of Bioephemera, and I both appreciate chocolate. We have grown well past the stage of eating anything brown and sweet to become chocolate sophisticates, Jess more than I, but still, we only make that Homer Simpson "Mmmmmm, pork," gargle and drool internally. No one hears us make it any more. (Well, I don't know about you, Jess, but it's still my nonvocalized response to fine chocolate.)

A couple of weeks ago, I had the chance to buy some Amano "cocoa nibs". A true choclaholic, I bought two bags and mailed one to Jess. I went to Amano's web site to read about nibs before I opened my bag.

Here's their quick description:
If you aren't familiar with nibs, they are the roasted pieces of cocoa we use to make chocolate. What many people don't realize is how good they are to nibble on. You can use them in many recipes, such as mole. They are also fantastic in salads. One of my favorite things to do is put some on some arugula with an nice vinaigrette and dried cranberries.

Ooh, nibbling, I'm altogether too good at that. I ripped open my bag, inhaled the lovely aroma, and poured some nibs into my palm.
They look like nothing so much as the cocoa husk mulch I put on my raised vegetable beds to keep the cats from using them as giant litter boxes. Smell pretty similar too, come to think of it.

Ewww.

But, I'm brave, so I nibbled.

What can I say... They won't ever replace M&M's.

Now what to do with them?

Surf the web. I'm not a Martha devotee, far from it, but some site or another said that she had popularized nibs by using them on one of her shows. A little disappointing, I'd thought I was cutting edge buying nibs. Well, darn sure I won't use her recipe. But, what to do with them, so...

I am hereby issuing The Great Nibs Challenge to Jessica.

One month. Let's see who can come up with the best and yummiest thing to do with their nibs within the next month.

Winner gets bragging rights.