For the love of Chocolate…

“My therapist told me the way to achieve true inner peace is to finish what I start. So far today, I have finished 2 bags of M&M’s and a chocolate cake. I feel better already.” – Dave Barry

The countdown to Easter has begun.

And Easter seems to be just like Christmas, in that it is a time when we all look for a justifiable reason to consume copious amounts of food… for Easter that means Chocolate.

And yet shortly afterwards, we are all feeling the guilt, shame, and weight from our uncontrollable cocoa feasts!

Well, guilt and shame no more!

Cacao contains high levels of flavonoids (the same healthy substance found in cranberries, apples, strawberries, onions and tea), most commonly known for their antioxidant activity which help to stop those nasty free radicals in their tracks and protect the body from aging. Cacao also has anti-inflammatory properties, along with magnesium – which is one of the most important minerals for heart health. Magnesium also balances brain chemistry, and helps build strong bones.

The ORAC score per 100 grams of unprocessed raw cacao is 28,000, compared to 18,500 for Acai Berries, 1,540 for Strawberries, and only 1,260 for raw Spinach. The ORAC score for a typical manufactured Dark Chocolate is an impressive 13,120. But for Milk Chocolate the ORAC score is much lower at 6,740.

In fact, you will not really find any of the healthy benefits in either milk or white chocolate. In many commercial candy bars, they add so much sugar, wax, artificial flavorings and chemicals, that any benefits of the cacao are offset. Look for high quality dark chocolate that contains at least a 70% cocoa content. Lindt and Ghirardelli both make excellent 70% dark chocolate bars. Generally speaking, more cocoa also means less sugar, which is definitely a good thing when it comes to chocolate.

My favourite brands of chocolate, which will offer a guilt-free experience, are:

• Cocolo – A premium Australian brand of Organic Swiss Chocolate (Fair Trade).
• Green and Black’s - Also Organic.
• Loving Earth - An Australian brand that makes raw, vegan, organic Chocolate.

See my recent blog post here, to check out my recipe for home-made, natural, organic Easter Chocolates!

If you’re interested, you can also check out a previous post about Super Foods, where I discuss Cacao further…

Wishing you the yummiest and most wonderful Easter!

Love Amy xo

“There’s nothing better than a good friend, except a good friend with chocolate.” – Linda Grayson

Homemade, Natural, Organic Chocolate Recipe!

I’m not much for measurements when it comes to making homemade chocolate.

And in fact, it is part of the fun to experiment and find how you truly like your chocolate to taste and melt in your mouth!

Here are my recommended ingredients:

• Organic Coconut Oil
• Organic Cacao Butter (See my blog post here about Cacao!)
• Organic Cacao Powder
• Organic Agave Syrup (Otherwise honey, or maple syrup)
• Raw Nut Butter (Almond Butter works well!)
• Optional – Goji Berries, Cacao Nibs, shredded Coconut, etc

Using equal parts (or more cacao butter, depending on if you like the taste of coconut), melt the cacao butter and coconut oil in a pan – this will occur very quickly, so use low heat!

Take the mixture off the heat. Stir in cacao powder, agave syrup and nut butter. The consistency should still be liquid, but not too runny!

Add any extras, such as goji berries (if you like your chocolate sweet!), cacao nibs (to give your Chocolate some crunch!), or shredded coconut. Taste test as you go!

Since it will soon be Easter, I poured my homemade Chocolate into fun Easter molds (I experimented with goji berries, and cacao nibs)! 

But you are only limited by your imagination!

ENJOY your love of chocolate! And wishing you a very happy Easter…

Love Amy xo

“All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt.” – Charles M. Schulz