That’s right….. I am telling you to eat more chocolate!! But not just any chocolate. Definitely not the confection in the heart shaped box that you may have received for Valentine’s day. Although those chocolates may look delicious, they are full of preservatives, sugar and processed cocoa. When it comes to chocolate, go right to the source. Indulge your senses in cacao, the purest form of chocolate.
For those of you who may not be familiar with cacao, it is raw, unprocessed chocolate. Described by many as a “superfood” because of its high antioxidant and mineral content, raw cacao contains more than 300 phytonutrients as well as protein and healthy fats.
Cacao trees are typically found in areas with high humidity and rainfall. From the looks of the tree, you would never imagine that this is the source of chocolate. The “fruit” of the tree is called a pod. Each pod contains the cacao beans surrounded by a delicious fruit pulp.
When buying cacao, look for raw and organic. You can find it in several forms – powder, nibs, paste and cacao butter. The powder is great for blending into smoothies or raw desserts. I like to use the nibs as an addition to frozen bananas for a creamy, crunchy ice cream. Cacao butter can be melted and combined with the powder to make delicious truffles. The butter can even be used as a face and body lotion! Food for your skin!!
Since we can all benefit from incorporating more healthy fats into our diets, I want to share a recipe for chocolate avocado mousse. Sounds like an odd combination, but, trust me…you will not be able to tell it is made with avocado. This recipe is easy to prepare and will satisfy any sweet tooth.
Chocolate Avocado Mousse
2 ripe avocados
1/2 cup cacao powder
1/8 cup coconut or nut milk
2 tbs. maple syrup or coconut sugar
1 tbs. coconut oil, melted
pinch sea salt
Puree avocado in a food processor. In a bowl, combine the milk and cacao powder. Add the milk mixture to the avocado along with remaining ingredients. Blend until smooth. If necessary, you can add more nut milk to get the desired consistency. The mousse can be eaten right away. For a creamier texture, chill the mousse for 2 hours.
Enjoy!
