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Posts Tagged ‘dark chocolate’

  1. Recipe Redux: Dark Chocolate Banana Bread

    February 21, 2012 by erinRD

    Recipe Redux: Chocolate Love is in the Air!

    I’m not sure how chocolate and love became a pair but whenever I think of Valentines Day or February, I think of chocolate.

    I’m not going to ask any questions.

    Although Valentines Day has come and gone, there is no excuse not to include chocolate in your diet! Especially when there are a lot of health benefits of dark chocolate!

    Adapted from How Sweet It Is

    2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
    1/2 cup unsweetened dark cocoa powder
    1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
    1/4 teaspoon salt
    1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
    1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
    2/3 cup brown sugar
    1 large egg
    2 teaspoons vanilla extract
    4 large bananas, mashed (about 1 1/2 cups)
    1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
    1/4 cup skim milk
    4 ounces dark chocolate, melted
    3/4 cup dark chocolate chips

    Directions:
    1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a loaf pan or bundt pan liberally with non-stick spray.
    2. In a bowl, mix together flour, cocoa, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg and baking powder, then set aside.


    3. In a large bowl, whisk egg and sugar together until smooth. Whisk in vanilla extract, then add bananas and milk and mix until combined.

    Add in dry ingredients slowly, mixing with a spoon until batter comes together. Add in applesauce and mix until incorporated, then stir in melt chocolate.


    4. Fold chocolate chips into batter and pour batter into pan. Set pan on a baking sheet, then bake for 55-60 minutes, or until center is set and a toothpick inserted comes out clean.
    5. Remove bread from oven and sprinkle with additional chocolate chips if desired. Let cool completely (1-2 hours) before cutting. Serves 12.

    Nutrition Notes: True dark chocolate is anything containing 65% or more cocoa. Dark chocolate contains a ton of heart healthy antioxidants (nearly 8 times the number found in strawberries) that have been shown to fight free radicals, which are linked to more than 100 conditions ranging from heart disease and arthritis to dementia and diabetes. Dark chocolate has also been shown to decrease blood pressure, and lower LDL (bad) cholesterol levels. It also contains serotonin, a natural mood-boosting anti-depressant.

    This cake incorporates dark chocolate and is also low in sugar since bananas are naturally very sweet. Subbing applesauce for butter also decreases the fat and adds more moisture.

    Taste Test: Bananas and chocolate are a winning combination! This bread is very chocolatey, moist and delicious!

    Check out the other Recipe Redux submissions!!



    Category Uncategorized | Tags: ,,, | 20 Comments

  2. Caramel Brownies

    January 12, 2012 by erinRD

    DSCF0015

    Adapted fromAnnies Eats

    As soon as I saw the picture of these brownies on Annie’s site, I knew I had to make them ASAP. They are not healthy but we all deserve to splurge a little and if you are craving chocolate, these will hit the spot. Rich and delicious, you only need a small piece to satisfy that craving.

    This makes a huge batch of brownies so bring them to a party or somewhere to share. Or cut them into little brownies, wrap each one individually and freeze them like I did, for when that inevitable craving hits.

    Ingredients

    Brownies:
    1 cup unsalted butter
    14 oz. bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped
    1½ cups sugar
    4 large eggs
    1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
    1¼ cups all-purpose flour
    ½ tsp. salt
    1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

    Caramel filling:
    14 oz. caramel candies, unwrapped
    1/3 cup heavy cream

    Directions:

    1. Preheat the oven to 350˚ F. Line a 9×13-inch baking pan with foil and grease the foil well with butter or cooking spray.
    2. Combine the butter and chocolate in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water. Heat, stirring occasionally, until completely melted and smooth. Remove the bowl from the heat.
    3. Whisk in the sugar, eggs and vanilla until incorporated. Stir in the flour and salt just until combined.
    4. Spread about half of the brownie batter in the bottom of the prepared pan in an even layer. Bake for 20 minutes. Remove from the oven, maintaining the oven temperature, and let cool for 20 minutes.
    5. To make the caramel filling, combine the caramel candies and cream in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Heat, stirring frequently, until melted and smooth.
    6. Immediately spread the caramel mixture over the bottom brownie layer.

    7. Pour the remaining brownie batter over the caramel layer, taking care to pour and spread it evenly otherwise it will be difficult to spread evenly over the caramel layer.
    8. Sprinkle the chocolate chips on top of the final brownie layer. Bake for 20 minutes. Transfer to a wire rack and let cool completely before slicing and serving. (To speed cooling, chill in the freezer for at least 30 minutes.)

    9. Lift the brownies from the pan using the edges of the foil. Remove the foil and cut the brownies into individual squares. Store in an airtight container. Makes 48 small brownies.

    Nutrition Notes

    True dark chocolate is anything containing 65% or more cocoa. Dark chocolate contains a ton of heart healthy antioxidants (nearly 8 times the number found in strawberries) that have been shown to fight free radicals, which are linked to more than 100 conditions ranging from heart disease and arthritis to dementia and diabetes. Dark chocolate has also been shown to decrease blood pressure, and lower LDL (bad) cholesterol levels. It also contains serotonin, a natural mood-boosting anti-depressant.

    Taste Test

    Rich and delicious! The ooey, gooey caramel goes perfectly with the crunchy chocolate chips on top! Just like chocolate and peanut butter, caramel pairs perfectly with chocolate!

    Category Uncategorized | Tags: ,,,,,, | 2 Comments

  3. Whole Wheat Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies

    February 26, 2011 by erinRD

    Here is our organic produce delivery from Door to Door Organics for the week:

    Including more beautiful blood oranges.

    Almost too pretty to eat.

    Almost.

    Enough with the healthy stuff. Let’s talk about chocolate. ;)

    Whole Wheat Dark Chocolate Chip Cookies
    Adapted from Good to the Grain

    2 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
    1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
    1 teaspoon baking soda
    1 1/2 teaspoons salt
    1 cup (2 sticks) cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
    1 cup dark brown sugar
    1 cup sugar
    2 eggs
    2 teaspoons vanilla extract
    8 oz bittersweet dark chocolate, roughly chopped

    Directions:
    1. Preheat oven to 350 F and line two baking sheets with parchment paper.
    2. Sift the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt into a large bowl.
    3. In a bowl mix the butter and both sugars on low just until blended, about 2 minutes.
    4. Scrape down the sides of the bowl then add the eggs one at a time, mixing until each is combined.  Mix in the vanilla.
    5. Add the flour to the bowl and, with the mixer on low, beat until the flour is just incorporated, about 30 seconds.  Scrape down the bottom and sides of the bowl.
    6. Finally, add the chocolate to the dough and mix on low just to evenly distribute it.
    7. Use a small cookie scoop to portion about 3 tablespoons of dough into a ball for each cookie, spacing them approximately 3 inches apart on the baking sheets.  Bake for 16-20 minutes, or until the edges are set and the tops have cracked and browned.
    8. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheets for a minute or two before transferring them to wire racks. Yields about 40 small cookies.

    Nutrition Notes: True dark chocolate is anything containing 65% or more cocoa. Dark chocolate contains a ton of heart healthy antioxidants (nearly 8 times the number found in strawberries) that have been shown to fight free radicals, which are linked to more than 100 conditions ranging from heart disease and arthritis to dementia and diabetes. Dark chocolate has also been shown to decrease blood pressure, and lower LDL (bad) cholesterol levels. It also contains serotonin, a natural mood-boosting anti-depressant.

    Taste Test: I love any type of cookie. I don’t discriminate. :) These are no exception. The dark chocolate is delicious and this brand of Endangered Species dark chocolate is one of my favs! It’s organic, fair trade and made of 74% cocoa – more cocoa = less sugar and other added ingredients.

    Enjoy your Saturday!

    Category Uncategorized | Tags: ,,,,, | 3 Comments