Chocolate Obsession

When I radically shifted my diet, about a year and a half ago, to a healthier more thoughtful way of eating, I gave up many of my favorite things. Since then I've had two hot dogs (one of my 'old' favorite things). Also, the last time I had a hamburger was Mother's Day 2013. After our traditional Mother's Day hike we stopped at Boomer's Drive-In. I might eat one slice of bread a week, one half slice at a time. My bread of choice is Dave's Killer Bread and I keep it in the freezer, toast it and top it with either peanut butter or coconut oil and cinnamon. I'm not vegetarian or vegan, but I have become very picky about the meat, poultry and fish I consume, and it is much less frequent. All of these changes have been well worth it. The weight loss is almost a side note to just how much better I feel.

That being said, I love chocolate and one way or another I eat some every day. (It is healthy after all.) Costco carries some really yummy dark chocolates. The latest two I tried and fell madly in love with were the Dark Chocolate Enrobed Mangoes and Dark Chocolate Covered Strawberries. These probably are not the healthiest thing in the world, but I keep my consumption limited. 

I believe the best way to have my special treats is to make them. Putting time into the process of creating my treat makes it even more special. I found a great chocolate recipe with only three ingredients and have been using it, when I am desperate for my dark chocolate, for quite some time. The recipe is for mini peanut butter cups. I like to use the basic chocolate for a variety of creative, tasty treats. 

Chocolate Obsession

3 basic ingredients:

1/4 cup coconut oil

1/2 cup cocoa or cacao

1/4 cup maple syrup

possible add-ins:  nuts, cacao nibs, dark chocolate chips,
dried fruits, crystallized ginger, peanut butter,
almond butter...

How I do it: First, I work the coconut oil a bit to soften it (this will depend on room temperature, it's always pretty cool here). Then, I add the cacao and and maple syrup and mix well. Next, add in whatever you like, drop by spoonfuls on waxed or parchment paper and place in freezer until hardened. I sprinkled a little extra cacao on top before chilling. Store in a plastic container in the refrigerator.

This made about  9 ounces -- 17 pieces.

It's great to find so many healthier recipes online. Reboot With Joe was my first and remains one of my favorite sites. Supper tonight (brought to you by the internet:): Arabic Lentil Soup and Massaged Kale Salad and, or course, chocolate!

If you're interested in more, mostly healthy recipes I've been collecting, check out my pinterest.

For Lent this year we are purging and donating in our house. I'm so grateful God loves the imperfect, because we've already missed a day or two. Do you observe Lent? How? One year I actually gave up chocolate! What was I thinking?

Linda <><

The Day I Stopped Drinking Brown and Started Drinking Green and Red

It was his health I was concerned about. Forcing healthy food and exercise on my husband didn’t work. Neither did nagging. I prayed. He came home from work on a Thursday afternoon last August excited about a documentary his radio station mentioned. We watched it that night and radically changed our diet the next day. Thus began last summer’s second life altering experience.

We watched Fat, Sick and Nearly Dead and immediately Jim was ready to try it. Reboot With Joe  was free and provided all the material we needed to get started. First, we did a five day reboot, then a ten. I began grudgingly, but as the pounds fell off and I truly felt better I got on board. We both began transforming from the sloths who had a love affair with the couch to active adults, ready to run, hike, bike and kayak, all the things we used to love, but were making more and more excuses to avoid. 

People find different ways back to health. This worked for us. We aren't vegan though we've gotten a lot pickier about the meat we eat. I really like Dr. Joel Fuhrman and his ‘nutritarian’ diet. Simply put it is getting the most nutrition out of the calories we take in. Here are our biggest changes: no more soft drinks, very limited processed foods, loads of fruits and veggies, and only good quality meats and seafood. Smoothies, fresh made juices, salads, soups and roasted meals comprise most of our intake. By making these changes, I feel like doing more, I ache less and I even gave up all caffeine, unless you count the caffeine in chocolate. Because, trust me, I will never give up chocolate! I've found ample healthy chocolate recipes to satisfy me, like Cocoa Oat Truffles.

So this, last summer’s second happening, has made a most visible transformation in my life. Besides looking better after dropping 25+ pounds, I feel healthier, more energetic, even my hair and skin are thanking me! I think this quote says it all, Nothing tastes as good as healthy feels!