Photo Courtesy: Google Images
It’s bitter, dark, and decadent. You don’t grill it and you don’t steam it. It reduces cardiovascular health risks, diabetes, and can aid a nasty cough. Believe it or not collegiettes, I’m talking about dark chocolate. And in case you didn’t know, this deliciously bitter chocolate packs quite the health punch. Health experts agree the greener the veggie, the greater the health benefits. But give those dreaded leafy greens a break sometime and pick up some dark chocolate. What gives this candy its surprisingly sweet perks? Cacao, dark chocolate’s secret weapon, is packed with disease-killing chemicals called flavonoids and theobromine. Dark chocolate with 70% or greater cacao content is crammed with flavonoids, powerful antioxidants that help veins and arteries stay flexible. Also occurring naturally in cocoa, theobromine is pro to be the most effective and safest cough suppressant. And, since a dark chocolate bar has five times the flavonoids of an apple, we can finally dump that trite saying, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away.”
Since you don’t have to wait for it to be in season, and you surely don’t need to worry about it spoiling, I’ve selected three recipes that incorporate this totally innocent pleasure into dinner and dessert!
Girls’ Night Nibbles: Dark Chocolate Truffles
Photo courtesy: Google Images
Ingredients:
- 8 oz bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 2/3 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup cocoa powder
Directions:
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Heat the heavy cream in a saucepan to a boil and then pour the boiling cream over the bittersweet chocolate. Let it stand for 5 minutes then stir until smooth (now its ganache). Refrigerate ganache for 1 hour until firm, but not hard. Then, use a tablespoon of ganache for each truffle and evenly space 24 onto the parchment paper. Refrigerate the 24 ganache portions for 15 minutes and then roll each portion into smooth rounds. Roll the truffles in cocoa powder and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Remove 1 hour before serving. Serves 10.
Dark Chocolate Dinner: Chocolate Chili
Photo courtesy: Food Network
Ingredients:
- 2 lbs ground turkey
- 2 onions, chopped
- 2 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1 Tbsp chili powder
- 1 Tbsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp pepper
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and minced
- Two 15 oz cans kidney beans, undrained
- 4 cups tomato sauce
- 1 cup beef broth
Directions:
Cook the ground turkey for 2 minutes in a large cooking pot. Add the chili powder, cumin, and onions and stir together. Next, mix in the cocoa powder, garlic and jalapenos, and cook for 2 minutes. Pour in add in two 15 oz cans kidney beans, oregano, and pepper, and cook for another minute. Lastly, add tomato sauce and broth. Cover and simmer for 1 hour, stirring occasionally. Serves 6.
Quick Pick-Me-Up: No Bake Granola Dark Chocolate Cookies
Photo courtesy: Betty Crocker
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup unsweetened dark baking cocoa
- 4 cups oats
- 2 cups sugar
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/2 cup peanut butter
- 1 cup butter
- 1/2 tsp vanilla
Directions:
Line a cookie sheet with foil. Heat cocoa, sugar, milk, and butter in a saucepan to a boil. Stir frequently and boil 2 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in peanut butter and vanilla. Lastly, stir in granola until all ingredients are well combined. Drop heaping tablespoonfuls of the mixture onto the cookie sheet and let cool until cookies set (about 30 minutes). Serves 24.