Rule 58

Cacao powder.

Now I’m not talking about cacao nibs or chocolate. They’re both good. I just don’t want to make it too long and let’s be honest, writing about the benefit of chocolate I can fill a book!

Besides being one of the best foods known to mankind, cacao powder is also considered to be a superfood.

Nutrition Value: 1 oz has 120 calories and is high in iron (16% of your daily intake), high in protein (5 grams), manganese, copper, magnesium, fiber, phosphorus, antioxidant, vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin B’12 and more.

Benefits: helps to lower bad cholesterol, reduces blood pressure, protects against heart problems, improves digestion and is one of the most important…appetite suppressants!!!

·         Make sure you’re buying cacao powder not cocoa powder! It is not the same! Cacao is the raw. The purest version and cocoa is the processed product, after milk and sugar have been added to it.

And now…recipes!

Hot Chocolate:

I found out that if you just want to enjoy it you can simply mix 1 tbsp of cacao powder with2 tsp stevia and water to get hot chocolate. You can also add dairy/dairy free milk to make it fancier.

Cacao powder has caffeine in it but the good kind, so if you need a “pick me up” afternoon drink or even morning why won’t you go for the cacao hot chocolate? True, it won’t give you a heart attack like coffee will, and it will help you lose weight in a healthy way but some people see it as a good thing…lol

Here a few more recipes to enjoy this amazing food.

Homemade chocolate:

·         

      Using the “2 bowls method” melt ½ cup cacao butter

·         Mix it with about ½ cup cacao powder

·         Add sweetener (honey, maple, stevia or silan)

·         Put it in an ice tray and freeze.

·         Optional – add nuts, herbs, spices, nut butter and even hot pepper to mix things out!

Cacao milkshake:

Be careful because this milkshake might bring all the boys to the yard…

Ingredients:

·         1 cup almonds

·         4 cups water

·         6 dates

·          ¼ cup raw cacao powder or to taste

·         1 tbsp vanilla bean extract

·         ¼ to ½ tsp  Cinnamon and cardamom

·         2 bananas

·         1 tbsp raw almond butter (optional)

Direction:

·         Blend the nuts and water at high speed

·          Strain using a cheesecloth or strainer. Retain the “milk”

·          Clean the blender. Add the remaining ingredients include the milk and blend until they are all blended well. Serve your shake immediately or after chilling for sometime

Flourless Chocolate cake:

I already gave you this recipe but in case you lost it or you’re a new member of this community:

·         You can make it vegan to if you want by substitute the eggs to “flax eggs” (mix 2 tbsp flax seed with 4 tbsp water per egg you need to replace)

Ingredients:

·         1 apple

·         6 oz homemade chocolate

·         ¼ cup coconut oil

·         ½ cup cacao powder

·         2 eggs

Direction:

·         Peel the apple and blend it with 4 tbsp water to make apple sauce.

·         Melt the chocolate using the “2 bowl method”

·         Add the rest of the ingredients include the apple sauce

·         Put in a pan and bake on 375F/180C for 25 min.

And that’s it my lovelies!

Don’t forget to check my IG account for more recipes :@dandgatfit

And facebook for more tips, articles and of course recipes : Eat Cake & Not Get Fat

Research and writing by Dana Gat ©2014