Happy June & Nutso-Sweet Friday!
How was your week? How was your May? Is anyone else in awe that summer is here? Tonight is the deadline for our recipe challenge giveaway. Any MORSELICIOUS recipes to enter/share for our recipe-challenge-giveaway with SWEET LEAF STEVIA?
It’s been so much fun testing your recipes in
the Morselist’s kitchen! You make me proud and your questions for Nutso-Sweet ROCK!
Q: Why can’t I curb my chocolate cravings?
A: Women may experience chocolate cravings close to their menstrual cycle due to magnesium losses that may occur. Chocolate contains magnesium and it certainly isn’t a bad tasting way to get it. However their are plenty of other foods high in
magnesium, including nuts and seeds, salmon, cucumber, bell peppers, kale. And these whole foods are much more concentrated in heart-healthy nutrients and less likely to pack on the pounds. Especially when you consider that one little oz of chocolate can be as much as 150 calories and 8-10g of fat. Not a lot of food for it’s caloric value.
But why is chocolate so addicting? Like sugars (and it contains them), it contains compounds that stimulate the pleasure centers of our brain* triggering us to want more. What’s more? A study in Spain concluded that the alkaloid compounds in chocolate may be the same as the addiction-inducing compounds in alcohol. While this is just one study, it certainly is worth more investigation. But let’s not forget, chocolate tastes good, has a wonderful mouth-feel and is sweet (chocolate is comprised of mainly cocoa and sugar). Sugars make us crave more sugars, so why wouldn’t we also crave chocolate.
So keep it minimal, in moderation – remember just a little can go a long way (in calories, flavor, and if you savor it – feeling good).
MORSELIST NOTE & RECIPE: I’ve become a HUGE fan of UNSWEETENED Cacao Nibs and I add them to my UNSWEETENED Hot Cocoa and now that summer’s here, Mo’s FROZEN COCOA! NO SUGAR…just a couple sweet leaf stevia drops …VOILA
Morselicious Frozen Cocoa
2 Tbsp unsweetened cocoa/cacao (use a premium grade-cheaper stuff tastes acidic)
1-2 drops vanilla or coconut liquid stevia
1/3 cup milk of choice (I prefer unsweetened coconut or almond)
ice cubes
Blend well
OPTIONAL: Top with a dollop of cashew cream & a tbsp of unsweetened cacao nibs
http://mo-themorselist.healthcoach.integrativenutrition.com/
Okay – here’s my entry:
Fruit Delightfully Nutty Morsels (NOT cookies)
Ingredients:
3/4 cup Morselicious Mix
1/4 cup dried apricots (or your favorite dried fruit), chopped
1 medium, ripe banana, mashed
1 1/2 tbsp coconut milk
3 teaspoons Sweet Leaf Stevia
1 tablespoon unsweetened preserves (I used Apricot that I happened to already have)
Pinch salt (Optional)
1/3 cup walnuts, chopped
Instructions:
Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees. Mash together all ingredients thoroughly. If it seems a bit dry, feel free to add a bit more coconut milk.
Drop by the spoonful onto a parchment or silpat-lined baking sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until lightly golden.
Experiment with different dried fruits!
Reece
OMG! This sounds MORSELICIOUSly divine!
Thank you for creating AND submitting, Reece!
That sounds incredibly yummy, Reece! : )
Glad you love, Lauren!
I make it at least 3x a week for a summer time treat! 🙂
Love this cocoa recipe, Mo! Perfect treat for a self-proclaimed ‘choco-holic’. who does her best to shun the added sugars. : )