Valentine’s Day Goodies

Guess what today is? Darrin and I’s six month wedding anniversary!

… and love is in the air with Valentine’s Day approaching this Thursday 🙂

this calls for chocolate goodies to celebrate!

These chocolate treats have a health(ier) touch to them: edamame for the first treat, strawberries for the second, and black beans for the third. I’m sure this makes no sense… so keep reading. 😉

Those of you that know me, know I’m a choc-o-holic. I have two nonnegotiables: red wine & chocolate. If you try to take them from me, I’ll bite your head off (literally).

I eat chocolate on a pretty regular basis, like um…daily. If it brings you joy, why restrict? I do so in moderation (portion size is key) and make it dark (>75% cocoa). I also prioritize my indulgences… bread, fried foods, and sugary drinks I usually do without…so I can enjoy wine and chocolate without guilt.

Too busy to cook this week? My go-to packaged chocolate snack: Trader Joe’s dark chocolate edamame. I pack 1/4 cup of this treat for an afternoon snack on a pretty regular basis. Not only does it satisfy my chocolate craving but I also get 5 grams of fiber & 7 grams of soy protein per 1/4 cup serving. That’s about the same (if not better) nutrition than most of those “health bars” or “protein bars” some of you people rave about… and this tastes wayyyyyy better. When I get home from the grocery store, I portion out my 1/4 cup servings into Ziploc baggies… this way I don’t mindlessly eat out of the container.

I couldn’t narrow it down to one chocolate treat to make this week… so we’re doing two. how terrible, huh? 🙂

now onto the cookin’!

I can’t cook good food without good music. duh.

I woke Darrin up from his afternoon nap, because I was supposedly having a “rock concert in the kitchen”. You know… just jamin’ to Pandora-Goo Goo Dolls.

first up: Chocolate Covered Strawberries

um simple.

1. Wash strawberries. Make sure they’re dry before dipping
2. Melt one cup of chocolate chips in microwave. Heat 30 seconds, stir, heat 30 seconds, stir.
3. Dip strawberries in melted chocolate
4. Place strawberries on wax paper to dry
5. Enjoy!

second up: Black Bean Brownies

yep you read that right… beans. don’t dismiss the thought. try it.

the beans take the place of flour and you can’t even taste them!

Ingredients:

• 15 oz can black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1/2 cup quick oats or rolled oats processed fine
• 1/3 cup maple syrup
• 1/4 cup canola oil
• 3 tbsp cocoa
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2/3 cup chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup pecans,chopped
• 1/4 cup dried cherries

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 F
2. Spray an 8 x 8 inch pan with cooking spray
3. Put the beans in the food processor and process until smooth
4. Add the maple syrup and canola oil, and continue to process until smooth and there are no lumps of beans left
5. Add the oats, cocoa, vanilla, baking powder and salt and process until combined
6. Stir in the chocolate chips, dried cherries, and pecans by hand
7. Pour into greased 8×8 pan
8. Sprinkle handful of chocolate chips on top of batter
9. Bake for 20 minutes, until the center is set.
10. Allow to cool completely before cutting

Enjoy your sweets with your sweetie this week! 🙂