I never used to have a sweet tooth. I never really craved chocolate. In fact, when I was in my teens and well into adulthood, I used to feel smug and slightly superior to other women who couldn't stop their love affair with chocolate. Things changed almost overnight. I suddenly sympathized with those women who during "that time of the month" or really, any other time of the month, spoke of chocolate like their one true love. I shook my head in agreement watching chocolate commercials featuring orgasmic women humming "mm mm, ohhhh" while eating a piece of chocolate, slice of chocolate cake, or a spoonful of pudding. So I entered a chocoholic phase without any hesitation, embracing my new found love. It didn't take me long to realize that while chocolate is good for you (when it is unprocessed, organic and high in cocoa powder), most chocolate products - including my fave chocolate pudding - isn't a friend of the waistline. I switched briefly to chocolate soy puddings only to find them tasting like plastic. What was a girl to do? Enter Joy, my holistic teacher. She gave me a recipe that may have literally changed the way I consume chocolate pudding for the rest of my life. Take notes... you're going to love this idea...
Amazing right? Play around with the recipe. First time I made it, I found it a bit too sweet so I lessened the honey. I've made it with shredded coconut, walnuts, dried fruits. And last weekend, I served it to some buds with strawberries and crushed Graham crackers. Best of all, if you're a mom, this is definitely a creative way to sneak in some vegetables (and honey) to your baby's diet. I recommend you go with organic honey, vanilla and cocoa powder just to make it extra-healthy. You will experience sugar fireworks in your mouth... YUM.
Chocolate Avocado Pudding
Ingredients: 2 ripe avocados
1/4 cup cocoa powder or raw cacao powder
1/2 cup honey or real maple syrup
1/2 tsp vanilla extract Method: Cut avocado in half and remove the seed. Scoop out the inside of the avocado into a food processor. Add the honey and cocoa and continue to blend together until it’s all smooth. Refrigerate 20-30 minutes before serving. Makes about 1½ cups. Enjoy!
