A Sweet and HEALTHY Valentine's Day Treat?

As many of you may know, it is my goal to learn to make great tasting treats and eats while using quality, healthy, clean ingredients.  The market today no longer requires that we give up taste to lose weight.  You can enJOY your healthy living and eating.  It's what got me down over 100lbs....finding great, healthy alternatives that taste good.


My husband and I NO longer have white flour or sugar in the house and we don't use prepackaged foods.  Therefore, when I want a treat, we will go out for a single slice of cake or scoop of ice cream.  However, I'd like to learn to prepare great tasting alternatives that we can enJOY at home, while still filling our bodies with healthy, nourishing ingredients.


Here are 3 recipes, I'd like to try and I want to choose one before Valentine's Day.

Dark Chocolate Pudding:
Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp arrowroot powder
• 2 cups low-fat plain unsweetened soy milk, divided
• 1/4 cup organic evaporated cane juice
• 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup dark chocolate chips (70% cocoa or greater)
• 2 tbsp dark chocolate curls or shavings for garnish (70% cocoa or greater), optional

Instructions

1. In a small bowl, stir together arrowroot and 2 tbsp soy milk until no lumps remain. Set aside.
2. In a medium saucepan, whisk remaining soy milk, cane juice, cocoa and vanilla until combined. Bring to a simmer on medium heat. Add chocolate chips and stir until completely melted, 2 to 4 minutes. Add arrowroot mixture, whisking constantly until thickened, 45 seconds to 1 minute. Divide among serving dishes and refrigerate until set, about 1 hour. If desired, garnish each with chocolate curls, dividing evenly.

Nutrients per 1/2-cup serving: Calories: 171, Total Fat: 5 g, Sat. Fat: 3 g, Carbs: 32 g, Fiber: 4 g, Sugars: 17 g, Protein: 5 g, Sodium: 79 mg, Cholesterol: 0 mg

Chocolate Avocado Mousse

Ingredients

Serves 6

12 oz. good quality bittersweet chocolate, chopped

(I may try dark chocolate)

2 tsp ground cinnamon

1 tsp chili powder

1 large, ripe Hass avocado, pitted and peeled

3/4 cup light brown sugar

6 egg whites

Directions

Melt the chocolate with the cinnamon and chili powder in a double boiler over hot water and set aside. Purée the avocado and brown sugar in a food processor until smooth. With the machine running, pour in the chocolate mixture. Using a stand mixer or whisk, beat the egg whites until they form soft peaks. Fold the chocolate mixture into the egg whites. Pour the mousse into 6 small serving bowls or wineglasses and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or covered overnight.

100 Calorie Brownie

Ingredients

1 (15 oz.) can black beans, drained and rinsed

1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa (I may try dark chocolate)
1 tsp Espresso Powder

3/4 cup egg whites

3 tbs whole wheat pastry flour

3/4 cup agave 

1 tbs unsalted butter 
1 tsp  vanilla extract

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly spray a 9x9 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. In a food processor, black beans, cocoa, espresso, egg whites and flour together for approx. 2 minutes.  Next, add agave, butter and vanilla. Mix well.  Spread into the baking dish. Bake for 20 minutes at 350 and then 5 additional minutes at 300.  Be sure toothpick comes out clean. Cool at room temperature.

Well, which would you try?  And if you do try one, share your thoughts.  Stay tuned, I'll be back with an update next week!  Well..I've got most of the ingredients for the mousse and the brownie...so those are likely.  Hmmmmmm?

Recipes excerpted from Cleaning Eating Magazine and Dr. Oz!