Chocolatier 2 Recipes
Annemie
These roasted seeds are then taken to a massive stone mill where they are ground so that they come out as a paste. We are getting closer to that chocolate that we love so much. The paste is then pressed, and BOOM, out comes cacao butter and cacao powder. How cool is that?!! This just makes me so excited.
Chef Cynthia Louise is an Internationally acclaimed MasterChef, speaker, author, restaurant consultant, teacher and television presenter in wholefood, dairy-free cooking. She also has the worlds first online cooking classes focused on dairy-free plant-based whole foods with recipes that people are raving about and changing people's health, one delicious bite at a time. Chef Cynthia loves nothing more than educating people about the simplicity and vitality of a plant-based, whole foods lifestyle. Each dish is like art on a plate and her flavour combinations nourish the soul and get everyone talking.
We've put together a list of chocolate (bonbon) recipes we think you'll enjoy. Some are very simple, others may be challenging but the results are worth it. It's always a good time to play with chocolate! We also have a list of gourmet chocolate suppliers to help you find chocolate. If you are thinking about using molds to make your chocolates here is our list of chocolate mold suppliers. And last but not least, here is a list of chocolate equipment suppliers.
Last year around this time, I was severely ill and experiencing one of my worst Ulcerative Colitis flares to date. My body was rejecting any and all food and I had lost a drastic amount of weight. We flew down to Southern California to see a highly recommended naturopath. As a girl with a passion for food, I vividly remember the day my appetite came back. The only problem was I couldn't keep much down and there were only a few things that sounded appealing to me. Gluten-free frozen mac&cheese, baked potatoes, and chocolate milkshakes to be specific. Funny what our body mind craves in desperate times! This made me want to create a healthy chocolate smoothie!
We stopped by one of the many juice bars in Orange County and I told the girl behind the counter that all I wanted was a chocolate milkshake but that I couldn't actually eat ice cream or milk. She recommended a smoothie made with almond milk, peanut butter, chocolate syrup, ice, and a banana. It was heaven. My husband drove us back to our hotel and I used every ounce of self-control to abstain from slurping down the entire cup with fear that it would upset my stomach. I lived on those smoothies almost every day for the following 10 days until we made the treck back home.
As we're nearing the year anniversary of that last flare, we've decided to partake in a 30-day cleanse of sorts. Starting August 1, I will be off of all types of sugar and nightshades, with limited intake of fruits and eggs. I'm also temporarily cutting out nuts and seeds for a couple of weeks to see if it will help a few other problems I've been experiencing as of late. And my loving husband is willingly coming along for the ride!
I used to flare once a year, but this is the first year where I have really paid attention to the specific foods, and their preparation, that my body can handle. I've also been going through a series of food allergy testings and clearing with my naturopath. We're praying that all of the steps we've taken will keep me in remission. We're partially doing this 30 day challenge to reprogram our bodies from craving sweets and treats, but also to give my system a clean re-boot as a precautionary measure given the time of year.
Don't worry though, I have plenty of those chocolaty baked goods you all love so much saved up for you to post during this next month! To name a few, a perfect paleo chocolate chip cookie, s'more tart, and dairy-free Mint Chip Ice Cream.
I've been making a variation of that smoothie now for the past year, but have altered it to better fit my dietary needs. I use raw cacao instead of the syrup and have switched (not without a fight) from peanut butter to almond butter. I've also recently started adding a half of an avocado to add some healthy fat and vitamin E. The avocado taste is not detectable but it makes this smoothie incredibly smooth, thick and creamy. I also sprinkle in all of my supplements when I make this: L-Glutamine, Vitamin D, Vitamin B12, and collagen.
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I wish you much luck on your journey. I too have been fighting mainly allergies and chronic fatigue for the past few years. As a nutritionist in the UK specialising in this area, I thought you might like to know that I have developed a whole grain, dairy, legume and specific lectin free auto immune programme designed to strengthen the body barriers.
After years of research, I think the problem is that gluten specifically (and I include the glutens in EVERY grain here, not just gliadin ones, and there are other foods which can do the same) have encouraged our body barriers (gut, blood-brain, lungs, skin etc) to become too permeable. This progresses (usually kicking off greatly in mid-30s) and leads to reactions, inflammation and auto-immunity anywhere in the body according to where a genetic weakness exists.
Would you share your detox program with us? I would like to do a detox as I have been on an 8 month long plateau in my weight loss journey. I need to jumpstart that again as I still have 60 pounds to lose. Love your recipes and blog.
danielle, thanks for the great recipe! you mention your supplements you added, which ones (brand) do you use and where do you recommend purchasing? i would like to incorporate some, but it takes a lot of research to find reputable sources:) thanks again!
I am absolutely going to make this tonight. I am so into chocolate, but I am cutting out dairy and processed sugar. I have made shakes similar to this but they lacked the avocado and dates. I like the idea of adding these foods in for sweetness and creaminess! Thanks!
As I saw your recipe, It looks delicious but was a bit skeptical about using dates and bananas due to the natural sugar in them. I would just tweak it because I am diabetic trying to get healthy. Great breakfast meal. Thank You for your knowledge and resources.
This smoothie saved me! I have been gluten free for years but I just went grain-free/starch free to attempt to control inflammation. I was feeling incredibly rotten this morning as my body and mind withdrawal from sugars. But, then there was this smoothie . . .
Please do another smoothie recipe, this was so rich and tasty like a decidant chocolate desert! Your other smoothie recipe (green smoothie I think) was also great! Looking forward to another in the future ?
Thanks!
Hi there, I was just wondering if you happen to remember the name of the juice bar you went to in OC? Or happen to know where it was located? I love trying out new juice bars and would love to try out this smoothie there!
Stop it I say this looks amazing. I have had an obsession with chocolate almond milk lately I try to stay away from it the sugar content (store bought), so this is a nice replacement yippee so glad I found it.
This is a great smoothie. It goes down really well. I changed it slightly to reduce sugar. I use the following:
1. frozen banana slices ( I cut them up myself when they are soft/ripe, and freeze them) instead of ice.
2. 1/2 to 1 tsp honey instead of 1 tbs
3. unsweetened almond milk
4. 1 tbs of PB2 (powdered peanut mix available in various stores) instead of 2 tbs of almond butter (I prefer peanut flavor and there are no nut oils).
I made variation of this and it was really good and thick. Used frozen banana. Eliminated the ice. Chia seed instead of flax. Only 1 tsp raw honey. 1/2 avocado. 2 Tbs cacao. Used peanut butter and cow milk since I cant have almonds.
And then, well, I probably should pretend this heaping pile of miniature marshmallows was for the kindergartener. Because only a kindergartener would so shamelessly use a cup of decadent, gloriously rich hot cocoa as a vehicle for marshmallow consumption, right? I really should. But we all know the truth. Kindergarteners are at kindergarten during the day, giving adults an excuse to not act their age for a while. I regret nothing.
To use: Heat one cup of milk (coconut, almond or others would work here too) in a saucepan over medium heat until steamy. Add 3 tablespoons hot cocoa mix. Whisk over heat for another minute or two, until it begins to simmer and mix is completely dissolved. Pour into mug, top with mini-marshmallows or a dollop of whipped cream and hide somewhere nobody will make you share give it to someone you love.
Yum! This looks like the perfect gift for me to give this year. For myself, I will definitely make it on the stove, but I wondered if you thought there was a way to make it in the microwave? Some of my family/friends may not be want to fuss with a pot on the stove. Thanks!
Put 1-2 tsp och cocoa in a mug. Add a little hot/boiling water, stir to dissolve. Add milk/fluid of choice (stop sniggering at the back) to top up, heat in microwave. Add desired amount of sugar to hot mug of what is atm a rather Aztec concoction, stir.
Maybe a silly question, but does adding the teeny bit of liquid in the form of vanilla cause any problems when making just the dry powder mix to wrap up as a gift? I LOVE those mug jars (jar mugs?) as a gift idea! So awesome!!
Such a timely post! I was just searching for a hot chocolate mix recipe today and came across this. For the vanilla extract, if using liquid form, should you omit from adding to the powder mix until you are ready to serve?
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