Category Archives: Chocolate

Chocolate Mousse

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What follows is a true story. It really happened, and you can draw your own conclusions.

Many years ago, my daughter and I ventured out on a snowy evening in January and returned home with the sweetest, gentlest, eight-week-old Labrador Retriever puppy. We named our new chocolate lab Mousse. Mousse played ball; Mousse cuddled with the children; Mousse helped me weed the garden; Mousse stole food from the kitchen table when she thought no one was looking; Mousse hung out with the chickens and enjoyed visiting with our friends and neighbors, both human and canine. Mousse became family, and all was well. Continue reading →

YOUR HEALTHY PLATE: Lisa’s Date-Nut-Chocolate Bars

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My friend, Lisa, brought these date pecan chocolate bars to book club once and OMG they were pretty wonderful. Technically they are intended for dessert, but honestly there is no reason they wouldn’t be great for breakfast, too. Dates, nuts, dark chocolate. Why not? Frankly, they have a lot more nutrition and a lot less sugar than the standard American breakfast. So, yes, I would go for it. Continue reading →

Stripped Carbohydrates: A Primer

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Generally speaking, and with the exception of milk and honey, the carbohydrate in nature virtually always comes with fiber attached. Whether from orchards, meadows, gardens, or forests, and whether as roots, leaves, stems, or fruits, intact—or whole—carbohydrates belong to four major categories (fruits, vegetables, beans, and grains), all of which are rich in fiber as well as phytonutrients, the source of their often vibrant colors. Continue reading →

YOUR HEALTHY PLATE: Oatmeal-Peanut Butter-Chocolate Treats

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For almost a decade, I worked side by side with a wonderful doctor, made even better by the fact that his wife, from time to time, would send in a plateful of these seriously yummy oatmeal-peanut butter-chocolate treats. I don’t remember where I put her recipe, but if this isn’t it, well, then it’s close enough. These are sweetly satisfying when you want a treat, and nourishing enough to take the edge off when it’s 2 o’clock and you haven’t had lunch yet. A couple of these with a glass of milk (for snack) or cup of tea or coffee (for breakfast) would also be perfect. And of course they’re not just for grownups. Continue reading →

YOUR HEALTHY PANDEMIC: Chocolate-Peanut Butter Brownies

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You may have noticed that I posted another brownie recipe a couple of months ago. The truth is that these brownie recipes keep calling me, and I’m listening. So, yes, I’m on a bit of a brownie kick, at least as long as we continue trying our best to make our way through a pandemic with our sanity intact. I mean, if all that stands between you and regular personal hygiene is a brownie for breakfast, it seems like a no-brainer to me. Anyway, this brownie recipe in particular is so packed with nourishing ingredients that it’s really not necessary to think about it for very long; just go bake some brownies. Continue reading →

YOUR HEALTHY PLATE: Walnut Brownies

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I have a wonderful recipe for you to make for your kids, your friends, yourself. This might be good for Thanksgiving, too. No big groups this year, of course, so you may end up having to eat it all yourself. Go for it. It will make an amazing breakfast, too, with or without a cup of very good and fragrant black coffee. Continue reading →

YOUR HEALTHY PLATE: Chocolate-Covered Walnuts

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This week I have a simple recipe for you to make alone or with kids, for your own self or for a friend, at any hour of the day or night. Feel free to eat these chocolate-covered walnuts for breakfast with a cup of coffee, or any other time you feel like it. They’re not candy; they’re food, and I hope they satisfy your heart, soul, and mind. And your taste buds. 🙂

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YOUR HEALTHY PLATE: Sweet Potato Brownies

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I’ve heard of black bean brownies before, and I have even made them on occasion, but I had never heard of sweet potato brownies until a couple of weeks ago. This recipe comes from Katherine, a newly arrived co-worker who is committed to good health, running in the sunshine, and preparing delicious, nutritious food. Lucky for us! The amount of sweetness in this recipe makes it perfect for a special dessert, though I wouldn’t hesitate to eat it for breakfast, either.  Continue reading →

YOUR HEALTHY PLATE: Brigid’s Chocolate-Chip, Goji-Berry, Gluten-free Muffins

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I happen to have the privilege of working with some very talented people, and Brigid Titgemeier is one of them! Brigid started a blog this year to share her expertise as a registered dietitian, and you must check it out. This past week she posted her recipe for Chocolate Chip Goji Berry Muffins, which she describes as “the perfect way to combine the nutritional benefits of eggs and oatmeal in one delicious muffin!” No complaints here. The nourishing, high-quality ingredients add up to a spectacularly gorgeous, delicious, and satisfying yum! And so much better than a “breakfast bar.” Continue reading →

YOUR HEALTHY PLATE: Cookies!

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I hope that everyone is having a wonderful holiday, and that you find yourself surrounded by at least a few simple things to nourish body and soul, like kind people, blankets, hummable music and, of course, good food. Just in case you’re looking for one more cookie recipe, I recommend this one. Enjoy to your heart’s content. Continue reading →