Mojo #254 Card Challenge, HEALTHY No-Cook Chocolate Recipe and a FREE .studio cut!

FOOD

Alright, lets get the chocolate out of the way first because I know you are thinking “this sounds too good to be true.  Is there really truly a “healthy” chocolate?  Well, yes there is. These are an icebox sort of chocolates which are made with only three basic ingredients and after that you can add in whatever else you want in the way of fruit and nuts or just eat it plain. 

Those of you who know me know I am not a breakfast eater.  Right, I know that’s bad for me, but my husband brings me a chocolate and coffee each morning. Since I discovered this recipe and adapted it I’ve not bought chocolate because nothing compares.  The main ingredient in this recipe is Coconut Oil.  I’d never heard of it until recently when someone mentioned to me Coconut Oil is supposed to be good for memory.  I have a problem with memory.  I have a problem - do I have a problem? *wink*  Just ask my husband and he’ll attest! 

I was given a link to the following video of Dr. Newport who set out on a quest to find help for her husband who suffers from Alzheimer's.  It’s remarkable the difference that  Coconut Oil has made in this case!  If you watch, a lot of questions about Coconut Oil will be answered:

 

 

Since I’ve been using Coconut Oil I’ve found so very many more uses for it too - one favorite link is for 160 uses for coconut oil by Hybrid Rasta Mama.  Check it out!  My favorite uses so far are to take makeup off and also I made an insect repellent with it, adding some peppermint oil and grating in a bit of fresh lemon zest.  Works as good as any DEET I’ve tried.  In case you don’t watch the video you should at least know that Coconut Oil is the “GOOD” LDL, not the bad HDL that some people think it is and also that even though it is an oil = fattening?  Well, the thing is it is a very ‘satisfying’ fat, meaning it leaves you feeling full after eating it and curbs your appetite.  I’ve actually LOST weight since using it.  I’ve heard a local fitness trainer recommend it to clients.

On to the Recipe!

 

Ingredients:

1 cup Pure Coconut Oil

4 tbsp 100% Cocoa Powder

Tbsp (or less) Sweetener or Honey

 

Alternatives:

toasted coconut

roasted nuts

chopped dried fruit

 

Supplies:

Chocolate molds or

Plastic or Silicone ice cube trays or

Silicone muffin cups (as in this recipe)

Glass measuring cup

Cookie sheet or rectangular 9 x 13 bake pan

 

Note: These are intended to be served chilled because they melt at a very low temp! 

 

Method:

 

1.Gather your supplies together. 

2. If you want your coconut or nuts toasted, go ahead and do this.  I do my coconut in the toaster oven but I actually microwave the nuts in the micro - 2 mins for each plate, giving a stir around at the 1 minute mark. Watch out, the plate may be very hot!

Place the coconut and nuts into the silicone muffin cups or whatever moulds you are using, nested into a 9 x 13 bake pan or on a cookie sheet.

3. Mix the coconut oil, cocoa powder and sweetener or honey together (some folks add a drop or two of vanilla as well)  A note about the coconut oil, it has a very low melt point so when I’m making this right now its liquid, but if you’re making it when it’s cold you can zap it for 10 seconds or so, that's all it should need, in the micro or stovetop.

4. Whisk it together till it’s nice and smooth.  You might taste it at this point and make sure it’s sweet enough.  If you use honey you may have to whisk longer to break the honey up and incorporate it into the mix. 

5. Once it’s mixed, pour it into the cups, and if you’re adding any nuts or coconut or other goodies in then you want to poke and stir a bit so the chocolate seeps down to the very bottom and is evenly distributed.

6. Once you’ve got all the cups full, pop them into the freezer!

7. Here’s what they look like when they come out of the freezer, you may have a little “bloom” on the surface.

8. Turn the chocolate out of the silicone muffin cup - Voila!

9. I put them into pretty paper paper cupcake wrappers (because they can be a bit messy or make you drool)

10. Store them in an airtight plastic container or a cookie tin in the freezer. 

CARD

Mojo Monday 254

The sketch:

My take on it:

 

Supplies:

Designer Paper: Crate Paper - Snowy Day Collection - Candy

Happy Birthday Banner - Barb Derksen 

Flowers and gems just random!

 

Won’t YOU play along?

 

FREEBIE

.studio Cutting File

Personal Use

DOWNLOAD

 

I included two extra files along with the banner you see.  I made one of them with extra long strings on the side so you can make the banner ‘curve’ on your project and I also included a plain banner without the letters punched in so you might layer it with solid cardstock if you’re doing a project and need to have a solid color behind the lettered one.  I made this banner with the “string” so that you don’t even need real string if it’s not handy!

NOTE

Thank you for your donations this past week  

 

Love at Home

 

There is beauty all around

When there’s love at home;

There is joy in every sound

When there’s love at home.

 

Peace and plenty here abide,

Smiling sweet on every side;

Time doth softly, sweetly glide

When there’s love at home.

 

 

I’m going to take one week off from designing and lavish some attention on my Mr. so won’t be commenting on any blogs at this time but will come around with portions of comment ♥ when I return.  In the meantime - ENJOY LIFE!

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