Meatless Monday - Incredible Chocolate Pudding

My friend Alicia (aka "Al") from college is expecting her first child.  She is trying to get off the ground as a holistic nutritionist, based in Vancouver BC, and has started a webpage called New Mama Nourishment.  The site aims to provide nutritional support for women, their partners and their children as their families grow.

Alicia occasionally posts some of her favorite recipes on Facebook.  This chocolate pudding recipe is so great, I had to share it on Suburban Spoon!

Whole Foods Chocolate Pudding (recipe from Recipe from the May/June edition of Mothering Magazine)

• 1 avocado
• 1/2 - 3/4 ripe banana
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder
• 1/4 cup of raw, un-pasteurized honey
• 1 tablespoon organic, unrefined/ extra virgin coconut oil (available at whole foods, and a great, healthy alternative to vegetable oil in any baking!)
• 1 teaspoon organic vanilla

Combine all ingredients in a food processor (blender will probably work too!), and blend until you get a pudding like consistency. Add a little water at a time, if needed.

You won't believe how delicious this is!!! The great thing about this pudding is that it tastes just like the real thing, but instead of refined sugar and lots of dairy, this uses healthy fats and wholesome honey as a sweetener.

*The magazine notes that you can layer in plain yogurt and top with fruit for a fancy version!

ENJOY!

La Mousse Chocolatée

I am not the world's biggest fan of chocolate (strange, I know!) but one thing I absolutely adore is chocolate mousse. The recipe I use is fairly simple, and extremely delicious!




Chocolate Mousse (makes 4 servings)

• 7 ounces bittersweet chocolate
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 3 extra large eggs, yolks and white divided

Break the chocolate into pieces and process in a food processor until it is the consistency of coffee grounds.

Heat cream to the boiling point. With the motor of your food processor running, pour the cream through the feed tube in a steady stream. Process a few seconds until smooth.

Separate the eggs. Add the egg yolks to the hot chocolate mixture and process for a few seconds to incorporate. The heat from the chocolate will cook the eggs, so do not worry about consuming raw egg yolks. Transfer to a large bowl and cool completely.

In an electric mixer or using a hand mixer, beat the egg whites until they form stiff peaks. If you don't have an electric mixer, you may do this by hand. Temper the eggs by adding 1/4 of the whites to the chocolate mixture and carefully folding in using a large rubber spatula. Fold in remaining egg whites.

Pour the mousse into the serving dishes. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours.

For serving, I topped with raspberries, a dollop of home made whipped cream, and more raspberries. To make home made whipped cream:

Whipped Cream

• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 tsp almond extract (most recipes call for vanilla, but I think this gives it something extra)

Whip cream in a mixer or use a hand mixer until almost stiff. Add sugar and almond extract; beat until cream holds peaks.


Make this treat for someone special and sit back as they worship the ground you walk on... ;)