Info Diet Plan

Hello, any other chocoholics out there? Thought so. Well praise the Lord and pass the cacao, cuz today is National Chocolate Day! Yup, October 28, just before Halloween, a day for chocolate lovers to openly indulge in their addiction, without shame or ridicule. Im in! Dont have to twist my arm. You? The Food of the Gods Youve probably been hearing more and more these days about the health and healing benefits of cacao, or raw chocolate. According to David Wolfe, author of Naked Chocolate: The Astounding Truth About the World’s Greatest Food, chocolate in its natural state is the best form of magnesium, chromium and iron, which are the top three mineral deficiencies in the U.S. Wolfe, one of raw chocolate’s biggest advocates, also credits cacao as being the No. 1 antioxidant food in the world — 30 times higher than red wine and 20 times higher than green tea. So, indulge and enjoy! How Do You Like Your Chocolate? Some prefer to indulge with cake, others a decadent mousse. Perhaps sinfu...

Tapioca pudding is the ultimate in comfort food. I made it the "normal" way during my 2008 challenge, and have used that recipe LOTS to wow the neighborhood kids during playdates. Its easy, it makes a TON, and keeps really well in the fridge. You can make a batch on the weekend and nibble all throughout the week.  I wanted to kick the normal recipe up a notch for the new cookbook, and after opening and closing the pantry doors a bunch of times (you do that too, right? you stare at your pantry waiting for something to pop out?) I zereoed in on the cocoa powder I was given at the BlogHer Food conference. This is Scharfen Berger---its delicious, smooth, and kind of expensive. Its not something Id buy on my own, especially after learning that its owned by Hershey (might as well just buy the regular stuff!) dude. Anyway, I combined some of the cocoa powder with some almond extract because I was trying to recreate that yummy chocolate almond biscotti flavor. In tapioca. because why...

Greek Yogurt with Hazelnut Agave Nectar and Shaved Dark Chocolate is a very diet-friendly dessert idea that any chocolate lover would enjoy! (For Friday Favorites I spotlight recipes from the past that you might have missed, and for anyone who might be planning a diet-friendly Valentine's Day Dinner, this Greek Yogurt Dessert with Hazelnut Agave Nectar and Shaved Dark Chocolate that I first made in 2009 would be perfect.  Best of all, it couldn't be easier.) Valentine's Day is coming up, and no doubt some of you are planning a romantic dinner and maybe looking for low-glycemic dessert ideas. I recently posted Flourless and (almost) Sugar Free Cookies with Peanut Butter and Chocolate, and they'd be great for a casual Valentine's day treat. But if you'd like a more sophisticated dessert option, I highly recommend this combination of Greek Yogurt, Hazelnut Agave Nectar, and shaved dark chocolate. I tested this the last two nights (in the name of blog research)...

I was the lucky winner of the Sinful Pleasures Dessert Contest on Julies Raw Ambition last month and yesterday my box of goodies arrived in the mail: cacao nibs, vanilla beans, coconut butter, macadamia nuts, and agave nectar.  It was hot, humid and 83 degrees out. I took one look at those ingredients and thought, "Mmmm, chocolate milkshake!"  { Funny, less than two weeks ago, the snow was falling and my thoughts turned to chocolate then too...see a pattern here? Hey, its a superfood , ya know! } Super Chocolate Shake 1/2 C macadamia nuts 2 C filtered water 3 frozen bananas 3 Tbsp cacao nibs 2 Tbsp coconut butter 1 vanilla bean, scraped 1/4 C agave nectar Soak the nuts in water overnight, then blend and strain through a nut milk bag. Pour milk back into blender. Add bananas, cacao nibs, coconut butter, vanilla, agave. Blend until smooth and creamy. Garnish with a sprig of mint. Slurp to your hearts content! Speaking of superfoods, heres my superhero.  FUN. Can you guess w...

This blueberry tart makes a perfect Valentines day dessert! Follow Foods For Long Life on FACEBOOK . Blueberries and Chocolate I know, its almost Valentines day. I should be making something red, like chocolate covered strawberries or red velvet cupcakes. But I was inspired by the thought of whipping fresh blueberries and cashews into a creamy filling served in a simple raw crust made from heart healthy English walnuts, dried coconut and chocolate in its purest form - raw cacao. Is there a better way to say, "I love you" than giving a gift of delicious and powerful antioxidants? I dont think so. Elegant or Casual? This recipe makes enough for one 4 1/2 inch tart pan with enough crumble and filling left over for 2 small ramekins. A tart makes a very elegant presentation. But if you dont have a tart pan, feel free to use individual ramekins or small bowls for the entire recipe. Sprinkle the crust ingredients in the bottom of 4 to 6 individual ramekins or small bowls and cover ...