Sunday, August 2, 2009

Cacao nibs/chocolate stevia: my new chocolate fix

Cacao nibs and chocolate SweetLeaf liquid stevia are my two new favorite ingredients for getting my chocolate fix while on an eating plan with certain restrictions. With these ingredients, I can still enjoy a chocolate treat while still staying dairy, gluten and sugar-free.

Cacao nibs are absolutely amazing. They have a nutty taste, almost like coffee beans, and are packed with lots of nutritional benefits and antioxidants, and are low in carbs, and high in fiber and protein. Nibs are actually bits of cacao beans before processing. It doesn't take many to satisfy your taste which is a good thing since they have approximately 160 calories per one ounce and cost about $8 per pound when bought in bulk.

Another way to get your chocolate fix is with chocolate liquid stevia. You can add it to soy milk to create chocolate drinks or to silken tofu to make the delicious pudding pictured below.

Chocolate tofu pudding with cacao nibs
Ingredients:
1 pkg. silken tofu
3-4 T. cocoa powder
4-5 drops chocolate liquid stevia
1 tsp. espresso powder
cacao nibs
Directions:
Place all ingredients in a blender or food processor. Pulse until blended. Version 1: blend in some cacao nibs before chilling. Version 2: chill and garnish with cacao nibs when serving.

1 comment:

Unknown said...

I read your bio and it's a really hard journey although eventhough minimal improvements, I think you've been successful in finding out what are your allergies are and how you can fight it. Really inspirational! Keep posting! More power!

Regards,
Haley McAdams
Texas Food Handlers