Heart Healthy Chocolates To Treat Your Taste Buds With This Valentine's Day
Don’t be alarmed I’m not coming onto you in a predatory
fashion, it’s just that for some reason I’ve been in a fairly good mood
recently (this happens every 60 days or so, my therapist calls it bi-monthly
euphoria).
The cause for this condition was at first most perplexing
but after some much needed self analysis as to why the happy feels seemed to be
spreading with a frightening Starbucks level of expansion at this particular
time of the year, the answer seemed pretty obvious. Is it because I’m actually
looking forward to Valentine’s Day? Have I found some-one to potentially share
it with? Have I been completely caught
up in the lovey-dovey atmosphere and am looking forward to spending lots of
quality time with and being spoilt by my new boo?
Of course not! I have no boo. The only ‘boo’ that can be
applied to my life is the type that precedes the word ‘Hoo’ for when I have to
get up at half six for work in the morning and also the kind that is found
before the letters ‘ze’ on the occasional wild Friday night. Nope, I’m afraid
to report I am still unattached (mother will be disappointed). Although a
partner is not necessarily something that I would say no to at this moment in
time, I’m not really bothered enough to actively look for one and I’m not the
type to fret over the fact that I’m going to spend another valentine’s day with
the rest of the single population holding a tub of ice cream in one hand and a
shovel in the other. Ben and Jerry, they could definitely be my boos. Why do I
keep using that word? It’s grim. Using the term ‘boo’ at any time other than
when impersonating a ghost should be banned immediately and all those who
continue to commit such verbal sin shall be publicly flogged with liquorice.
Let it be known.
Back on topic, the actual reason why my mood has taken an
uphill turn is because my inner fat child (Lewis) can sense that with Valentine’s
Day comes the excuse to fully indulge in a vast array of all things draped in
chocolate. That’s right, everything with all of the chocolate! Chocolate coated
strawberries, chocolate brownies, chocolate banana ice cream, chocolate
smoothies, chocolate peanut butter cups, chocolate lava cake, chocolate chip
cookies, chocolate fondue, oats with chocolate…
However, before I lose my track of thought…
*3 minute pause ensues*
Oh dear, too late. I have literally no idea where I was
going with the conversation. It was something along the lines of how much
chocolate I intend to consume over this coming month I think. Forgetting what
you were writing about mid-type falls somewhere between the realms of awkward
and mildly unsettling now doesn’t it. Bloody hell! I knew having The Walking Dead on in the background
whilst going off on a cocoa tangent wouldn’t serve me well. Multi-tasking is
not my forte, which is why my driving lessons often resemble something out of
Wacky races. That reminds me, I would advice staying off the roads of Essex
between 1 and 2pm this Saturday. You have been warned.
Oh well, in typical blogger fashion I’m just going to throw
a recipe your way in an attempt to distract you from my shocking writing skills
(or lack of rather). So here we go! My strawberry cream centered chocolates -
perfect as a gift for your Valentine’s sweetie or if like me, for yourself. All
for self!
The only way to describe these chocolates is that they taste
pretty much identical to Roses’ strawberry dreams – a sweet, smooth and creamy
center surrounded by a layer of intensely dark chocolate. Yee-hum! As a bonus,
whilst this recipe yields approximately 12-15 chocolates, it supplies an excess
of the strawberry cream filling meaning that you will have enough left over for
the next few days to either spread onto toast, stir into porridge or even eat
with a spoon as is – enjoy in whichever format you like. Also, these guys can definitely be classified
at a basic bitch level of easiness to make. Honestly, a walrus could make them. I’m not
knocking walruses but let’s be honest, they’re not known for being kitchen
savvy are they.
Enjoy!
Strawberry Cream Filled Chocolate Dreams
Ingredients:
½ cup cashews
1 cup diced strawberries
1 tbsp truvia (or other sweetener of choice)
3 ounces (roughly 85g) dark chocolate chips – choose at
least 70% cocoa if you want the antioxidant benefits
A chocolate mold of choice (you can also use cupcake liners
in this recipe)
Instructions:
Firstly, put the cashews in a cup and cover with water.
Leave to soak for at least five hours but overnight is even better if you have
saintly levels of patience.
After soaking for a sufficient time, drain the cashews
(discarding the water) and combine in the blender with the diced strawberries
and truvia. Pulse a few times before blending until a smooth and creamy texture
is reached. Set aside.
Melt half the chocolate chips either in a bowl placed over a
saucepan containing boiling water or in the microwave for thirty second intervals
stirring in between till smooth and creamy.
Once melted, use a teaspoon to coat the bottom and sides of
whatever mold you’re using, you don’t need a lot, just enough to cover.
Place the molds in the freezer for ten minutes till set and
then remove. Fill each chocolate shell with 0.5-1 tsp of the strawberry cream
and return to the freezer for about an hour.
Remove when the strawberry cream has hardened a little and
then proceed to melt the other half of the chocolate chips. Using a teaspoon
again, top the strawberry cream with a final layer of chocolate and try to
cover as best as possible. I used about another teaspoon to fill the molds I
was using.
Return to the freezer and allow to set for a couple of hours
before retrieving and eating your strawberry centered creamy chocolate treats.
Store in the fridge for a week or the freezer long term.
Side note: Mine didn’t
last long term despite attempts to hide them in the freezer. There is no
possible way to hide chocolate from Lewis.
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