Leader Enterprise - Feb 7, 2018 - Chocolate = Love

Here's a sweet notion: Eat a little chocolate each day and you could be doing your heart a favor. Chocolate really can be part of a healthy diet! A study published in the journal Heart found that habitual chocolate eaters had a lower risk of cardiovascular disease and strokes compared to people who didn't eat chocolate.

I found these thoughts at http://www.healthline.co m/ - "Studies also show that  people who eat dark chocolate 5 or more times per week are less than half as likely to die from heart disease, compared to people who don't eat dark chocolate. There are also some studies showing that dark chocolate can improve brain function, and protect your skin from damage when exposed to the sun".

So enjoy some guilt-free dark chocolate to help you celebrate this special holiday. (Sounds like a great plan to me!) 

Hope you get a kick out of these quotes about chocolate. Enjoy a wonderful Valentine's Day. Take time to let a friend or family member you care about them...and share some chocolate.  

Strength is the capacity to break a Hershey bar into four pieces with your bare hands - and then eat just one of the pieces.~JUDITH VIORST, Love & Guilt & The Meaning

My therapist told me the way to achieve true inner peace is to finish what I start. So far today, I have finished 2 bags of M&M's and a chocolate cake. I feel better already.~DAVE BARRY, attributed, Chicken Soup for the Chocolate Lover's Soul

Flowers wilt, jewelry tarnishes, and candles burn out ... but chocolate doesn't hang around long enough to get old.~ANONYMOUS, Heavenly Humor for the Chocolate Lover's Soul

There are four basic food groups: milk chocolate, dark chocolate, white chocolate, and chocolate truffles.~ANONYMOUS

These single-serving sized scrumptious bites are the bomb! 

German Chocolate Brownie Bites

GERMAN CHOCOLATE BROWNIE BITES

brownie mix for 9x13 inch pan 

ingredients to make brownies (water, oil and eggs)

1 tub (16 ozs.) coconut-pecan frosting

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Mix brownie batter according to package directions.

Spray mini muffin pan with cooking spray. Spoon small amount of brownie batter into muffin pan, enough to fill 1/3 to 1/2 full. Spoon about a teaspoon of frosting onto each cup of brownie batter.

Top with more brownie batter, filling a little more than 3/4 full. Bake for 15 minutes. Yield: about 36 brownie bites.

Here's a special treat for two. You might have to make 2 batches. 

MICROWAVE NO BAKE COOKIES

1/3 c. granulated sugar 

2 tsp. baking cocoa

2 Tb. milk

2 Tb. peanut butter, crunchy or creamy

1/2 tsp. vanilla

1/2 c. quick cooking oatmeal 

In medium microwave-safe bowl, combine sugar (or xylitol for sugar free), baking cocoa and milk. Microwave on high for 1 minute 15 seconds, or until it boils, stirring once.   (If using xylitol, cook for 1 minute 30 seconds). 

Stir in peanut butter and vanilla until smooth. (I used a whisk). Add oats and stir until blended. Drop by spoonsful onto wax paper lined plate, to make 6 cookies. Chill in refrigerator for about 10 minutes before enjoying.  

I've gotten lots of raves about this special cookie. And requests for the recipe too. 

Wendi's Awesome Chocolate Chip Cookies

WENDI'S AWESOME CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES 

2/3 c. shortening 

2/3 c. oleo, softened 

1 c. white sugar

(I use 3/4 c.) 

1 c. brown sugar (packed)

(I use 3/4 c.) 

2 eggs

2 tsp. vanilla

3 c. all purpose flour 

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

1 c. chopped nuts, optional

1 (12 ozs) bag chocolate chips 

Preheat oven to 375. In large bowl, mix shortening and oleo with sugars, eggs and vanilla; combining until well blended. Stir in remaining ingredients. Drop dough by rounded teaspoonsful 2" apart onto an ungreased baking sheet.  Bake 8 - 9 minutes or until golden brown, and not quite 'set'. 

Remove from oven and let stand to finish 'baking' for 2 minutes before removing to cooling rack. 

Yield: about 5 dozen 

All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn't hurt.~Charlies Schulz, attributed, The Red Hat Society Cookbook