Easter is a great excuse to eat chocolate and my kids ate it like there's no tomorrow when they were young, but now I've worked out how to use the chocolate to deliver more nutrients and slighlty less sugar and fat so that my teenagers are taking in more nutrients than they bargained for!
It's very simple, before you give them the chocolate - melt it down and add something good to it then reset it. You can use molds to make fun shapes or just make it into a bar and package it nicely.
In this picture you can see the Easter bunnies and chicks that I 'remade'. You can also add these to an empty chocaolte egg.
How to do it:
Choose your healthy ingredients:
Chopped gojiberries - High in antioxidants that protect immune system and eye health.
or Organic Raisins
Saffron - Easter flavour - for white chocolate
Cardamom - for milk/dark chocolate
Finely grated orange peel - for milk/dark
Sesame seeds or crushed sunflower seeds - for milk/dark chocolate
Puffed Quinoa (from healthstores or can puff your own just like pop-corn in a lighlty oiled medium hot pan) for white and darker chocolate
Chocolate:
I have used 1 x Green&Blacks White Chocolate bar, 1 x Green&Blacks Milk Chocolate bar and 1 x Green&Blacks Dark chocolate bar.
Place the white chocolate broken up in a small bowl and place the milk and dark chocolate together in a larger bowel and place both bowls in a very low oven or around 90 degrees until chocolate has melted, stiring occaisionally. Keep the bowls warm so chocolate doesn't start to set.
White chocolates
Add large pinch of saffron to the melted white chocolate, add the puffed quinoa, chop the gojiberries and add to the mixture. Place the mixture into the molds, put in freezer for 5 mins to set quickly but don't forget as it will ruin the chocolate! Turn out the chocolates.
Milk/dark
Add cardamom, chopped gojis, seeds, grated orange peel and puffed quinoa to the melted dark and milk chocolate, add to the molds, place in freezer for 5 mins to set quickly and turn them out.
Perfet for little chocolate gifts.
Added health benefits
First of all, these chocolates still have a lot of sugar and fats so eat in moderation.
Gojiberries
Rich source of Vitamin A – supports immune function and eye health
Good source of Vitamin C – antiviral, antiaging and stress support and all aspects of health
Contains calcium, Iron and natural sodium.
Contain protein and fibre
Saffron
A powerful antioxidant and is known to support mood.
It is being studied due to its ability to support brain health
Disease protective
Cardamom
Antibacterial and contains antioxidants
Sesame
Rich source of trace minerals including copper, selenium, manganese, magnesium, iron and zinc.
Very good source of calcium
Help to lower cholesterol dur to phytosterols
Sesame oil protects cardiovascular health
Orange peel
High in antioxidants that protect against disease
Antiviral and supports immune system
Contains Vitamin C
Puffed quinoa
Quinoa is a seed not a grain, this means it’s good for those people who are sensitive to grains.
High in complete protein
High in minerals and B Vitamins Contains fibre
Easy to cook and very versatile
Puffed quinoa is easy to use in baking
Enjoy - Happy Easter
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