Chocolate Sauce with Poached Pear |
Many of us find it surprising that pure chocolate is actually low in calories. It is somewhat better known that chocolate has health benefits like being heart healthy (compounds in pure chocolate appear to be highly protective against the oxidation of LDL), mind boosting (high-flavanol cocoa improves blood flow to the brain), skin protecting (flavonols protect against sun-induced damage and thicken your skins sun fighting mechanisms),and overall health promoting (contains more antioxidant activity, polyphenols and flavanols than other fruits tested including blueberries and Acai berries). It is the sugar, butter and type of milk we add to the chocolate that adds the calories.
Chocolate sauce can be made to be rich, flavorful and
memorable without adding all the fattening ingredients. The calories also fit
into any diet. Two tablespoons are only 67 calories. What we serve it with can
also make a difference. A poached pear or grilled peaches can be the perfect
complement to healthy homemade chocolate sauce for an easy and fantastic
dessert in any season.
Dark Chocolate Easily Found at the Grocery Store for Cooking |
Healthy and Happy
Making Chocolate Sauce
Ingredients~
½ cup sugar
⅓ cup unsweetened dark chocolate cocoa
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup fat free milk
2 ounces dark chocolate, chopped
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Pinch of Kosher salt
Directions~
1. Combine the first 3 ingredients in a small saucepan; stir
with a whisk until blended.
2. Add milk, stirring with the whisk until blended. Bring to
a boil; reduce heat and simmer 1 to 2 minutes until sugar is dissolved,
stirring constantly.
3. Remove from heat.
4. Add chocolate, vanilla and salt, stirring until sauce is
smooth.
Serve warm or at room temperature. Recipe doubles nicely and
can be stored for a number of days.
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