Chocolate...Need I Say More?

I've been eating "earthy and crunchy" since high school and I don't mind foods that have a "health food" taste. But when my kids started eating Ghirardelli 100% cacao unsweetened chocolate, even I thought they'd lost their minds. I love chocolate more than your average person but chocolate without any kind of sugar whatsoever was just...well, not chocolate. However, when they started dipping pieces of this chocolate into raw honey, I realized I might be living with two culinary geniuses. This stuff tastes wickedly good! And, it's a treat I can't find a problem with, health-wise.

For the record, dark chocolate contains flavanoids (nutrients), including antioxidants (which protect the body from aging). Dark chocolate can help lower blood pressure and cholesterol. It also balances certain hormones. The reason people feel good after eating chocolate is that it stimulates the production of endorphins (which leads to feelings of pleasure) and it has serotonin (an anti-depressant agent). Chocolate also has caffeine, theobromine, and other stimulants, which is why last week, when my daughter first introduced me to dark chocolate dipped in honey, and I went a little crazy eating piece after piece after dinner, I didn't sleep very well. No matter - it was worth it.

As for raw honey, it's a powerhouse of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and enzymes. It reputedly boosts digestion, and has antibacterial and antiviral properties. However, honey that's been pasteurized does not have these properties. We're a culture that's become skeptical of raw foods (except for raw fruits and vegetables). However, we've done our health and our digestion a huge disservice by not eating other raw and fermented foods. We should eat foods whose calories are dense with nutrition and raw honey is one such food.

On top of everything else, 100% cacao unsweetened chocolate is the quickest and easiest desert around. 0 minutes to prep. 0 minutes to cook. That's the kind of recipe I like!