On February 14 there are lots of gifts exchanged between people who want to show their affection, respect or love. The National Confectioners Association estimates that 36 million heart-shaped boxes of chocolates will be sold for Valentine’s Day. If you want to indulge your Valentine with chocolate, give chocolate covered strawberries as a more healthful alternative.Chocolate and strawberries both contain antioxidants, which are thought to improve immune function and lower the risk for infection and cancer. Antioxidants help protect our bodies from damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals are formed in simple body processes and can increase upon exposure to environmental contaminants such as cigarette smoke, air pollution or chemicals. Free radicals can damage cells and increase the risk for cancer, artery and heart disease, cataracts, diabetes and Alzheimer’s disease.
Strawberries are a good source of vitamin C. Just one-half cup of strawberries provides 50 milligrams of vitamin C. The Recommended Dietary Allowance for vitamin C is 75 milligrams for women and 90 milligrams for men. Vitamin C helps produce collagen to hold muscles, bones and other tissues together, helps keep blood vessels firm to prevent bruising, helps keep your gums healthy, helps heal cuts and wounds and helps protect your body from infection.
Make sure the strawberries are dipped in dark chocolate. Dark chocolate contains more flavonoids, which are naturally occurring compounds found in plant-based foods. The source of antioxidants in chocolate is flavonoids. Flavonoids may reduce the risk of blood clots and heart disease by expanding the arteries and increasing blood flow.
Dark Chocolate Covered Strawberries
Ingredients
1 – 3.5 ounce dark chocolate bar – I used Green & Black organic dark chocolate
1 – 16 ounce container of strawberries
Note: you will need wax paper
Directions:
Wash and dry the strawberries. Melt chocolate in a small sauce pan on low heat and stir while melting – you must stir as you do not want to burn it. Once chocolate is melted remove from heat. Take a strawberry by the stem and dip in the chocolate and place on wax paper. Continue until you have all your strawberries dipped in chocolate. You can refrigerate or let them sit out till the chocolate gets hard – it does not take long.
Chocolate Coconut Covered Strawberries
For this recipe, you will need:
1/2 cup liquified cocnut oil
1/4 cup raw cacao or carob powder
1/4 cup agave
1/3 cup dried unsweetened coconut
and Fresh Strawberries
In bowl or pan mix together all ingredients, except coconut. Dip ice cold strawberries in chocolate mixture. You may have to dip and let drip a few times until it forms a good thick chocolate coating. After about 30 sec or so the chocolate will form a nice hard shell. When chocolate hardens on strawberries, dip one more time and roll in coconut. Do this to all then put on wax paper and freeze for 15 min.
Yummmoooo Goodness!
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