Chocolate and Me

Chocolate and Me

Posted on 08. Apr, 2009 by Acooba in Alchemy of Love, Featured, Love & Health

My love affair with chocolate began relatively late - in my early teenage years. As a young girl growing up in Guyana, South America, I simply had little access to chocolate. Although cocoa trees are plentiful in the rainforest which covers 80% of the country, international trade rules prohibited our country from producing finished chocolate, instead requiring us to purchase chocolate bars or confections from overseas.

This restrictive policy applied to much more than chocolate. For example, we produced and sold bauxite, but were not allowed to produce aluminum, which we purchased. Naturally, selling raw materials, but purchasing finished goods forces many third world countries to go into debt. Our second president devised a strategy to circumvent this fate. He decreed that we would eat ONLY what we could produce ourselves. This period of “discipline” coincided with my childhood, during all or part of which we had no bread (we produced no wheat, hence no flour), apples (they were imported), or chocolate (we were not allowed to process the cocoa), to name a few items.

This period of time filled me with intense national pride, but with equally intense longing for chocolate and apples. A few visitors from the US managed to smuggle in the odd apple or baby ruth candy bar in their socks. My mother would reverently slice the treasure into slivers so that everyone could have a taste. It was torture!!

Now of course, I’m free to indulge, especially in light of the much touted benefits of chocolate. Studies indicate that chocolate:

  • Benefits our circular systems;
  • Has anti-cancer properties;
  • Contains anti-oxidants (especially if the cocoa is NOT dutch-processed);
  • Physiologically mimics the effects of kissing;
  • Contains tryptophan, a precursor to the important, mood regulating neurotransmitter serotonin; and more!

Here is a super simple recipe for a chocolate snack cake. I hope you enjoy it as much as we do; and if anyone has an inspiration for a name for this recipe, let me know! :-)

Ingredients:
4 cups flour
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
¾ cup cocoa
2 tablespoons EnerG Egg Replacer
1 tablespoon baking powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons powdered cinnamon
1 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon salt

1 1/3 cup vegetable oil
1 cup water
1 cup unsweetened applesauce
1 cup mashed ripe banana (about 3 small bananas)
1 cup good quality semi-sweet or bittersweet chocolate, chopped (or chocolate chips)
1 cup chopped nuts (optional)
2 teaspoons vanilla extract (optional)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350. Line a large baking sheet (mine is 17 x 13 x 3) with parchment paper. In a large mixing bowl, combine all dry ingredients. Make a well in the center, and add the oil, water, applesauce, banana and vanilla (if using). Stir by hand just until blended. Stir in chocolate and nuts if desired. Spread mixture into prepared pan and bake in preheated oven for 40 – 45 minutes, or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Place pan on a wire rack to cool slightly. Slide cake and parchment paper off of pan and onto wire rack to cool completely. Serve warm or cold. Enjoy!

- Acooba

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16 Responses to “Chocolate and Me”

  1. Positively Present

    08. Apr, 2009

    OMG, I LOVVVVVE chocolate so I can totally relate to this post. I’m not much of a baker, but I’m definitely going to give that recipe a try. Sounds yummy!

    Positively Present’s last blog post..getting to know you

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  2. Albert | UrbanMonk.Net

    08. Apr, 2009

    Choc has anti-cancer properties!? I’m on it! Hahaha!

    Albert | UrbanMonk.Net’s last blog post..The Obstacles to Mature Love, Part 3

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  3. Acooba

    08. Apr, 2009

    @Positively Present
    This recipe has a lot of ingredients, but it really is simple - just toss everything together, mix and bake. You can cut the recipe in half too.

    @Albert
    How’s that for a delicious prescription? Right now many effects are “indicated;” hopefully “proven” is not far behind! :-)

    Reply to this comment

  4. Lisis | Quest For Balance

    08. Apr, 2009

    How about “The Simplest 18-Ingredient Chocolate Cake Ever”?

    ;-)

    I don’t think I have 18 ingredients in my entire kitchen… including the pantry! Still, since it’s coming from YOU, Acooba, I’m just going to have to go get these ingredients and give it a try. I’ll be a regular Betty Crocker up in here! Jeff’s going to think he came to the wrong house when he gets home.

    @ Albert: I’m pretty sure only the DARK chocolate counts (you know, the one that doesn’t taste quite as yummy.)

    @ Michael: You may want to add a little line at the top mentioning that this is a guest post from Acooba. Kinda threw me off when I read, “As a young girl…” =-)

    Lisis | Quest For Balance’s last blog post..Roast Marshmallows, Live Longer

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  5. Michael Scott

    08. Apr, 2009

    @Lisis
    What? You didn’t know about that part of my past? :-)

    C’mon, Lisis, the fact that this post is about chocolate should have been a dead give away. This is ALL Acooba.

    Reply to this comment

  6. Lisis | Quest For Balance

    08. Apr, 2009

    Well, first I thought the stress had made you turn to “The Dark Side.” Then I thought you had a whole OTHER side I didn’t even know about! Believe me, I was double thankful when I realized the author was Acooba.

    =-)

    Lisis | Quest For Balance’s last blog post..Roast Marshmallows, Live Longer

    Reply to this comment

  7. Roger | A Content Life

    08. Apr, 2009

    Acooba,

    I like chocolate so much that I start going through withdrawal if I don’t have it for a few days. I can’t imagine having chocolate externally rationed or banned as you did.

    Which reminds me…I need to go have some chocolate right now. :)
    Roger | A Content Life’s last blog post..30 Days of Mindful Eating – Author Interview

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  8. David Cain

    08. Apr, 2009

    Lisis just made me want marshmallows in her post, and now I’m craving chocolate. I will bookmark the recipe. Thanks, Acooba.

    David Cain’s last blog post..Raptitude Experiment No. 1 — Sharpening the Mind

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  9. Stephen - Rat Race Trap

    08. Apr, 2009

    Fascinating story! I’ve been eating some kind of nibs that seem to cacao or something like that. I was a chocoholic and so this change was hard at first, but I’m finding them quite tasty now.

    Stephen - Rat Race Trap’s last blog post..To Think or Not to Think - Your Fundamental Life Decision

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  10. Acooba

    08. Apr, 2009

    @Lisis
    Point well taken about the guest post disclaimer! :-) Too funny! And yes, 18 ingredients is rather a lot…just for you, I’ll post something tomorrow with 5 ingredients or less (and definitely chocolate). BTW, I’m offended that you said dark chocolate is less yummy…I can barely tolerate milk chocolate! Give me the rich dark chocolate anyday (my range of preference is 54 - 70%) ;-)

    @Roger
    I guess it was lucky that I had never really had it, so I didn’t have any “withdrawal.” Just a tantalizing morsel here or there to make me want to discover it. Interestingly, because babies and young children don’t digest chocolate well (someone at Godiva told me it’s actually poisonous to them) I always go off completely when I’m pregnant and breastfeeding, without much hardship at all. One child I breastfed for 4.5 years or so without eating chocolate.

    @David
    I’m experimenting with marshmallow recipes. Chocolate and marshmallows is a match made in heaven. :-)

    @Stephen
    Yes, I’ve heard about raw cacao. Jingee at Garden Diet talks about them, and says they may be addictive. Welcome and thanks for your response.

    Reply to this comment

  11. Alison | Quest for Balance

    08. Apr, 2009

    Mmm… dark chocolate. I love it, though more often than not I go for the fruit flavors when it comes to dessert. It is Passover now, so we can’t eat leavened food (including your chocolate cake!), but I do have a wonderful recipe for a flourless chocolate cake that includes ground almonds instead of flour. You’ve inspired me! Perhaps I will make it. : )

    Alison | Quest for Balance’s last blog post..Roast Marshmallows, Live Longer

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  12. Acooba

    08. Apr, 2009

    Hi Alison,
    What a coincidence! I promised Lisis I would post something tomorrow with 5 ingredients or less, and the recipe is actually for Passover (though we eat it year round :-)) YOUR cake sounds yummy…I just bought a bag of almond flour, so I’d love to try it if you don’t mind sharing. Thanks!

    Reply to this comment

  13. Nadia - Happy Lotus

    09. Apr, 2009

    Hi Acooba,

    I am at work as I write this comment and your recipe made me hungry. :) I love chocolate especially dark chocholate. I am going to make this cake this weekend…chocolate is big at our house…it is one of the essential food groups as far we are concerned.

    As for a title, how about “Acooba’s Dream Cake”?

    Hope all is well! By the way, we sort of share a similar heritage. I have family in northern Brazil.

    Nadia - Happy Lotus’s last blog post..Laughter Does The Body Good

    Reply to this comment

  14. Lisis | Quest For Balance

    09. Apr, 2009

    @ Acooba, Alison and Nadia: DARK chocolate? Really!? Maybe I’ve been having the wrong kind. And, Acooba, 5 ingredients I can totally do.

    =-)

    Lisis | Quest For Balance’s last blog post..New Beginnings: Letting Go of the Past to Start Anew

    Reply to this comment

  15. Ian | Quantum Learning

    09. Apr, 2009

    I have no proof about this, but I believe chocolate to be the only food on the planet that everybody likes (or would if they had the chance to try it). I think it must be one of the greatest universal contributors to happiness known to mankind.

    Ian | Quantum Learning’s last blog post..6 reasons eating vegetarian food is best

    Reply to this comment

  16. Acooba

    09. Apr, 2009

    @Nadia-
    Hello Neighbor! Thanks for the name suggestion.

    @Lisis-
    No worries, Michael prefers milk chocolate too :-) Five ingredient recipe coming in a few minutes.

    @Ian-
    I think you’re on to something momentous…let’s run with it!

    Reply to this comment

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