Heart Healthy Desserts
February 23, 2017
Arguably the most important muscle in the body, your heart, is responsible for the transportation of nutrients throughout the body. Imagine your heart and cardiovascular system like Los Angeles Freeways. To arrive at any destination there are different routes to take throughout the county, but a person wants the most efficient and time saving route. Your heart is prewired and programmed for the fastest, most efficient route; but what happens when there is a blockage on that route? What happens when the traffic builds up? To protect your four chambered muscle with different “freeways and roads”, it is imperative that we take precautions to prevent blockages and walls. The good news is we have super foods like berries and dark chocolate to help clear the road ways and strengthen the avenues used for our blood to deliver nutrients. According to the American Heart Association “berries like strawberries have high levels of phytochemicals called flavonoids. One study showed that women who consumed more blueberries and strawberries had a lower risk of heart attack.” In addition they recommend dark chocolate in moderation for the high flavonoids content. Check out these two superfoods in our highlighted recipe of the week!
“What's so Super about Superfoods?” American Heart Association, Nov. 2013, www.heart.org/HEARTORG/HealthyLiving/HealthyEating/Nutrition/Whats-so-super-about-superfoods_UCM_457937_Article.jsp#.WKsr_BiZOb8. Accessed 15 Feb. 2017.
Dark Chocolate Strawberries
JJOGRECIPE
Ingredients:
- 2 cups or 1 bag of extra dark chocolate chips
- 2 pounds of strawberries
Materials:
- Heatproof glass bowl
- Medium sized pot
- Baking sheet or sheet pan
- Wax paper
- Fill a medium pot with 3 cups of water and place the burner on medium heat.
- Place the semisweet dark chocolate chips into a heatproof glass bowl.
- Place the bowl in the pot ensuring the water level on the outside is above the chocolate chips.
- Use a baker’s spatula to continually stir the chips.
- Once the chocolates are completely melted and smooth, remove from the heat.
- Line a sheet pan with parchment or waxed paper.
- Hold the strawberry by the stem as you dip the fruit into the dark chocolate.
- Dip and twist the entire strawberry covering it on all sides.
- Lift to let any excess chocolate fall back into the bowl.
- Set strawberries on the parchment paper.
- Repeat with the rest of the strawberries.
- Place the strawberries into the refrigerator to cool for 30 minutes or until the chocolate has hardened.
Mangia,
Jess Marie
#RD2B