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Sweet Eats with A Healthy Twist

Happy Valentine's Day!

On this very lovely day often filled with love all around, I decided to start to share through this blog healthy, tasty, nutritious foods, and nutritional knowledge.

 

Today is all about treating your loved one with not only love (which should not be limited to one day) but treating them also to gorgeous tasty treats. Valentine’s Day tends to involve indulgence in chocolate, wine and romance.

Generally, when it comes to occasions such as Valentine’s Day, Christmas, birthdays and other special occasions throughout the year, our desire and consumption of high energy foods, snacks and drink tends to be less controlled.

I hope today, to inspire you to think of ways you can show your loved ones you adore them through delicious food but with a healthy twist. I am a strong believer of enjoying food.

It’s important to acknowledge that foods that tend to be high in energy (calories), free sugars (previously added sugar) and fats can negatively impact health when over consumed. These foods can be enjoyed but must be eaten in moderation – small portions and infrequently.

The tasty treats I prepared to inspire you, still satisfy, taste divine and are so quick and easy to prepare. The ingredients used are largely natural sweeteners (except the dark chocolate – remember moderation). If you opt for dark chocolate with a higher cocoa percentage (70%, 80%) it will be lower in fat and sugar. What a treat!

 

Gooey Beetroot Brownies

These brownies are so easy to make and contain minimal refined sugars as they are mostly sweetened by the beetroot and dates with a touch of honey. Give them a try.

Makes: 8-10 slices

Preparation: 10 mins Cooking time: 20-25

Ingredients

  • 4 eggs

  • 100g whole raw beetroot (2-3 medium)

  • 15 dates – pitted and chopped

  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

  • 100g cocoa powder

  • 2 tablespoons plain flour

  • 4 tablespoons sunflower spread, melted

  • 2 tablespoons of honey

  • Pinch of salt

Method

  1. Grease a baking tray and preheat oven to 200oC

  2. Using a food processor, gradually combine all the ingredients together and blend well for 2 minutes until smooth.

  3. Pour mixture into the baking tray up to an inch to an inch and a half height depending on your preferred thickness of the brownies.

  4. Bake for 20-25 minutes and cool in the tin.

  5. Cut into slices and serve or store in the fridge in a sealed container.

Equipment needed for Dark Chocolate Filled Raspberries & Dark Chocolate Covered Strawberries:

  • Mini baking tray

  • Piping bag/Zip lock bag

  • Spoon

  • Grease proof paper and baking tray

  • Small oven proof container

Dark Chocolate Filled Raspberries

Ingredients

  • Dark chocolate – 70% or more depending on taste preference - chopped

  • 1 carton of raspberries

  • ½ tsp coconut oil/plant based spread

Method

  1. In a microwave proof container add the chocolate and coconut oil

  2. On a 50% setting melt everything in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, checking in between and stirring until smooth.

  3. Place mixture into a piping bag/zip lock back (cut a small hole) and pipe into washed raspberries. Let them cool in the fridge and enjoy!

Dark Chocolate Covered Strawberries

These are a classic and so easy to prepare.

Ingredients

  • Same as for the Dark Chocolate Filled Raspberries but with Strawberries instead.

Method

  1. Wash and dry the strawberries.

  2. Melt the dark chocolate

  3. Line a baking tray with grease proof paper.

  4. Dip the strawberries into the chocolate and swirl until coated in chocolate. Let excess chocolate drip off then lay dipped strawberries on the baking sheet

  5. Repeat until all strawberries are coated and allow the chocolate set either through air drying or in the fridge.

SERVE!

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