Valentine’s Day is Chocolate Day – but also a healthy treat anytime of year

You don’t have to get sugar loaded chocolate to enjoy this treat, which is packed with antioxidants, and good fats. The following, is a recipe for chocolate bark using dark chocolate, dried cherries, pistachios, dried organic pineapple and apricots.

Most chocolate we eat is milk chocolate and semi sweet chocolate. Here is a quick lesson in chocolate. The higher the percentage of cocoa mass, (>60%)  the healthier the chocolate. We are talking 72%-85% cocoa having more nutritional bang.  Lot less sugar is added and more nutrients like flavanoids are available to you. Milk cancels out antioxidants, so milk chocolate or hot chocolate with milk will not have any nutritional effect. Fat? We have 0 cholesterol in chocolate and yes, stearic acid is a saturated fat but has no effect on raising  cholesterol. Health benefits? Lowering of blood pressure, and preventing artery plaque buildup are a few of them.

1 ounce of 72% chocolate has around 170 kcals and 5-6 grams  of sugar.  I discovered Green & Black’s chocolate to be creamy rich with a hint of sweetness.  Great for making bark with dried fruit added to the mix.

Dark Chocolate Bark with Dried Fruits and Nuts

• 6-9 ounces of 72% dark chocolate or 85%  (preferably Green & Black’s Organic ) or other chocolate
• 1/4 cup dried cherries, apricots and pineapple or any combination of dried fruit.
• 1/2 cup pistachios or other nuts
• parchment paper or waxed paper
• 1 cookie sheet

Chop up  the chocolate and place the pieces into a stainless steel or other heat resisitant  bowl.

Prepare a cookie sheet with parchment paper covering the entire surface.

Heat up to simmer 3/4 cup of water in a shallow pan, and place the bowl of chocolate over the water and melt until smooth. Remove from the heat.  Pour the chocolate onto the parchment paper to cover approximately a  10 inch by 6 inch rectangle. Sprinkle the fruits and nuts of any combination over the chocolate and  keep in the refrigerator to cool for 1-2  hours. Remove from the refrigerator and peel away the paper and break into small pieces.