Chilled Mocha

This is a great afternoon pick-me-up.  The coffee really wakes you up, and the chocolate flavor is similar to an Oreo cookie.  It's also a great chocolate fix for those days you just gotta have some chocolate.

Chilled Mocha

• 2 Tall Chilled Glasses
• 2 Tbs. Instant coffee - Use an espresso or really dark, rich coffee.
• 4 Tbs. Real Whipping Cream
• Half and half
• 1/4 Cup boiling water
• Cold Water
• 6 mini scoops Trader Joe's 100% Organic Stevia Powder
• 1 Tbs. Trader Joe's Cocoa powder
• 5 drops Real Vanilla
• 72% Cacao Dark Chocolate Bar

Add cocoa powder, 4 scoops of Stevia, 5 drops vanilla and coffee to the boiling water and stir until completely dissolved. Set aside in freezer to chill.
Whip the cream with 2 scoops of Stevia until light and fluffy. Set aside in freezer to chill.
Using a large knife, shave pieces of chocolate off of your chocolate bar.
When everything is chilled pour equal amounts of coffee mixture into glasses. Add equal amounts of half and half and cold water.  Top with a dollop of whipped cream and shaved chocolate.
Get ready to enjoy richness like you have never had before!  It's really almost sinful...

Dark Chocolate Dipped Green Bananas

The green bananas give a perfect taste and texture to these Dark Chocolate Dipped Green Bananas.  I know that we all have probably bitten into an unripe banana and became educated immediately to what real pucker power was.  They say a lemon puckers you up, but not true when compared to a green banana.  The taste of a green banana is similar to the red stuff in a freshly cracked pecan.  It is so bitter that it immediately dries out your mouth and makes you pucker like no lemon ever has.  So, the sweetness and slight bitterness of a good Cacao matches perfectly with the green banana.  I made these for some very picky people and they loved them.  They disappeared very quickly.

Dark Chocolate Dipped Green Bananas

I used:

• 2 - Bars of Trader Joe's 72% Cacao Dark Chocolate Bars
• 2 - Squares of Ghirardelli's 100% Cacao Baker's Chocolate
• 10-Heaping mini-scoops of Trader Joe's 100% Organic Stevia Powder
• 2 - Green Bananas - Washed, peeled and cut into 1/2 slices
• Toothpicks

I put the chocolates into a microwave safe container.  Use one that is more deep than flat so you have a nice deep pool of melted chocolate to dip the bananas in.  Mmmmm...that sounds good "Nice deep pool of melted chocolate".  Anyway, I microwaved it on high for 30 seconds and then stirred it and put it in again for a little bit more.  Take it nice and slow whenever melting chocolate because even the microwave can burn chocolate horribly. 

I quickly stirred the Stevia into the melted chocolate and began dipping the bananas by picking each one up with a toothpick inserted into the center and swirling it around into the chocolate and spinning them on the toothpick to drip off the excess chocolate.  What a fun job!  If you accidentally get chocolate on your fingers, it's okay to lick the chocolate off.  It is so good.

Everyone really loved them, and they were all very surprised that I had used green bananas!

Red Bean Lava Brownie

Whenever I eat anything that is supposed to be "BAD for you", I feel bad.  Maybe not during, but afterwards and yes, even sometimes during.  As I am eating it, I think to myself, this sure would taste better with this and that, and just think if it was healthier for me. So, the first time I ever ate red beans on something sweet was from a Chinese bakery, it was a Red Bean Bun with cream and was it delicious.  Who ever thought that red beans could be sweetened AND be good too? Whoever did, was a genius, because red beans ARE supposed to be very healthy.

• 2 Trader Joe's 72% Cacao Chocolate Bars broken up into squares
• 1/2 Stick Butter
• 10 Heaping Mini Scoops of 100% Organic Trader Joe's Stevia Powder
• 4 Tbs. Vanilla Protein Powder (low carb)
• Sprinkle of Salt
• 5 drops Real Vanilla
• 1 Egg
• 1 1/2 Cups Mashed Red Beans

Put everything except the egg and the mashed beans into a microwave safe bowl.  Heat on high for 30 seconds.  Stir gently until most of the chocolate is melted.  Add the mashed beans and egg.  Stir until beans and eggs are fully incorporated into the chocolate mixture.

I left some of the chocolate un-melted for the chocolate chip effect AND I left some of the red beans whole so as to remind me that this is stuff is good for me (besides if anyone else has some, I want to see their face when they realize they are eating red beans as a dessert, ha ha ha).  If you like, you may process the beans until they are smooth and creamy, and no one will know your little secret.

Pour your batter into a microwave safe loaf pan and cook 4 to 5 minutes (depending on your microwave and how much "lava" you want in the center)  checking every minute or so.  You could use individual dessert dishes instead, but be sure to cook them for less time and serve them immediately so your guests can taste the gooey, chocolaty center while it's still warm.

Chocolaty Gooey Treat

You can eat it hot, but be careful, IT'S HOT.  You can also eat it cooled.  I can't decide which way I like better.  I got a piece when it was right out of the microwave and it was softer and with the hot chocolate lava it was very decadent.  I let part of my brownie cool, and it became more dense and slightly chewier, so I am happy with both ways!  I should call it Dual Personality Red Bean Lava Brownie.

Now when you eat some of this sweet, chocolaty, dessert you will be happy about the whole thing, no reservations or regrets, right?  Enjoy!

My mouth was watering when I cut my piece.

Green Tea With Strawberry Cream

Green Tea with Strawberry Cream

Who'd have thought that Green Tea powder with strawberry flavored whipped cream would be so awesome?

If you are craving light refreshing yet decadent drink, this one if for YOU!

• 1 tsp  (or to taste) -Powdered Green Tea -Good Young brand
• 1/4 cup hot water to make green tea
• 4 mini scoops of Trader Joe's 100% Organic Stevia (or to taste)
• Half and Half
• 1/2 tsp Strawberry Flavoring
• 1 drop green food coloring
• 1 drop red food coloring
• 5 drops Real Vanilla
• Cold Water
• 4 Tbs. Heavy Whipping Cream
• 2 Pinches of Green Tea Powder for garnish

Chill 2 tall glasses in the freezer.
While the glasses are chilling mix the green tea powder, 5 drops of vanilla, 1 drop green food coloring and 2 scoops of Stevia to the hot water.  Mix well and set aside in freezer to chill.
Whip the cream with 1 drop red food coloring and 2 scoops Stevia until light and fluffy, set aside in freezer to chill.
When everything is nicely chilled, pour equal amounts of half and half and cold water in tall glasses. Split the green tea mixture equally between the the two glasses and stir gently.  Top with a dollop of the chilled strawberry cream. Sprinkle a pinch of green tea powder over the top.  You may garnish with a fresh strawberry as well, if you like.
Take a seat in a cool, comfortable spot and ENJOY!

Parsley-Sage-Rosemary-Thyme Pork Chops

I went through all the evidence left over from the 4 weeks I was gone and found lots of packets of various sauces.  I set aside the Mayo and Ranch dressing packets to use in my Parsley-Sage-Rosemary-Thyme Pork Chops, which turned out wonderfully tender with the pecans instead of the almond flour.  The pecans, which apparently have more fat really added to the texture and flavor.  See my other "Evidence" posts regarding the left-over packets to see what yummy stuff I made.

Ingredients for my Parsley-Sage-Rosemary-Thyme Pork Chops.

Since I had such a huge pack of pork chops I broke it open and put just enough on a cookie sheet.  I normally will dip my pork completely into the spices, but I thought I would try something different this time.  Instead of putting the spices all over, I would just sprinkle it on the top to save the spices from sticking to the pan and making an icky mess to clean up, and just wasting all those yummy spices when they get stuck to the bottom of the cookie sheet. This worked out well and clean-up was a cinch.

Placing the chops, just-right, onto the cookie sheet.

I measured out the spices into a bowl with the processed pecans (approximately 1 cup processed pecans in a food processor until very fine). I added a half-tablespoon of salt and pepper, and about a half-teaspoon of green leaf Stevia.  All of the following spices were 1 Tablespoon each:  Parsley, Sage, Rosemary, Thyme, and Granulated Garlic. 

Processed Pecans,Parsley,Sage,Rosemary,Thyme,Garlic and Stevia.

I mixed up the spices well and sprinkled them generously over the pork chops.
(I decided not to use the mayo and ranch since they looked and smelled a little  funny, but I would have put them over the chops like a rub before sprinkling the spices).

Raw Pork chops covered in spices - ready to pop in the oven

If you remember correctly, from my Evidence blog, I had two other types of Pork Chops I was making as well.  Since I would be using a glass pan for the  Parmesan Porkchops, I set the oven to 325 degrees and cooked both types of chops (one on each shelf) for about 2 hours. (We like our Pork cooked slowly until it is well done and practically falls off the bone).

The Pork Chops are done!  Tender and Delicious!

I love keeping a covered bowl of my Parsley-Sage-Rosemary-Thyme Pork Chops in the fridge to grab out and munch on for a quick snack, similar to eating a piece of cold fried chicken.  Yummy!

Grocery Shopping and a Quick Brunch Afterwards

Melorange from +Sam's Club

Our shopping trip to +Sam's Club  was quick and uneventful except for finding a new fruit, which seems the norm lately.  Last week we found +Apriums, which my youngest son renamed Plumpercots.  This week we found +Meloranges.  As you can see from the photo, the one we cut up disappeared rather quickly  even before I had time to remember to take a picture.  They are a firm slightly less melony version of a Cantaloupe.  My first thought as I bit into it was vanilla ice cream.  It would be so yummy if you scooped out the seeds and replaced it with a scoop of some really creamy vanilla ice cream.  Would be perfection, actually.

Fresh cherries in bulk from +Sam's Club

We found some in season cherries at a decent price, so we had to buy some.  They are sweet and of good quality.  If any survive until tomorrow I will freeze some of the darker ones to add to drinks or to top my yogurt.  Cherries are one of my favorite fruits.  I love boysenberries, raspberries and blueberries as well.  My mouth has become more sensitive to the real sour fruits like mango, kiwi, pineapple and raspberries.  I develop small tiny blisters around my lips so I try to avoid those fruits except for the occasional taste.
As soon as we got back home, we threw one of the dual packs of Applewood Smoked bacon from +Sam's Club into our large iron skillet and got it started cooking while we put the groceries away.  Everything was finally put away except that I had left out the double-pack of French Green Beans and the pack of Roma tomatoes.  I like to let the tomatoes ripen on the counter before putting them in the fridge.

 

 French Green Beans cooked in Applewood smoked bacon.

I had bought the bacon thinking of making a B.L.T.'s with avocado without the bread, so it would be more of a salad, actually.  Then I thought of green beans cooked in bacon and then adding a fresh cut Roma tomato.  It was a deliciously satisfying brunch dish.  The photo above really does not do it justice.  I served it with a homemade ginger ale.  Ginger powder, stevia, vanilla and sparkling water served over ice.

 

My homemade ginger ale after I downed half.

 We browned the bacon in a large iron skillet.  When done we removed the bacon to a plate and added the washed French Green Beans to the hot pan and stir-fried it in the bacon fat, scraping the bottom frequently to get the flavor all through the beans.  When the beans were heated through we served them in a shallow bowl, topped it with a few slices of bacon and freshly sliced Roma tomatoes and a few sprinkles of salt. 

The Ginger Ale can be pre-made or made individually as you need it.  For a pre-made syrup: I mix large amounts of powdered ginger (to taste), organic green leaf stevia (to taste), a few drops of vanilla to a small amount of very hot water in a wide mouth mason jar and stir thoroughly.  I keep it in the fridge to add over ice and then I pour sparkling water over that.  I like a lot of ginger so I pour a lot of syrup over my ice.  Some people just like a bit of syrup for a slight ginger taste.

All in all we had a great morning shopping and cooking.  Happy Eating!