Hello everyone! I've been hard at work lately testing new recipes and finding new products. Now it's time to take a few minutes to update you all on my latest escapades. Chocolate treats! I was lucky enough to come across these Enjoy Life chocolate chips at Holiday market in Cottonwood last week. They are a complete hit with my son and gluten, casein, and soy free. They are made in dedicated facilities and I believe are nut free as well. The ingredients are : Evaporated Cane Juice, Chocolate Liquor, Non-Dairy Cocoa Butter. So far we used them plain by themselves in a cute bento shaker, made chocolate candy clusters, and my son enjoyed hot chocolate for the very first time! These have already earned a spot on my next shopping list and I believe I will just make sure to keep some around the pantry for last minute school functions. I'll post the recipes to make home made chocolate syrup and the chocolate clusters below here. If you want to visit the web site for these cute little chips you can just click on this post's title to be taken right there. Oh by the way the chips are mini size which my son loves. I find the mini size to be more versatile as well. Mini chocolate sprinkles anyone?
Chocolate Syrup
6 T Almond milk or other milk sub
6 oz. Enjoy Life Chocolate chips (If you can't weigh them just eyeball and add more chocolate or milk as needed)
Bring almond milk just to a boil and pour over chips in a separate bowl. Let sit for one minute then whisk until sauce is smooth. Add a pinch of salt to open up the flavor. Store in fridge for up to a week.
Chocolate Syrup
6 T Almond milk or other milk sub
6 oz. Enjoy Life Chocolate chips (If you can't weigh them just eyeball and add more chocolate or milk as needed)
Bring almond milk just to a boil and pour over chips in a separate bowl. Let sit for one minute then whisk until sauce is smooth. Add a pinch of salt to open up the flavor. Store in fridge for up to a week.
Please forgive me, this next one is not much of a recipe. It started as an experiment and I forgot to measure things for you all so bare with me. My measurements are approximate in this recipe so use your own judgement about how much fillings to add.
1 cup Enjoy life mini chocolate chips
1/2 cup dry roasted almonds chopped up a bit (we use Blue Diamond)
1/2 cup dried cranberries (we use Ocean Spray)
1/4 -1/2 cup Buckwheat flakes (we use Arrowhead Mills available at Holiday markets and Orchard)
Place chocolate chips in microwave proof bowl. Microwave for 30 seconds and stir then repeat until chocolate is melted stirring every 30 seconds so it does not burn. Then just mix in the fillings till well blended. You can switch up the mix ins to suit your own tastes. Scoop into bite sized mounds on parchment paper and place in the fridge to cool. After 30 minutes transfer these clusters to a storage container and store in the fridge. Enjoy!
Hot ChocolateReally simple, just warm up any milk substitute and stir in some of your chocolate syrup. Also works cold for chocolate milk! I like to add a banana slice and bento pick to make a stir stick
