Some of my deepest moments of self love and meditation happen in the beautiful corner of the home called the kitchen. In my ‘kitchen-temple’ I spend intimate moments communing with myself and the food-gods. When I feel blocked or stuck, I head to the kitchen or take a walk by the lake. They both have the same effect on me: my mind gets quieter. I move from my head into my heart, feeling instead of thinking, relaxing instead of tightening, playing with energy instead of fighting against it.

While some people resent stepping into the kitchen, I look forward to it. It means I have the opportunity to create, meditate and celebrate with the green guys in the fridge! This weekend, I felt guided to make some chocolate. A few months ago, I had ordered raw organic cacao powder from Amazon. And except for the smoothies it hadn’t been put to much use. It sat there in the kitchen cabinet, waiting to be played with.

And so we played.

The recipe is super easy but before I share it, let me tell you about the incredible health benefits of its ingredients.

Coconut oil

In South India (where it’s summer all year long) coconut oil is king. It is used for cooking, body massages, head massages, soap making, oil pulling, automobile manufacturing and so much more. And no its not used in automobile manufacturing but you get the picture.Coconut oil boosts metabolism, strengthens immunity, helps support weight loss, and balances thyroid function. For more about this super food, please read John Douillard’s Coconut Oil: One Saturated Oil You Should Eat

In this recipe: 365 Organic Refined Coconut Oil from Whole Foods

Cacao

Raw cacao is the real reason we all love chocolate. It increases pleasure and relaxation by boosting the feel-good brain chemicals, endorphin and serotonin (increased libido, positive outlook, enhanced well-being – a few bites in and you are contributing to world peace!)

But cacao has another lesser known benefit: it helps with weight-loss. Yes raw cacao contains theobromine, a mild stimulant that promotes fat burning. You can have your chocolate and feel fabulous too. Win win.

In this recipe: HealthWorks Organic Raw Cacao Powder

Raw Unfiltered Honey

I used honey to sweeten this recipe’s pot. Raw unfiltered honey is rich in antioxidants, phytochemicals and often has healthy probiotic bacteria. It also has antibacterial properties and helps fight infections. Coconut oil also helps with the slow metabolization of honey into the body. Although I used two tablespoons I could’ve easily used half but go with your taste.

In this recipe: Locally purchased raw, unfiltered honey.

So without any further ado, here’s the recipe. This will make around 12 pieces/chunks:

Recipe

1 cup coconut oil
1/2 cup raw cacao powder
2 tbsp honey
1 tbsp vanilla
1/4 teaspoon sea salt

Make sure coconut oil is runny and not solid. Mix it with honey and vanilla. Add cacao powder and salt. Pour into desired mold or dish (I used a heart shaped ice tray). Refrigerate until firm (this takes about 30-40 minutes).

Note:
Preparation time for this recipe drastically increases if you stand in front of the refrigerator, waiting for the chocolate to solidify. Guilty as charged 😀