Take Action to Save our Threatened Wilderness Habitats

As a company who uses ingredients from around the world, Cocoa Cravings is proud to support threatened tropical forests by donating to organizations like the World Land Trust Action Fund.

We believe in protecting threatened wilderness habitats and all their wildlife in areas like Armenia, Bolivia, Borneo, Colombia, Ecuador, India and Mexico.

Our donation to the WLT Action Fund is used for the Trust’s most urgent land purchases and protection projects.

Learn more about protected threatened areas and support the World Land Trust Action Fund by visiting www.worldlandtrust.org today. Together we can save threatened tropical forests.

Earth Day 2014!

Earth Day is today and it's time to celebrate the wonderful planet we call HOME.  Get out there and show your planet some love.  Whether it's going to local parks in your area and picking up, riding your bike instead of your

car this week, or something small as turning the lights off when you leave a room!  Here's a look a 40 Tips to go greener at home from the blog site " The Art of Simple", she offers up some quick and easy ways to help our planet on a daily basis! 

 When trying to "go green" there's a few things to be aware of when attempting to live a "greener" lifestyle, check out down below for some more helpful tips:

Know Your Labels:

- 100% Organic is truly organic and the most sustainable choice when going organic. This means that no harmful chemicals are used, that animals are raised according to strict standards and that farmland is managed sustainably. There are no hormones used, there’s no irradiation, and genetic modification is banned, too.

- Organic means 95% of the ingredients are organic. This certification is easier for agricultural companies to comply with but if you have the options of 100% Organic and Organic, choose the former.

Things you can do:

- Carry a reusable sack for groceries. This is often the first step of many seeking to go green, and for good reason – it’s easy, inexpensive and really makes a difference. Paper and plastic bags are awful for our environment.  Choose a canvas type bag or something that will be reusable. 

- Say goodbye to bottled water (and juice, and soda). I'm guilty as the next person when it comes to using bottled water, but it's unnecessary with our access to pure tap water. So try and fill your own water bottle up and stop using plastic!  

- Grow your own. Backyard – or urban – gardening is fun, fulfilling and inexpensive. You can grow tomatoes, herbs, potatoes and other necessities easily from your apartment window, balcony or simply the back porch. Urban gardening is a hot trend and a sensible one, and there is plenty of advice online about getting started.  Who doesn't want to grow their own veggies and fruits?

How are you celebrating Earth Day 2014?

Oil Pulling 101!

Have you tried "oil pulling" yet? It's the trendy new way to help get rid of bacteria and whiten your smile all at the same time! All you have to do is swish coconut or sunflower oil around your mouth for 20 minutes and...VOILA! Both of our sister brands products have gotten rave reviews!

Oil Pulling 101:

• Buy cold-pressed, unrefined coconut oil
• Pull in the morning on an empty stomach. This is also when there’s the most bacteria in your mouth.
• Don’t spit in your sink: And if you do, have Drano nearby. The oil can cause major clogs when it solidifies.
• Have two separate toothbrushes: one for right after swishing and a separate for your daily morning and night brushing routine.
• Swish with hot salt water immediately after oil pulling this will help remove the oil from your mouth.

CARROT CAKE CUPCAKES!

The ground is beginning to thaw, buds make their way up through the soil and the ground comes alive again…Yay for SPRING! Of course, with Spring here we have Easter coming right around the corner. Since Easter is in two weeks, I selected two of my favorite spring recipes for you, using fresh, seasonal ingredients such as parsley, to create a delicious, healthy, gluten free dishes.

I’m kind of obsessed with these deviled eggs, and given that Easter is near, what could be more appropriate? They’re easy to make, full of protein and naturally gluten free! Deviled Eggs are perfectly simple and elegant for a party, and make a great casual everyday gluten free snack for all to enjoy!

Deviled Eggs

· 5 large hard boiled eggs, cooled and shelled
· 1-2 tablespoons mayonnaise or grapeseed oil
· 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
· ¼ cup minced parsley
· ¼ cup (very finely) diced celery
· 1 teaspoon minced shallots
· ¼ teaspoon sea salt
· ¼ teaspoon pepper
· paprika for garnish

1. Cut the eggs in half and remove the yolks
2. Place the yolks in a bowl and mash
3. Stir grape seed oil, mustard, parsley, celery, shallots, salt and pepper into yolks
4. Spoon filling into egg whites
5. Keep refrigerated until serving
6. Sprinkle with paprika, or if you’re feeling zany, use smoked paprika
7. Serve
(Makes 10 Deviled Egg Halves)

When I think of spring, I think of carrot cake and cupcakes…so, why not CARROT CAKE CUPCAKES! These little gluten free Carrot Cake Cupcakes are topped with Cream Cheese Frosting, though if you’re looking for a vegan frosting option, you could go with coconut cream frosting.

Carrot Cake Cupcakes

• 1 ½ cups coconut flour
• ½ teaspoon sea salt
• ½ teaspoon baking soda
• ½ tablespoon cinnamon
• 3 eggs
• 2 tablespoons grapeseed oil
• ¼ cup agave nectar
• 1 ½ cups carrots, grated
• ½ cup pecans, chopped

1. In a large bowl, combine almond flour, salt, baking soda and cinnamon

2. In a separate bowl, mix together eggs, oil and agave

3. Stir carrots and pecans into wet ingredients

4. Stir wet ingredients into dry

5. Scoop a heaping ¼ cup batter into a paper lined muffin tin

6. Bake at 325° for 18 to 22 minutes

7. Cool to room temperature and spread with cream cheese frosting

8. Serve

(Makes about 10 cupcakes)

Delicious Chocolate Chip Recipe

Usually, when we think about chocolate it's associated with a sweet treat that we try to only indulge in every so often. Too many sweets are not good for our figure, especially when we're approaching the warmer months! But, I wanted to share some delicious chocolate products with you from Cocoa Cravings that will be great for (healthy) baking! I have the biggest sweet tooth and I love to bake...I was looking for healthy ingredients that I could use as alternatives for everyday sugars and sweeteners. I came up with this delicious chocolate chip recipe that will be great to share with friends and family (or keep it all to yourself)!

Enjoy!

Ingredients

• 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour (about 10 ounces) 
• 1 teaspoon baking soda 
• 1/4 teaspoon salt CC 
• 1 cup packed brown sugar $ 
• 3/4 cup of eSutras cocoa vanilla sugar 
• 1/2 cup butter, softened 
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract CC 
• 2 large egg whites 
• 3/4 cup Cocoa Cravings Special Dark Chocolate Chunks 
• Cooking spray 

Preparation

• Preheat oven to 350°. 
• Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour, baking soda, and salt, stirring with a whisk. 
• Combine sugars and butter in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed until well blended. Add vanilla and egg whites; beat 1 minute. Add flour mixture and chips; beat until blended. 
• Drop dough by level tablespoons 2 inches apart onto baking sheets coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool on pans for 2 minutes. Remove from pans; cool completely on wire racks.