Some of my favorite things used to be ice cream, chocolate, coffee, In n Out Burger and Taco Bell. Most of these cravings I don't experience since adopting a healthy lifestyle. It's kind of amazing that I can now easily turn my nose up to ice cream. The thought of In n Out Burger makes my stomach turn. I love that my days are so easy to start without needing a cup of coffee. For some reason that I don't understand, I still crave Taco Bell. But only if I think about it! So I don't!! The other craving that I still have is for chocolate. It's a craving that I give into at least once a month. It makes it easier to give into it when I can do so guilt free.
I found a-not so guilt free- recipe that got my chocolate craving revving a couple of days ago. You can find the original recipe here. It is getting easier to change recipes to my liking. To me, guilt free means no fat or oil. I don't count calories.
This is a two part recipe. Don't let that scare you. It is really quick and easy!
Preheat oven to 350F. Grease a 12 ct. muffin tin.
Brownie Pumpkin Layer:
Mix in large bowl:
1 cup canned or pureed pumpkin
1/2 cup + 3 TBSP raw sugar
1/4 cup of unsweetened applesauce
1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Mix in small bowl:
3/4 cup whole wheat flour
1 TBSP cornstarch
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 baking soda
Add dry ingredients to wet and stir well. Add about a TBSP of brownie mixture to each muffin tin until mix is gone.
Pumpkin Pie Layer:
Mix in large bowl:
1 cup of pumpkin
1 tsp vanilla extract
3 TBSP almond milk
Mix in small bowl:
1/3 cup raw sugar
2 TBSP cornstarch
2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
Add wet ingredients slowly, while stirring, to dry ingredients. Mix well. Using a small measuring cup, pour enough in each muffin tin to just cover the brownie mixture, making sure you have enough for each one. Use all the mixture.
Bake for 30 minutes. Cool for 20 minutes at room temperature. Then cool in fridge to chill for 1 to 2 hrs.
This satisfied my chocolate craving!!
Update
I have curently lost 77 lbs. That puts me 3 lbs. away from my goal!
My hubby, Roque, has lost 58 lbs. But even better that that, he is no longer taking medication for diabetes!
