Um, yeah this is cake and I am on a diet--do you have any carrot sticks?

So many people love chocolate cake to a level some may deem--unnatural--comfort food, libido enhancer, symbol of love and affection etc. Chocolate cake--just those words can send a dieter into thoughts of cheating and remorse. You can also find numerous "healthy" versions of chocolate cake on many recipe sites. Recently I was surfing the web and found a recipe that looked decent enough for me to try and prepare for my family. It had real chocolate, real sugar and such a wonderful blend of espresso with it that I had to try it out. Well, I was rewarded with the same let down many of the dieters of the world have shared when trying out a recipe which has removed the love from the food. I mean, eating a healthy chocolate cake still has to have the same sensuous experience to it or what would be the point? We already know where the carrot sticks are in the fridge, right? Why do we want a "carrot stick" version of a lusted after comfort food like cake? We don't. So--I modified the recipe with so much success I would like to report this as " A chocolate cake your husband would even request you make. Your kids won't even know and they will be licking the frosting off the plates and begging you for just one more piece!" The average slice of a frosted piece of chocolate cake has over 600 calories. The same size portion of this rich cake is less than half of those calories! (Yeah, that means you can have 2 pieces!) Yes, we even included the gluten free recipe alterations!











Rich Mocha Cake with Creamy Cheesecake Frosting
Serves 12

Dry Ingredients:
3/4 cup flour (sub in rice flour for gluten free)
1/2 cup pastry flour (sub in coconut flour for gluten free)
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
Wet Ingredients:
2 Whole eggs
2 Egg whites
2 tbs melted butter
1 tbs canola oil
1 1/2 cups non-fat Vanilla yogurt
1 tbs espresso powder melted in 2 tbs hot water
2 Oz. dark chocolate melted
1/3 cup Agave syrup

Heat over to 350 degrees and spray a 9x9 pan with cooking spray. Combined dry ingredients in a bowl and set aside. In a separate bowl whip eggs, whites, butter, oil, vanilla and syrup on medium speed. Add in the yogurt and espresso to the wet mixture blend thoroughly. Slowly add in melted chocolate until fully incorporated. Begin adding the dry mix 1/2 cup at a time while blending on medium speed. Pour blended batter into the greased cake pan and bake for 40 minutes or until a tooth pick comes out clean. Allow cake to fully cool before frosting.

Cheesecake Frosting

1 package low fat cream cheese at room temp.
1/3 cup confectioners sugar
1 tsp almond extract
1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Combine all ingredients and whip on medium high speed until the rich frosting texture is accomplished. Frost this bad boy and serve it up!

Calories per serving: 255
Carbohydrates- 33 grams
Fats- 9 grams
Protein- 6 grams

Coconut Cherry Granola

In Keeping with the kids theme here is a snack my kids love, especially the teenagers! I like it over yogurt or even in a protein pudding.

2 1/2 cups old fashion oats
2/3 cup Pomegranate juice
1/3 cup shredded coconut
1/4 cup shaved almonds
1/2 cup dried cherries
1/3 cup honey

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a cookie sheet with non stick cooking spray or lightly butter it. Heat the juice and honey together and stir well. Add all the ingredients except the cherries to the juice mixture and blend. Spread evenly on cookie sheet and bake for 20 minutes, stir the granola well and add cherries. Continue cooking for another 20 minutes. Allow granola to dry after cookie. The juice makes it a wet mess and once dried it forms wonderful granola chunks of goodness. Serves 12

Calories 133
Carbohydrates 23 grams
Fats 4 grams
Protein 3 grams

Hawt and Spicy Nuts

These sweet and crunch almonds have just enough kick to them to make your eyes light up but not have you dialing 9-1-1 to put out the fire!




Hot and Sweet Almond Slivers (serves 6)
2 cups raw almond slivers
1/2 tablespoon Olive Oil
2 teaspoons sugar
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon Mexican Chili powder
1 teaspoon green Habanero sauce (red if you like it HOTTER!)

Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Place all ingredients in a bowl and stir till the slivers are evenly coated. Lay nuts out evenly on a non-stick baking sheet and bake for 25 minutes stirring them a few times to prevent burning.

Allow nuts to fully cool before serving.

Calories- 279
Fat- 25 grams
Protein- 3 grams
Carbohydrate- 11 grams