Dessert without guilt: My Healthier Chocolate Cake Recipe!

It is possible to eat something sweet and not feel the need to beat yourself up afterwards. It is okay to treat yourself every once in a while, it is even better to do it and still feel you made a far better choice than you could have. This was me last night. I wanted, chocolate, I wanted crunchy and I wanted salty all at the same time. So I hit the kitchen and threw together a microwave chocolate cake. It was far healthier than any processed snack and still fell within my clean eating guideline so I was pleased with myself and my craving was satisfied. I still don’t harbor any guilt over my choice either. That is rare for me. So here is a picture of my delicious creation and the recipe. This is a single serving recipe.

Oh so tasty!

Clean Eating Chocolate Cake:

Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon dark chocolate cocoa powder
• 3 tablespoons 100% unbleached whole wheat graham flour
• 2 teaspoons agave nectar
• 1/4 tsp baking powder
• 2 packets Stevia In the Raw
• 1 tablespoon unsweetened coconut
• 2 teaspoons applesauce
• 3 tablespoons skim milk (you could substitute with milk of choice)
• 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon dark chocolate chips
• 1 teaspoon unsalted shelled sunflower seeds
• 1 pinch course sea salt

In a small bowl mix together all of the dry ingredients (minus the chips and salt) and Stevia well. Add wet ingredients and stir well. After it is fully mixed pour into mug or ramekin add chips reserving a few, sprinkle remaining chips, seeds and salt on the top of batter. Place in microwave and microwave on high for 1 minute. It did bubble over just a tiny bit so I would recommend placing it on a microwave safe dish or paper towel.Let cool for a minute then enjoy! I am yet to calculate the nutrition to an exact but my rough calculation rounded it out to about:

• Calories: 170
• Fat: 2 grams
• Carbs: 35 grams
• Fiber: 6.5 grams
• Protein:5.6 grams

I feel like I am running on E today. I slept less than two hours. I am so temped to grab a Sugar Free Red Bull so I can function. So far I have resisted but have accomplished nothing. I rarely have caffeine via doctors orders. Apparently caffeine and Sleep Deprivation Disorder is not a good mix. Who would have thought, huh? Right now I am having a smoothie in hopes that it give me some up and go. If not, I will be naughty and have some caffeine. After I blog I am going to have an egg to so I get my protein in. Thank goodness today is an easy workout day. Yoga and C25K!  I think I will do LMP Flow and some Gaiam Energizing Yoga too, get the blood flowing before my C25K. Yawn!

Already looking tasty!

Hope this gives me some energy!

What was in my smoothie?

• 1 mango
• 1 kiwi
• 1 handful spinach
• 2 mandarin oranges
• 1/2 cup FF Greek yogurt
• 1 handful ice
• 1 handful of mixed berries: blueberries, raspberries and blackberries
• 1/3 cup FF milk

 

Rambling on a Monday (recipe too)

I’ve kept pretty busy today, feeling great now that I have bounced back from the terrible bout of self-inflicted dehydration. Got up, got Emma off to school, then made my breakfast. I found the recipe on Pinterest through a friend and was intrigued. I would definitely make it again. It is called a 1 Minute Clean Berrylicious Microwave Minute Muffin, I made some changes so here is the recipe. Also here is the link to the original recipe. Click for recipe.

 

1 Minute Clean Berrylicious Microwave Minute Muffin JoAnn Style

1/4 cup quick oats
1 egg
small handful of frozen mixed berries (blueberry, blackberry and raspberry)
1 teaspoon of Agave nectar
1 tablespoon of FF milk

Mix oats, egg, agave and milk together in a coffee cup or a ramekin (I used a ramekin), then put berries on top and press into mixture slightly.
Put it in the microwave for 1 minute, check it then see that it isn’t done and microwave for another minute. I think it may have taken longer because I used frozen berries in place of using fresh.

I served it with a sliced Bartlett pear and 8 oz of FF milk. It was very filling and quite tasty!

Isn't it cute?!

After breakfast I got two miles done on the treadmill, I was able to up my jogging and running speed by 1 MPH so I was happy. My inhaler was not even needed. Maybe all this clean eating is resolving my exercise induced asthma issues. I know the asthma was not from being out of shape because I was diagnosed with it as a child. Maybe it was all the chemicals and altered foods? Who knows, I’m not a scientist or a doctor. anyhow, it was a great run and I got to enjoy my new water bottle that my friend Heather brought me the other day. It is so cute! I also realized I need a new set of ear buds, I was getting tired of them popping out mid run and distracting me. So annoying. almost as annoying as the dog pouting any time I get on the treadmill. he hates the thing and doesn’t like people to use it. he stares and pouts and comes up and sniffs you to see if you are okay and it is a distraction. He’s a dog though and doesn’t get it so I forgive him.

Lets see after my run I started dinner. I had left over black beans and ground turkey from last nights black bean burritos so I threw it in the crock pot with a ton of veggies and spices and it is now chili! perfect dinner for tonight. It is chilly and rainy out and Emma has a game to play tonight. May as well put something warm, hearty and healthy in us first. It smells wonderful and I can’t wait until dinner time.

All of my errands were run after that, I enjoy being out running though. Got new rugs for the camper, a new bat and bat bag for Emma. They are both pink of course! I also solved the pesky ear bud issues and got some sport ones. I can’t wait to try them out in the morning tomorrow! Now I need to get my Pump for the day done, have dinner and get the kiddo off to her muddy baseball game.