Chocolate Archives - My Inner Shakti

Edible Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

I posted this picture on Instagram the other night…

…and a less staged version on Snapchat (username –> myinnershakti).

A totally unexpected thing happened after doing so. I received more than the usual number of messages and emails asking for my recipe.

Honestly, this is a “recipe” because I went into it with no plan in mind. And because it was way too easy to make (like too easy for my own good!).

Before I share said “recipe,” let me tell you how this edible vegan chocolate chip cookie dough came to be.

Vishnu and I had just finished dinner on Tuesday night. He was cleaning the counters, and I was getting ready to do the dishes. Here’s the conversation that followed…

P: Are you craving something sweet?
V: Par, we just ate.
P: What’s your point? Hunger has nothing to do with dessert.
V: I’m good. (Although, he did eat some dried mango from TJs an hour or so later!)
P: Fine, I’m going to make something sweet for ONE. And I will not share!

I finished the dishes and immediately started rummaging around our pantry and fridge. My first instinct was to find a cookie recipe for one, but in all honesty, I didn’t want to turn on the oven. But of course, now I had cookies on my mind. I thought about how I could make something that tasted like a cookie but didn’t require baking.

It was in that moment when my edible cookie dough was born!

This little concoction was delicious and satisfying in a way most sweet treats aren’t (re: healthy fats!). The best part is that it took less than two minutes to whip up a bowl of cookie dough goodness! I highly recommend you experiment and use this “recipe” as your base. If you’re feeling adventurous, try different flours, nut butters, and add-ins! You can’t go wrong!

Edible Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
Serves 1

2 tablespoons almond meal/flour
1 tablespoon coconut flour
1/2 tablespoon peanut butter
2 tablespoons almond milk
1/2 tablespoon maple syrup
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 tablespoon chocolate chips (I love Enjoy Life)

In a small bowl, mix together the almond meal and coconut flour. Work the peanut butter in with the flours until it resembles a crumbly mixture. Add the wet ingredients (almond milk, maple syrup, and vanilla extract) and mix until combined. Fold in the chocolate chips. Enjoy!

How do you satisfy your sweet tooth?

Fun, Productive, and a Little Lazy

written by Parita 12 Comments

The title of today’s post describes my weekend perfectly. This was our first full weekend back in Miami together so I wanted to spend time with Vishnu, run some errands, and take it easy a little. I’m happy to report that I was able to do just that!

Friday evening started with Presley’s Stability Ball Circuit three times through. I also went down to our gym with the elliptical on my mind. After quickly realizing that the machine started over every time you changed directions, I jumped off and made my way to the rowing machine (for the first time in years). I selected the 2000m workout and…ummm…it was hard. I wanted to quit halfway through but pushed on. I definitely paid the price all weekend. Between rowing and the circuit workout, I was so sore!

After showering and getting ready, it was date night – dinner and a movie!

Before I go on, I have to mention my new Ann Taylor maxi dress. Bottom line…I freaking love it. I bought it online with a friend while in Austin after seeing one of the other girls wearing it. Mine is petite and the perfect length (I’m a little over 5’2”). The style and cut are super flattering, and the material is very soft and flowy. LOVE!

Ok, so back to date night. Vishnu and I went to LoKal Burgers and Beer for dinner. My veggie burger and green bean and bruschetta side dish were both awesome. And Vishnu really enjoyed his burger and fries. We will definitely be back.

After dinner, we made our way over to the theater to see Gone Girl. Both Vishnu and I really enjoyed it! I read the book a while ago and was excited to hear that the movie followed the book almost to a tee. Everything was spot on and just the way I imagined it – the acting, the setting, the suspense. A must watch if you ask me!

The movie didn’t get out until 12:45 am, so of course that meant we started our Saturday a bit later than planned. And by later I mean 11:00 am. I was a little thrown off the rest of the day but still got a lot done. I went to Target, the mall, and Costco, which ended up taking over three hours! We needed quite a few things, so it was worth it. I also fit in a 4.5 mile run before dinner (will be blogging about my current runs and half marathon plan soon). And then Vishnu and I made pizza using crusts I bought at Costco. The outcome was delicious!

Sautéed onions, mushrooms, and green bell pepper/jalapenos/barbecue sauce/mozzarella

Sunday started bright and early with a trip to Trader Joe’s!

I surprised myself a little with how much stuff was in the cart. But no one was more amused than my cashier. As he was ringing me up, he asked if this was a restocking trip. I said kind of and laughed a little. He then asked if I had kids. I said no and then he started laughing. My response – “My husband and I love food and prefer to eat in!” It’s the truth.

I spent the next couple of hours cleaning and organizing. I know I sound crazy, but it was so much fun. Our apartment was a little too messy, dusty, etc. for my taste. I finally feel settled and back to normal! And just as an FYI, I am still using a homemade vinegar based cleaning solution for pretty much everything (counter tops, the floor, wood cabinets, etc.). This stuff is amazing. I highly recommend trying it out. Life changing.

The night ended on a high (and sweet) note with homemade molten chocolate cake! I followed this recipe and made a few tweaks. I changed the serving size to 2. I also swapped 2 tablespoons raw cane sugar for powdered, whole wheat white flour for all purpose, Ghirardelli dark chocolate chips for bittersweet chocolate, and glass bowls for ramekins (because I don’t own any). And finally, I only baked my cakes for 9 minutes (instead of 14). Ooey gooey perfection! The only thing that would have made this dessert better is ice cream…next time for sure!

And finally, I have one other weekend highlight to share. I got a new hair straightener! My almost seven year old CHI stopped working early last week, so I had no choice. I did a little research and narrowed down my choices to the Sedu and the GHD. I decided to go with the Sedu purely based on the fact that Roshni owns one and highly recommended it. And the reviews were pretty much split between the two brands, so I figured I couldn’t go wrong either way. And so far so good! I used it last night for the first time and loved how quickly my hair went from coarse and wavy to straight and silky. Even Vishnu was shocked…his exact words – “I don’t think your hair has ever been this straight!”

And with that, I wish y’all a very happy Monday!

Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Muffins

written by Parita 11 Comments

Oatmeal muffins are by far the #1 thing Vishnu asks for that I make on a regular basis. We can’t get enough! Sometimes we eat them for breakfast, sometimes they serve as a snack, and on nights where nothing else sounds good, they are dinner. And if you aren’t convinced, my sister, my parents, and many of our friends love them as well!

As far as taste and texture are concerned, they don’t taste like oatmeal – they’re doughy with slightly crispy edges (if that makes any sense). The maple syrup adds a hint of sweetness and richness, the melted dark chocolate chips are just perfection, and the walnuts add a nice crunch.

I can’t claim credit for these delicious bites. I first learned about baked oatmeal on Katie’s blog, but because I didn’t have an oven safe bowl to make one big portion, I split the batter among individual muffin cups. Works like a charm!

I highly suggest you follow in my footsteps and make these on a Sunday, double the recipe, and enjoy throughout the week. One pan is NEVER enough for the two of us…NEVER!

Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Muffins
Makes 12 muffins

Adapted from this recipe.

¾ cup plain unsweetened almond milk
¾ cup unsweetened applesauce
1 ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
3 tablespoons maple syrup
¾ teaspoon cinnamon
3 pinches sea salt
3 spoonfuls peanut butter (i.e. 3 heaping tablespoons)
¾ cup chopped walnuts (optional)
1 ½ cup oats
Ghirardelli dark chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Whisk together almond milk, applesauce, vanilla extract, maple syrup, cinnamon, and salt.
3. Add peanut butter one spoonful at a time whisking as you go.
4. Add walnuts and oats and fold until everything is evenly incorporated.
5. Divide mixture evenly between a greased 12 cup muffin pan (~1/8 cup per muffin).
6. Add 4 dark chocolate chips to each muffin (I know this is super specific but trust me it’s the perfect amount).
7. With a small spoon, fold chocolate chips into each muffin cup.
8. Bake for 25 minutes until muffins are golden brown.
9. Allow to cool for 10 minutes and enjoy!

Vishnu loves these cold (like straight out of the refrigerator), and I love them warm (my favorite is straight out of the oven). Regardless how you eat them, I can 100% guarantee that even the pickiest eater will enjoy these muffins.

Let me know if you try them out!

What is the one thing you find yourself making week in and week out?

Peanut Butter Chocolate Banana Boats

written by Parita 7 Comments

I feel silly calling this a recipe. So let’s call it a “recipe.” You’ll see why the quotes are necessary as you continue reading.

This “recipe” was dreamt up after dinner last night when Vishnu asked, “Do we have any dessert?” And before automatically saying no, I scanned the kitchen and said, “Wait, I have an idea!” The next thing I knew, the oven was pre-heating, ingredients were being gathered, and aluminum foil was being folded to create makeshift boats.

This dessert is perfectly sweet and creamy. The only thing that would’ve made it better is a scoop of ice cream. As they say, hindsight is 20/20.

And talk about simple. I’m pretty sure most of you have these ingredients in your kitchen already. And if you don’t, improvise a little. The bananas are the only must have. Everything else can be swapped for something else. For example, don’t have or don’t like peanut butter, use almond butter. Or if you don’t have graham crackers, use your favorite nuts. Get as creative as you want! I’m pretty sure you can’t go wrong with this “recipe.”

Peanut Butter Chocolate Banana Boats
Serves 2

2 semi-ripe bananas, peeled
2 tablespoons of peanut butter, divided
20 dark chocolate chips, divided
1 graham cracker sheet, crushed and divided
2 sheets of aluminum foil

Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees. Place the banana in the middle of the aluminum foil (one per sheet). Crumple the sides of the foil until all four surround the banana and create a little boat. Top the bananas with peanut butter and chocolate chips. Place the boats directly on the middle rack of the oven. Bake 10-12 minutes. Carefully remove, top with crushed graham crackers and enjoy!

Like I said, the only thing that would’ve taken this to the next level is a scoop of ice cream. There’s always next time!

Oh and…HAPPY FRIDAY! Here’s to an uneventful weekend and sleep!

What’s your favorite simple dessert “recipe?”

Zucchini Brownies

written by Parita 12 Comments

Vishnu and I got into a little debate this weekend. It’s actually the same debate we’ve been having for a couple of years. He believes that my taste buds are warped to prefer healthy foods no matter what the alternative. As soon as I mention that something is healthy, he looks at me with a little smirk on his face. He is 100% wrong! I love all food as long as it’s delicious. Solid nutrition stats are an added bonus.

The one thing I will give Vishnu credit for is being on board with trying my so called healthy kitchen creations. Whether he agrees with my food philosophy or not, he’s always a willing guinea pig! Like on Friday when I announced that I was making Zucchini Brownies. All I heard was “cool.”

My friend Monica sent me this recipe (she gets my love for healthy + delicious food). Her mom made these brownies and said they turned out really well. I had no doubts because the chocolate zucchini muffins I occasionally make are amazing, so I figured brownies with zucchini would be equally as good. And if nothing else, it was worth a shot!

A couple of notes to consider before making these…

One, while these brownies are super rich, I wouldn’t call them decadent (proof that my taste buds aren’t warped). What they are is the perfect alternative to their bad boy counterpart. Not that anything is wrong with the real stuff, except when you know that between you and your husband the pan of brownies will mysteriously disappear by the end of the weekend. This still happened, but I don’t feel as bad about it.

And two, the original recipe called for grated zucchini. instead, I used my food processor to create the smallest pieces possible. I think my way made for a better texture.

Zucchini Brownies
Adapted from fastPaleo

1 cup peanut butter
1 1/2 cup finely chopped zucchini (food processor highly recommended)
1/3 cup organic honey
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
1 tablespoon instant coffee
1 cup dark chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine all the ingredients in a large bowl. Pour into a greased baking pan. Bake for 30 minutes.

For all the skeptics out there, you really can’t taste the zucchini. I promise (hand on heart). In fact, the finer your zucchini pieces, the more everything just melts together. And talk about moist. Between the water content of the zucchini and the chocolate chips, it’s like you’re eating brownie batter (get your spoon ready). Delicious.

As a testament to how good these were, I would like to reiterate that there is not a single trace of brownie left in our apartment. And I was not alone in making that happen. As much as he hates to admit it, I think Vishnu’s slowly making his way over to the “healthy AND delicious” side. MUAHAHAHAHA –>evil laugh!

Happy Monday!

What was the best thing, healthy or not, that you ate this weekend?

Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

written by Parita 14 Comments

It’s December! Can you believe it? Bet you haven’t read/heard that yet.

But seriously, this is my favorite month of the year for many reasons but mainly because people just seem to be in a better mood, myself included. Holiday cheer…got to love it!

Speaking of cheer, did anyone else watch the SEC championship game on Saturday? I cheered like I’ve never cheered before but it didn’t help. SO close. Oh well, I’m still SO proud to be a Georgia Bulldog!

Another cheer worthy occasion from the weekend was all the decorating Vishnu and I did. We made another trip to Ikea on Saturday morning and bought a few things – including a book case, some mirrors, and a whole bunch of frames. We also discovered a Home Goods close to our apartment – dangerous stuff! We found a few neat frames to pair with our mirrors.

A floating bookcase

Mirrors from Ikea, framed pictures from Home Goods, the genius idea to combine the two from VISHNU!

A cool painting we found at Home Goods for $20

And finally, I was totally cheering last night as I ate a piece of delicious, soul warming Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Banana Bread. Not only did it taste like perfection, but it made the apartment smell amazing. Banana bread baking should be a Sunday tradition. Hmm…

So I’m sure you’ve seen and even tried a number of different banana bread recipes. And a few of them are probably very good, but I can promise you that once you make this one, you will never try another again. A Parita promise.

I went to bed thinking about when I would get to eat another piece – breakfast, post work snack, after dinner treat, all three? It’s THAT good. Not too sweet, soft, and freaking delicious. And the very best part? It’s ridiculously simple to make. Let me know if you try it out!

Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

1 1/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup raw cane sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup melted Earth Balance (or butter)
1 cup mashed bananas (~3 bananas)
2 eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Mix together flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, combine Earth Balance, bananas, eggs, and vanilla extract. Pour wet ingredients into dry and mix well. Add chocolate chips and stir until evenly distributed in batter. Pour batter into a greased loaf pan. Bake for 50 minutes.

Allow to cool, slice, and enjoy!

Have a great Monday!

What was the most cheery worthy thing about your weekend?

Chocolate Chip Granola Bars

written by Parita 18 Comments

No weekend updates today. Except that I got sick on Saturday night after eating at Chipotle. Vishnu thinks it was a combination of me eating too much too fast. Those are two very plausible possibilities. All I know is it was not fun and I felt gross. Therefore, Chipotle and I are taking a break.

Thankfully I felt much better Sunday morning. I even headed out bright and early for our weekly grocery shopping trip at my new favorite farmer’s market and Publix. I. Love. Grocery. Shopping! Yes, I realize this makes me sound dorky. I don’t care.

While at Publix I looked for some nutritious granola bars that Vishnu and I could take to work/school during the week. After looking at about five different kinds, I gave up. There are some decent ones out there – it’s just that my wallet wasn’t impressed enough for me to purchase.

When I got home, I started looking up recipes for homemade granola bars. And then I remembered that there’s a pretty good one on my own blog! Duh.

When I clicked on it however, I got a weird “this page does not exist” message. For a split second, I thought all my recipes were gone. And then I realized that when I switched over to a new blog design, I deleted a bunch of pages, of which the granola bar recipe was one. Oops! Sometimes I get excited with the whole technical side of the blog, think of myself as an IT expert, and end up messing things up. Sometimes. That’s when having a super techie husband really helps!

All was not lost though. I knew that at some point in the past I had emailed this recipe to someone. After doing a quick search, I found it! And lucky us (and you guys) because what came out of the oven was better than any store bought granola bars. These bars are soft, chewy, slightly sweet, and full of dark chocolate bits.

Ready to go into the oven

After trying a piece, I couldn’t believe I had waited so long to make these again. Seeing that Vishnu had two pieces last night, I think I unknowingly started a weekly/biweekly homemade granola bar tradition. Not a bad thing!

Chocolate Chip Granola Bars

4 cups quick cooking oats
1 cup nuts of your choice (I used slivered almonds)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
3/4 cup chocolate chips of your choice, chopped into little pieces (I used dark chocolate)
1/2 cup dark brown sugar
6 tablespoons butter, melted (I used Earth Balance)
1/4 cup honey
6 teaspoons smooth peanut butter
4 teaspoons milk (I used almond milk)

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Mix together the first six ingredients in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, combine the rest of the ingredient and stir until smooth. Add the wet ingredients to the dry and mix well. Spray a 13x9x2 pan with non-stick cooking spray. Spread the mixture evenly, pushing down with the back of your spoon to ensure that everything is nice and compact. Bake for 25-30 minutes. Allow the bars to cool for a few hours before cutting into pieces.

P.S. Don’t worry if your bars break apart a little. They’ll still taste delicious. So delicious in fact that I’m hoping ours stick around for more then 48 hours. Vishnuletstrytomaketheselastforatleastfourdaysplease!

Tell me something fun about your weekend!

Edible Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough

Fun, Productive, and a Little Lazy

Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Muffins

Peanut Butter Chocolate Banana Boats

Zucchini Brownies

Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

Chocolate Chip Granola Bars

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