Valentine’s Day may be over but my love for the ol’ dark chocolate sure ain’t…

I’ve been having fun.

Me and my chocolatta.  Did you ever see the movie Chocolat?

It’s one of my favorites. My buddy, Mer and I watched Chocolat in the theater years ago and literally rushed to the nearest chocolate shop for some dark chocolate as soon as the credits started rolling…

Well, without a TV and without the Chocolat I still managed to have a fabulous Chocolat fest … Just me, the chocolate, a bit of jazz music and the heat pumped up to 90 in my lil apt.

Well, with the unending rows of chocolate around the city this Valentine’s Day, I decided to stock up and purchase a lil’ for myself.  Because why not, right? That’s what Love Day is all about…givin’ yourself a lil’ lovin’.

And I did just that.

My favorite chocolate. Hmmmm, I must say it’s gotta be dark chocolate.  I just bought a bar, or two. Okay, I purchased three bars, but they were on sale so it wasn’t so bad.  I am seriously turning into my mother…gotta love a sale, right Jo?

When browsing the chocolate bars, I came across a pretty jar of cocoa powder…Hmmmm, I thought. This could get interesting.  And I tossed that into my basket, as well.

Back home in my kitchen, I gently tore open the bars, broke off a few squares…and felt pure bliss.  Then I popped open the cocoa powder (and I’m not gunna lie, I wasn’t expecting much from this … just thinking it was going to be the same ol’ same ol’ taste like Hershey’s boring cocoa powder.) But no. I was wrong.

It was amazing.  Yes, I was caught red handed-by myself in my lil’ kitchen with my spoon in the cocoa powder … O so good. Where have I been, seriously? Cocoa powder is amazing.  I proceeded to experiment … of course, because it’s what I do best, hehe.

Into the salsa, Wow!

Into a mixture of homemade hummus, sesame seeds and balsamic vinegar.  Incredible.

Into my homemade tomato sauce. Unreal. Dad, You have to try this…

Into my ricotta cheese. Hehe.

Into my cottage cheese. O my.

Into my Greek yogurt.

Then, I was stuffed. Yes, but happy. Hehe. I found a new love. Welcome, Cocoa powder to my fabulous lil’ life…O the places we’ll go.

After my stomach was about to pop from the random cocoa experimenting, I decided to create a fun dish with my chocolate bar and cocoa along with some fresh garlic bulbs that I purchased at the market.

What did I create?

Yes, chocolate covered roasted garlic.

Enough said.

I can’t wait to make it again.

You seriously must rush to the store and purchase these ingredients.

I assure you, you’ll be all smiles.

Chocolate Covered Roasted Garlic

Ingredients

• 2 garlic bulbs
• 1 tsp. olive oil
• 1 (1 oz.)dark chocolate
• 3 Tbsp cocoa powder
• 1 tsp. olive oil
• 1/4 cup pumpkin seeds
• 1 tsp. flax seeds
• 1 tsp. miso
• Ricotta cheese, optional topping

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Unwrap the outer-shell of the garlic bulbs. Drizzle with 1 tsp. olive oil.  Wrap garlic in tin foil. Place onto a baking sheet; bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes.
3. Remove from oven; set aside to cool atop parchment paper.
4. Meanwhile, heat chocolate in a small pot over medium heat.  Add cocoa powder, olive oil, pumpkin seeds, flax seeds and miso; mix well to combine. Cook until chocolate is melted.
5. Drizzle melted chocolate mixture over roasted garlic on parchment paper.
6. Serve with a dollop of ricotta cheese.
7. Enjoy!

So, that’s that and now I have a belly ache. Hehe.

But that’s okay.  Now I know I’ve gotta lot more experimenting to do with this cocoa powder.  Any ideas?

I’m thinking drizzled over roasted edemame…grilled pineapple n’ peaches…or in a nice cup o’ hot cocoa with a sprinkle of cinnamon.

Are you a fan of cocoa powder? It’s such a random ingredient that I never thought to taste test, but now it’s a whole new world and watch out… You may just be seein’ a bit o’ this cocoa in my chicken, tofu n’ smoothies.

Things may just get a little crazy over here.

But that’s okay.  Because it tastes good.

And, it’s gluten-free.

Hehe.