Delicious chocolate fondue recipe that keeps calories in check
To keep the nation in good shape, a pharmaceutical company, whose focus centres on healthy living, has developed more than 30 mouth-watering recipes in partnership with the Heart and Stroke Foundation SA, as part of the Cooking from the Heart cookbook series, that’ll keep your calories in check.
Nicole Jennings, spokesperson for Pharma Dynamics says the the coming winter season can be a challenging time, especially for those who worked hard for their summer bodies and want to keep it that way.
“Although a little bit of winter weight gain is expected, many get carried away and put on much more, which becomes difficult to shed in the long run.
“The key is to eat mindfully over the colder months. If you’re trying to maintain your weight, there are a few simple strategies you can follow:
1. Fill up on vegetables first. The more colourful your plate, the healthier.
2. Take a break between bites so your body has time to process the food.
3. Wait at least 20 – 30 minutes before you have dessert. This gives your body time to figure out whether you’re still hungry. Listen to your body and stop when you’re full.
4. Focus on having a good time with the people you’re with than just the food.
5. Be aware of the amount of food you eat and adjust it based on its nutritional value and the goals of your eating plan by exercising portion control.
“Finally, don’t feel bad about treating yourself to some of your favourite treats, but remember to moderate your intake. If you overindulge during one or two meals, don’t beat yourself up over it. Just get back on track the next day.
Delicious Chocolate Fondue
INGREDIENTS
- 1 cup (250 ml) low-fat milk
- ½ x 80 g good quality dark chocolate, broken into pieces
- 2 tsp (10 ml) sugar
- 1 tbsp (15 ml) cornflour
- 1 tbsp (15 ml) cocoa powder
- ¼ tsp (1,2 ml) ground cinnamon or more to taste
- 1 tsp (5 ml) vanilla essence
- 2 small fruit skewers per person, made with seasonal fruit, like apple, pear, papaya, citrus, banana or strawberries
- 12 – 18 marshmallows, toasted over the coals, if preferred
- 12 – 18 tennis or Marie biscuits to dip
METHOD
1. Place milk, chocolate and sugar in a small pot. Heat over a low heat, while stirring all the time, to melt the chocolate and dissolve the sugar.
2. Mix cornflour, cocoa and cinnamon with 2 tbsp (30 ml) water to form a smooth paste without lumps.
3. Add some of the warm milk mixture to the paste and stir well. Stir back into the milk mixture in the pot.
4. Stir continuously over a medium heat for 8 – 10 minutes or until slightly thickened. Remove from the heat and stir in the vanilla. Spoon into a warm bowl.
5. Dip fruit or some of the other suggested ingredients in the warm chocolate sauce.
#ProTip
The sauce will thicken as it cools down. Just stir in a tablespoon of boiling water to thin it down again.
The chocolate sauce can also be served with ice cream. Only use 2 tsp (10 ml) cornflour and prepare as above. The recipe will then serve 8 – 10.
