Along the lines of "if you like really dark chocolate, you might like this":
homemade unsweetened chocolate syrup
Background: Several years ago, I learned I needed to cut down on my sugar intake. Not as drastically as you did, but still, no more 6 Dr Peppers a day (I cringe even typing that now). Cutting back on sugar wasn't that hard for me, but the caffeine was another story. I couldn't stand diet soda of any kind. So, I started drinking coffee for the first time in my life. And, because chocolate makes almost anything better, I started adding cocoa and a bit of milk to my coffee.
However, I live in Houston, Texas and hot drinks are out of season here year-round, in my opinion. I'd say we get, on average, about 14 days of weather cold enough to make a hot drink appealing to me. So, a friend introduced me to cold brew coffee. Which is assume, except cocoa doesn't dissolve in cold drinks very well. But chocolate syrup does. But artificially sweetened chocolate syrup tastes nasty to me.
One day, I decided to make my own chocolate syrup. I found a recipe on the internet and I just left out the sugar. So, just cocoa and water. I'm sure a good cook would be able to consistently produce smooth chocolate syrup the exact consistency of Hershey's. Me, I don't really care. Mine is sometimes almost solid and other times pretty runny. However, it always dissolves in my coffee.
Now, I get to have my favorite dessert first thing in the morning. It's awesome. And when I splurge on a real dessert, I put my chocolate syrup on over the best ice cream I can find.
I really enjoy reading about how adaptable we can be, in order to get what we love within our personal constraints. Dark chocolate- check. I love peanut butter and chocolate (think Reese's) especially in the form of ice cream. I make my own almond butter cups with dark chocolate, and since I have to be very careful about dairy, 'nice cream ' made from frozen Bananas, almond milk and PB2. That said, my non food favorite things are walks with my dog, Georgie (2×day) and time with my grandson. Fudge was one of the first things I learned to make in the kitchen; I think he and I will make some this holiday season. Thanks for the reminder; it's been many many years.
No, but about 30 years ago, I suddenly could NOT eat or drink chocolate. No I did not test for it. But one evening I had a chocolate bar and started a wild asthma attack. Nah, couldn't be..so next morning after not eating anything I tried again...Nope I could not breathe. So I quit chocolate. Tried drinking some, nah, I prefer to breathe. What makes me mad at Christmas and Easter is that EVERY thing seems to have Chocolate added...even healthy granola bars. ---nasty words nasty words. Glad you found some you can have.
Oh, I feel for you. I don't know how long it took my mom to figure out the connection to her migraines, and she got them even when not eating chocolate so I suspect she probably kept hoping it was a coincidence. But not breathing seems like definitely something to avoid. And yes, for anyone with a food allergy-the people who make foods don't make it easy!
Along the lines of "if you like really dark chocolate, you might like this":
homemade unsweetened chocolate syrup
Background: Several years ago, I learned I needed to cut down on my sugar intake. Not as drastically as you did, but still, no more 6 Dr Peppers a day (I cringe even typing that now). Cutting back on sugar wasn't that hard for me, but the caffeine was another story. I couldn't stand diet soda of any kind. So, I started drinking coffee for the first time in my life. And, because chocolate makes almost anything better, I started adding cocoa and a bit of milk to my coffee.
However, I live in Houston, Texas and hot drinks are out of season here year-round, in my opinion. I'd say we get, on average, about 14 days of weather cold enough to make a hot drink appealing to me. So, a friend introduced me to cold brew coffee. Which is assume, except cocoa doesn't dissolve in cold drinks very well. But chocolate syrup does. But artificially sweetened chocolate syrup tastes nasty to me.
One day, I decided to make my own chocolate syrup. I found a recipe on the internet and I just left out the sugar. So, just cocoa and water. I'm sure a good cook would be able to consistently produce smooth chocolate syrup the exact consistency of Hershey's. Me, I don't really care. Mine is sometimes almost solid and other times pretty runny. However, it always dissolves in my coffee.
Now, I get to have my favorite dessert first thing in the morning. It's awesome. And when I splurge on a real dessert, I put my chocolate syrup on over the best ice cream I can find.
That should have been "Which is awesome", not "Which is assume".
Much as I love fruits, nuts and various commercial candies, semi-sweet chocolate and darker is my favorite treat
I really enjoy reading about how adaptable we can be, in order to get what we love within our personal constraints. Dark chocolate- check. I love peanut butter and chocolate (think Reese's) especially in the form of ice cream. I make my own almond butter cups with dark chocolate, and since I have to be very careful about dairy, 'nice cream ' made from frozen Bananas, almond milk and PB2. That said, my non food favorite things are walks with my dog, Georgie (2×day) and time with my grandson. Fudge was one of the first things I learned to make in the kitchen; I think he and I will make some this holiday season. Thanks for the reminder; it's been many many years.
No, but about 30 years ago, I suddenly could NOT eat or drink chocolate. No I did not test for it. But one evening I had a chocolate bar and started a wild asthma attack. Nah, couldn't be..so next morning after not eating anything I tried again...Nope I could not breathe. So I quit chocolate. Tried drinking some, nah, I prefer to breathe. What makes me mad at Christmas and Easter is that EVERY thing seems to have Chocolate added...even healthy granola bars. ---nasty words nasty words. Glad you found some you can have.
Oh, I feel for you. I don't know how long it took my mom to figure out the connection to her migraines, and she got them even when not eating chocolate so I suspect she probably kept hoping it was a coincidence. But not breathing seems like definitely something to avoid. And yes, for anyone with a food allergy-the people who make foods don't make it easy!