Five Easy Chocolate Recipes

Chocolate is the most popular flavor in the world. It often brings to mind images of delicious
cakes,pies,puddings,candy,and cookies.Chocolate isn't just used to make sweets.It is even
a main ingredient in soups and gravies.

There has even been good news for chocolate lovers in recent years.Studies have
shown the flavonoids in chocolate,particularly dark chocolate, has many health benefits
like protecting against high blood pressure and improving circulation.This doesn't mean
over-indulge. Too much of a good thing can have reverse effects like weight gain
from the sugar and fat.

Chocolate can still be consumed in regulation.Just don't eat whole box of candy in one
day.Here are a few easy chocolate recipes to satisy that craving from time to time.

Double Chocolate Cookies

1 18 1/4 box Devil's food cake mix
/2 cup vegetable oil
2 large eggs
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
Combine first three ingredients.Beat at medium speed with electric mixer until
blended.Stir in chips.Drop by rounded teaspoon two inches apart on ungrease cookie sheet.
Bake at 350 for ten minutes.

Baked Fudge Drops

2/3 cup sweetened condensed milk
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cup coconut
1/4 teaspoon vanilla
Mix all ingredientswell.Drop by rounded teaspoon on ungreased cookie sheet.
If desired,decorate with candies.Bake at 350 for ten minutes.

Quick Chocolate Cupcakes

1 1/2 c All-purpose flour
3/4 c Sugar
1/4 c cocoa
1 ts Baking soda
1/2 ts Salt
1 c Water
1/4 c Vegetable oil
1 tb White vinegar
1 ts Vanilla extract
Heat oven to 375 degrees F. Line muffin cups (2 1/2" in diameter) with paper bake cups.
In medium bowl, stir together flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda and salt. Add water, oil, vinegar
and vanilla; beat with a whisk just until batter is smooth and ingredients are well blended.
Fill muffin cups 2/3 full with batter. Bake 16-18 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in
center comes out clean. Remove from pan ti wire rack. Cool completely. Frost as desired.
Makes 18 cupcakes.

Fat Free Chocolate Cake

1 1/4 c Flour
1 c Sugar
1/2 c Unsweetened cocoa
1/4 c Corn starch
1/2 ts Baking soda
1/2 ts Salt
4 Egg whites
1 c Water
1/2 Light or dark corn syrup
No-stick cooking spray
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray 9" square baking pan with cooking spray.
In large bowl, combine dry ingredients until well mixed. In medium bowl, whisk egg whites, water
and corn syrup. Stir into dry ingredients until smooth. Pour into prepared pan.
Bake 30 minutes or until cake springs back when lightly touched. Cool on wire rack 10 minutes.
Makes 16 servings.

Chocolate Dream Pie

2 Envelopes whipped topping mix
2 3/4 c Cold milk
2 pk Chocolate Flavor Instant Pudding mix
1 9-inch prepared pie shell
1 ts Vanilla
Prepare whipped topping mix per package directions in a large mixing bowl. Add remaining 1 1/2 cups
milk and pudding mix. Whip, then beat at high speed for 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally.
Spoon into pie shell. Chill at least 4 hours.

1-2-3 Fudge

Serves: 10

INGREDIENTS:
12 ounce bag of chocolate chips
1 can of frosting
Put the chips in a microwaveable bowl, put in microwave for 1 minute, stir and put in microwave
for 30-45 seconds until melted. Add ready-made Frosting and mix thoroughly. Spread on cookie sheet
and cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 3-4 hours. Cut in 1-inch squares and serve.

These recipes shouldn't be too much trouble to make. Home-made sweets can be made even lower in calories by reducing sugar by a third or so.The difference won't be noticed.To lower fat,use an egg substitute or egg whites.Cookies and candy make great gifts.