LIGHT & LOCAL |
| Subtle Tea |
How many of you, like me, love chocolate? Here is a great recipe to fulfill your chocolate craving. It's low in fat, healthy and so easy to prepare. There is no cooking involved and it tastes great without all the guilt. You can purchase all the ingredients at the health food store. I have used agave, a natural sweetener made from the Mexican blue agave cactus plant. It is safer for diabetics because it is slowly absorbed and will not spike blood sugar levels. Instead of using heavy cream or milk, I have chosen Lite Mori-Nu Tofu.
As long as you have these ingredients sitting on your pantry shelf, you can make this dessert at any time. Mori-Nu's shelf-stable, vacuum-packaging allows you to store it unrefrigerated. Even without preservatives, this package is safe from the effects of light, air and harmful bacteria.
Mori-Nu is made from soybeans, water and a coagulant, much the same way cheese is made. It is very high in protein and calcium. If you don't want to go to the trouble of making this dessert from scratch, you can always try the Chocolate Mori-Nu Mates Pudding and Pie Mix available in health food stores.
LITE CHOCOLATE MOUSSE
Place tofu in a food processor and blend until smooth. Add agave and blend. Add the cocoa powder and almond extract and blend again. Spoon into individual parfait glasses or dessert cups and chill. Top with low-fat whipping topping and slivered almonds.
Serves 4.
Want a local recipe lightened up? Write Light & Local, Taste Section, The Advertiser, P.O. Box 3110, Honolulu, HI 96802; or taste@honoluluadvertiser.com. Carol Devenot is a Kaimuki-raised kama'aina, teacher and recipe consultant, and author of "Island Light Cuisine" (Blue Sea Publishing, paper, 2003). Learn more at www.islandlightcuisine.com.