Celebrate Love with Homemade Dark Chocolate Mendiants
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Celebrate Love with Homemade Dark Chocolate Mendiants
February 14, 2024 | Healthy Recipes, Sweet TreatsSavor the Sweetness with a Heartfelt Twist on Tradition
Hello Stability Nutrition Friends,
Happy Wednesday!
The anticipation of Valentine's Day brings to mind the usual gifts of flowers and candy, but it's clear that such traditional tokens are not for everyone. This realization sparks the excitement of sharing a delightful alternative that transcends the ordinary - The Dark Chocolate Mendiant. Crafted with a blend of love and creativity, this treat is a testament to the joy of incorporating wellness into every celebration.
What is a Mendiant?
A Mendiant is a traditional French confection consisting of a flat chocolate disc topped with an assortment of nuts and dried fruits. Originally, these toppings represented the four mendicant monastic orders, with each ingredient symbolizing the color of the monks' robes.
Today, Mendiants have evolved into a canvas for culinary creativity, allowing for a wide range of toppings beyond the traditional, making each piece a unique bite of chocolate craftsmanship.
Why These Mendiants Are Amazing
Versatility:
Each Mendiant is a canvas for creativity, easily embellished with whatever you have on hand - dried cherries, peanuts, candied ginger, pecans, red chile flakes, or a dash of fleur de sel. The combinations are endless, and ensure a personalized treat for everyone!
Rich flavors, Richer Benefits:
Dark chocolate is rich in antioxidants which can help reduce inflammation and improve heart health. Low to moderate consumption of dark chocolate has been linked to a reduced risk of heart disease and improved brain function, thanks to its stimulants and beneficial compounds.
Mindful Enjoyment:
In a world where the fast and convenient often overshadows the slow and meaningful, these Dark Chocolate Mendiants invite you to pause. They are meant to be savored slowly, each bite a reminder to appreciate and fully enjoy the experience and joy of chocolate.
A Joyful, Homemade Gift:
Beyond their taste and health benefits, these Mendiants represent the joy of creating something by hand. They offer a way to express care and affection, not only on Valentine's Day, but on any day that calls for a heartfelt sentiment.
Homemade Dark Chocolate Mendiants
A Canvas for Culinary Creativity
Author: Elisa | Stability Nutrition
Servings: 12-24, depending on size
Ingredients:
4 oz dark chocolate chips (70% cacao or higher)
⅓ cup crispy rice cereal (optional, but recommended)
1 tbsp toasted sliced almonds, pecans, walnuts or peanuts
1 tbsp sliced dried apricots, dried cherries, candied ginger or sliced dried fruit of choice
1 tbsp dried calendula petals, or dried rose petals (optional)
2 tbsp dehydrated raspberries, or strawberries (optional)
A few pinches of fleur de sel, or large flake sea salt
Instructions:
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silpat and set aside.
Place the chocolate chips in a microwaveable container, microwave on high power for 20-30 seconds, stir, then microwave at 5 second intervals, checking and stirring in between, until the chocolate is silky and smooth.
Alternatively, use the stove top method:
In a medium saucepan, bring a few inches of water to a simmer over medium-high heat. Add the chocolate to a medium heatproof bowl, and set the bowl over the saucepan so it sits but does not touch the water. Melt the chocolate, stirring occasionally, until smooth. Remove the bowl from the heat.
If using the crispy rice, stir that into the chocolate mixture until all the crispy rice is well coated, and no dry bits remain.
Alternatively, you can use ½ of the crispy rice, and do half of the chocolate coins smooth, and ½ with the crispy rice. Get creative and have fun!
Drop teaspoonfuls of the melted chocolate onto the lined baking sheet a couple inches apart. Shake the pan gently so the spoonfuls of chocolate flatten into coins. Top with the toasted almonds, or nuts of choice, dried fruit of choice, dried flowers, and dehydrated fruit if desired. Top with a tiny bit of fleur de sel.
Refrigerate the coins for 10 minutes to set, or alternatively place the pan in the freezer for a few minutes until firm.
Store the chocolate coins in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks.Or for longer storage, place in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months. I personally like them straight out of the freezer. Yum!
Here’s to making this Valentine’s Day not just about love in the traditional sense, but about a love for wellness, creativity, and the joy of sharing something homemade with those we care about.
Have a beautiful and happy Valentine’s Day my friends!
In good health,
Elisa
As always, I'd love to see your creations and hear your feedback. Follow @stabilitynutrition on instagram, and post your photos of this recipe with the hashtag #stabilitynutrition.
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