Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries

Enjoy a dollop of heart-healthy flavanols by dipping fresh strawberries in dark chocolate. This recipe uses M&M baking bits which have the Cocoapro symbol on the package, which assures you you’re getting the flavanols you want.  The recipe is small – just one pint of strawberries, because this can be an irresistible treat!  It’s hard to just eat one!  And one large strawberry with a tablespoon of chocolate heaped on could be 100 calories. Also, choose organic strawberries to avoid the pesticides most strawberries contain.

Makes 7 servings of 2 large strawberries.

1 c. M&M Baking Bits
1 T.cold-pressed safflower oil
1 pint fresh organic strawberries.

•    Wash your strawberries and let them dry or pat them dry, placing them on a sheet of waxed paper. Leave the green leaves on.
•    If you have a double boiler, you can melt the chocolate in that. If not, simply put the chips in a glass bowl and microwave about 30 seconds at a time.
•    Stir after 30 seconds and continue until the chips are completely melted.
•    Stir in the oil and warm again for 10-20 seconds longer as the oil may cool the chocolate a bit.
•    Grabbing the leaves, dip the strawberry in the chocolate, twirl and place on the wax paper. You’ll have to act quickly as the chocolate cools rapidly and becomes too thick. Reheating the chocolate doesn’t work well.
•    Place the strawberries in the fridge to harden. Share with friends and family!

Nutritional Information per Serving: 191 calories, 1.8 g protein, 25 g carbohydrates, 9.5 g fat (5 g saturated), 5 mg cholesterol, 1.7 g fiber, 21 mg sodium.