Recently, my daughter's school participated in her school's Take Our Daughter and Son to Work program. According to the Daughters and Sons to Work website:
'Designed to be more than a career day, the Take Our Daughters And Sons To Work program goes beyond the average practice of “shadowing” an adult. Exposing girls and boys to what a parent or mentor in their lives does during the work day is important, but showing them the value of their education, helping them discover the power and possibilities associated with a balanced work and family life, providing them an opportunity to share how they envision the future, and allowing them to begin steps toward their end goals in a hands-on and interactive environment is key to their achieving success.'
MX asked if she could stay home from school and experience my work day. I work from home so I knew this would be a great opportunity to show her what goes on during the day while she is at school and I knew it would provide quality bonding time with her.
I came up with a list of tasks to complete and our day went like this:
6 AM: She helped with unloading the dishwasher and setting the breakfast table while her dad and older brother, DK, were getting ready for their day.
7:15 AM: We said goodbye to the dad and brother. DK took the chance to accompany dad to the office.
7:30-8:45 AM: MX and I practiced a 10 minute meditation and I was really impressed with her! I could not resist peeking at her and she was still and quiet for the entire 10 minutes. Afterward, we practiced an hour or so of yoga together and I made sure to include her favorite wheel pose.
9 - 10:30 AM: Grocery shopping.
10:45 AM-12 PM: MX researched homemade chocolate recipes (with specific requirements), created a yoga sequence for me and followed up with a client that is on a nutrition plan.
12-1 PM: We broke for lunch and watched the newest episode of Jane the Virgin while we ate in front of the TV...shhhhhh...
1-2 PM: We tested my MX's chocolate recipe.
MX did an amazing job with her tasks and with this recipe. I wanted a recipe that was Paleo (grain, dairy and soy free) and I wanted to use a 100% unsweetened chocolate bar, rather than the cocoa or raw cacao powder most recipes call for. My only other requirement was that this recipe turn out as close to awesome as possible on the first try. And she nailed it.
These chocolate bites should be kept in the refrigerator, or freezer, since they are made up of mostly coconut oil so they will melt easily in your hand or on the counter.
I used a mini-cupcake silicone pan (similar to this one) to make sure the chocolate did not stick. This recipe yields 12 bites.
MX's Healthy Homemade Chocolate
- 4 ounces 100% cacao unsweetened chocolate bar, broken into pieces (I used this one)
- 1/2 cup coconut oil
- 5 tablespoons raw honey, plus more if needed
- 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup, plus more if needed
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- pinch of Himalayan Pink salt
- 2 tablespoons coconut cream*
In a small sauce pan set over medium-low heat, add the broken chocolate pieces, coconut oil, honey and maple syrup, vanilla extract and salt. Using a whisk, stir the mixture until the chocolate is melted and all ingredients are well combined. Watch the mixture carefully since chocolate can burn easily. Taste the mixture and add a little more sweetener of your choice, if needed.
Stir in the coconut cream and blend well. Place the silicone pan on a small cookie sheet.** Using a spoon, pour the chocolate mixture evenly into each of the 12 silicone pan wells. Set the pans the refrigerator for at least two hours before popping the chocolate pieces out of the silicone pan.
*Use the cream from the top of a can of full-fat coconut milk. Store the rest of the cream and milk (separately if you want) in covered glass jars.
**Silicone pans are not the sturdiest things in the world. Setting the silicone pan on a cookie sheet will allow you to transfer the pans to the refrigerator without spilling.
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