Finger-licking, Stupidly Yummy Chocolate Pudding with Whipped Coconut Cream...and it's good for you!

Sitting at my computer with a belly so full from this pudding it's hard to breath, but so worth it. I wondered what to call this. I thought about how I licked the spoon two, three, eight-hundred times, then dug my whole fist into the blender to scrape out every last little drop. The whipped coconut beaters got licked before they were even off the blender (luckily I still had enough wits about me to unplug it before my tongue met the wrath that my morning eggs do). I thought I was in heaven at this point, but then, my spoon of chocolate fell into the whipped coconut cream and it was like I stepped into the VIP cloud.

Yes, it's that good. And the best part is that I don't even feel guilty- it's all good, clean food! We are talking avocado, raw cacao powder and coconut milk. No refined sugar, no funny chemicals or preservatives, no gluten, not even any dairy. Disclaimer- this should still be considered a treat and not eaten every day because we are still adding in natural sweeteners, and even those need to be kept in check. Plus if you eat anything every day it's will lose its appeal.

What I really love about this is how uber simple it can be - just blend the avocado, cacao powder and sweetener- BAM. Done. But you have the option to step it up a little with a dash of cinnamon and vanilla. I love to add a touch of cayenne to my chocolate dishes to keep my tastes buds jumping. Then go one more notch by adding a little lime for a completely off the wall hint of freshness. This is optional and not everyone will like it, but worth a try at least once.

Let's get to the Thick and Dreamy Whipped Coconut Cream. Honestly I like this even better than I think I used to like regular, dairy, whipped cream- and I liked that ALOT. The fat content is high the mouth feel you get is off the charts! You can add more sweetener to it than I do as I tend to be light handed in that area. Again, you can stop with the milk and sweetener or add in a touch of vanilla and cinnamon. Or try almond extract - you will need to ask someone else to take the bowl away from you.

I've been keeping these recipes a secret from you for a while now, but it seemed time to share. If you troll the internet at all you have probably seen many versions of these - that's a good sign of how adaptable these recipes are. Key to remember is how hard it's going to be to put that spoon down and walk away; trust me and my extremely full (yet happy) belly.

Try the basic then blend up these Happy Healthy adaptations or let me know what you come up with on your own:

• Add some banana and chunky almond butter for a funky monkey! 
• Try a bit of espresso and amaretto for quick trip to Italy.  
• Add orange zest and top with coconut flakes for a tropical excursion~

Happy Healthy Tips: Raw cacao is similar to the classic sugary, preservative-laden cocoa powder but it's less processed so it retains more nutrients. It's a deeper earthiness that adds depth but most important it's packed with magnesium (something most of us are lacking) which helps us sleep, not to mention it's a confirmed aphrodisiac for both genders. Coconut milk is rich in medium-chain fatty acids which may help promote weight maintenance without raising cholesterol levels and contains phosphorus which can help to strengthen bones.

Finger-licking, Stupidly Yummy, Chocolate Pudding with Whipped Coconut Cream...and it's good for you!

Creamy and Delicious Chocolate Avocado Pudding

2 small avocados

4 tbls cacao powder

4 Medjool dates (or 4 tbls maple syrup)

6-10 tbls almond milk (or any dairy free milk)

1 tsp vanilla

3/4  tsp cinnamon

dash or two of cayenne

2 tbls fresh squeezed lime juice (optional)

pinch of Himalayan pink salt

Add all the ingredients in a blender (or food processor) and blend until smooth. You may need to stop your blender and scrape down the sides. Depending on how thick you like your pudding, add more or less milk.  ENJOY with or without the Whipped Coconut Cream (below).

Tip: Using dates will take longer to blend, I recommend blending the dates and milk to a creamy consistency then adding in the rest of the ingredients.

To create a pretty layered jar: Mix 1/2 cup chocolate pudding with 1/2 cup of the whipped cream.  In a jar layer the plain chocolate, then sprinkle with a little granola. Add a layer of the mixed chocolate-cream, sprinkle with granola. Top with plain whipped coconut cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon.

Thick and Dreamy Coconut Whipped Cream

1 can coconut milk, full fat

2 tbls raw honey (or maple syrup)

dash of vanilla

dash of cinnamon

Step 1: Refrigerate can of coconut milk overnight.

Step 2: Open the refrigerated can (don't shake it or turn it upside down). Scoop out the thick cream at the top of the can and place is a large bowl to be whipped.

Step 3: The bottom half of the can will be coconut water that has separated from the cream. Pour this into a glass container, refrigerate and use for your smoothies, baked goods or in a Thai dish.

Step 4: Whip the coconut cream with sweetener and optional vanilla and cinnamon. Just a minute or two will do.

Step 5: Lose yourself in that ultra dreamy bowl of whipped coconut cream.