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Dark Chocolate and Other Food for a Mental Boost plus Two Chocolate Recipes

Dark Chocolate and Other Food for a Mental Boost plus Two Chocolate Recipes

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Who doesn’t love chocolate?  I kind of love dark chocolate and adore that bitter dark flavor! However, it is an acquired taste though.

Poulain Dark chocolate image

The old saying goes…….”We are what we eat”.

This means that to remain healthy and fit and active we must eat Healthy!

All of us could use a brain boost from time to time.  Whether we are in a job that requires us to use our minds for hours on end or we just want to remember important dates and appointments, most of us wish there were things we could do to improve mental function.

Fortunately, there are some foods out there that help to improve our overall mental functions. 

Let’s take a quick look at some of these brain food.

But do they really work? There’s no denying that as we age chronologically, our body ages right along with us. The good news is that you can increase your chances of maintaining a healthy brain — if you add “smart” foods and beverages to your diet.

Need a Mental Boost – Try these Brain Foods

Chocolate

Chocolate, and specifically dark chocolate, has numerous health benefits if consumed in moderation.  The cacoa beans are enriched with flavanoids and antioxidants and 50 grams of dark chocolate can be as good for the heart as a glass of red wine.

In addition, chocolate is known to improve mental health.  Eating dark chocolate can release neurotransmitters to the brain and that can help with the production of endorphins and serotonin.

Bitter Chocolate Ginger Cookies

Carob Syrup and Spiced Ginger Chocolate Cake

Blueberries and Acai Berries

Acai berries come from South America and are a unique fruit that has protein and Omega-3 Fatty Acids.  Also, it is known that purple berries have high levels of vitamins and antioxidants.

One of the healthiest foods in the world to eat are blueberries.  Not only do they have more antioxidants than any other fruit, but they have been linked to improved coordination, vision, and cognitive function.

Acai Berries Smoothie and Popsicles

Matcha (Gyokuru Green Tea Powder)

Matcha is among the rarest and purest teas in the world. The tea is grown in shady conditions and is rich in both nutrients and chlorophyll.

The tea also is said to have a calming effect due to high concentrations of the amino acid L-Theanine.  In addition, it has greater amounts of catechins, vitamins C and A, antioxidants, and even Flouride than normal tea.

Green Tea Jelly and Green Tea with Fragrant Geraniums

Wild Salmon

A food low in saturated fats and a great source of Essential Fatty Acids is wild salmon.  It also has the lowest contaminant levels of any seafood.

Consumption of Salmon has been linked to improved mood, brain function, and synaptic connections.  In addition, it can reduce your risk for stroke, Dementia, and even Alzheimer’s.

Glykoxinos Solomos (Sweet & Sour Salmon)
Sesame Crusted Salmon with Lemon & Petimezi
Solomos (salmon) stiffado

By eating these and other brain foods, you are taking a positive step towards improved mental function.  As always, talk to your doctor about any change in diet plans, especially if you are on any medications.

collage Petimezi Chocolate Cookies image

From the above ingredients I have incorporated dark chocolate in some desserts, together with another favourite ingredient”:  Petimezi or Epsima, as it is called in the Cypriot dialect, which is a concentratedgrape syrup.  Instead of Petimezi, you can also use Haroupomelo “carob syrup”, which is even better, as in the old days it was used as a substitute to chocolate.   

I made this recipe early this month based on a previous recipe I had made.  I don’t like making the same recipe over and over again but I try to incorporate ingredients I have at home.

Petimezi Cookies image
Soft Petimezi, Dark Chocolate Chips, Almonds and Orange Cookies.image

Dark Chocolate Chip and Petimezi Cookies

Yield: 40
Prep Time: 45 minutes
Additional Time: 1 hour
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 55 minutes

Enjoy these spicy and soft chocolate chip petimezi cookies on the cold winter days ahead as they are great with a cup of tea or a hot cup of Greek coffee.

Ingredients

  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 2 teaspoons fresh grated ginger
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 1/3 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 115 grams unsalted butter, at room temperature
  • 1/3 cup packed dark-brown sugar
  • 1/3 cup petimezi
  • 1 large egg
  • 1 tbsp orange zest
  • ¾ cup roasted almonds skin on
  • 1 cup dark chocolate chip cookies
  • 1 - 2 tbsp flour (optional, if necessary)

Instructions

  1. Roast almonds for ten minutes and when they cool break them into small pieces using the food processor.
  2. Line two large baking trays with parchment paper and set aside.
  3. In a medium bowl, sift together the flour, spices, baking soda, and salt. Mix in orange zest and set aside.
  4. With an electric mixer, beat butter and brown sugar until smooth Add in petimezi and egg and beat for about 5 minutes on high.
  5. Lower mixer speed and add the flour ingredients Mix just until the dough forms  It should be very sticky.
  6. Refrigerate for half an hour.
  7. Add the almonds and chocolate chips and mix (If the dough is still too sticky add 1 - 2 tbsp flour).
  8. Form into 2 - 3 cords about 1 ½ inch diameter Wrap each one in cling film, place them on a tray and refrigerate for another half an hour.
  9. Open the cling film and using a sharp knife cut them into small pieces and place them on your prepared baking tin When done, form each piece into a round ball, which slightly flatten Leave 3 cm (about an inch) space between them as they will flatten and expand.
  10. Preheat the oven to 180oC or 170o C for a convection oven.
  11. Place both baking tins in the oven and bake for about 10 minutes depending on your oven until firm and edges just begin to darken They will be soft on top but they will harden as they cool If you make bigger cookies, increase time up to 18 minutes, depending on their size.
  12. Cool completely and store in air tight containers.
Nutrition Information
Yield 40 Serving Size 1
Amount Per Serving Calories 96Total Fat 5gSaturated Fat 2gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 3gCholesterol 11mgSodium 57mgCarbohydrates 11gFiber 1gSugar 3gProtein 2g

"These values are automatically calculated and offered for guidance only. Their accuracy is not guaranteed."

Did you make this recipe?

Tried this recipe? Tag me @ivyliac and use the hashtag #kopiaste!

Ginger Petimezi cake picture

I made this cake on the same day, using almost the same ingredients.  I used unsweetened dark cocoa powder, orange juice and milk.

The cake was super moist and delicious!

Ginger Petimezi cake image
Chocolate and Petimezi Cake image

Chocolate and Petimezi Ginger Cake

Yield: 8
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes

A moist, rich, chocolaty and aromatic cake, something that every chocolate fan should taste!

Ingredients

  • 115 grams unsalted butter, softened, plus more to grease the pan
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened dark cocoa powder, plus more for dusting
  • 1/2 cup petimezi
  • 3/4 cup packed light-brown sugar
  • ¼ cup orange or mandarin juice
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1/4 cup whole milk
  • 2 teaspoons finely grated peeled fresh ginger
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 tsp ground mixed spices

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 180o C or 170o C degrees if a convection oven 
  2. Butter a loaf pan and dust with cocoa powder Tap out excess cocoa and set aside.
  3. Sift together flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, salt, nutmeg and cinnamon.
  4. Put the butter, petimezi, brown sugar, and orange juice in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat.
  5. Cook, stirring constantly, until butter has melted. Transfer mixture to your mixer bowl and let it cool.
  6. Add eggs, milk, and grated ginger to the mixer bowl and whisk on high to combine 
  7. Lower speed to low and add the flour mixture until just combined.
  8. Pour batter into the prepared pan.
  9. Bake cake until a cake tester inserted into the center comes out clean, about 30 - 40 minutes, depending on your oven 
  10. Let cake cool completely in pan on a wire rack.
Nutrition Information
Yield 8 Serving Size 1
Amount Per Serving Calories 292Total Fat 14gSaturated Fat 8gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 5gCholesterol 78mgSodium 296mgCarbohydrates 38gFiber 2gSugar 22gProtein 5g

"These values are automatically calculated and offered for guidance only. Their accuracy is not guaranteed."

Did you make this recipe?

Tried this recipe? Tag me @ivyliac and use the hashtag #kopiaste!

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Collage Chocolate cake and cookies image

Kopiaste and Kali Orexi,

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Jamie

Thursday 27th of December 2012

I think of the foods on your list, chocolate is the only one I get enough of! I really should bake and cook with blueberries more often (fresh are rare to find where I live and thus too expensive but I buy bags of frozen wild blueberries which are delicious!). I have a sachet or two of matcha and never make anything with it! Bad me! But now I know it is brain food! Wonderful and informative post and I love that cookie recipe!

Priya

Thursday 20th of December 2012

Chocolate, love them..I can have them everyday..Wonderfum bakes.

Choco-Locate

Wednesday 19th of December 2012

This looks fantastic. Mmm... Chocolate....

Eftychia

Wednesday 19th of December 2012

Mmmmmm, yummy recipes!

Rosa

Wednesday 19th of December 2012

Superfoods! Those cookies must be divine and the cake too. Wonderful creations.

Cheers,

Rosa

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