Enlightened Chocolate: More Than 200 Decadently Light, Lowfat, and Inspired Recipes Using Dark Chocolate and Unsweetened Cocoa Powder

Camilla V. Saulsbury
Cumberland House Publishing (2007)
ISBN 9781581826074
Reviewed by April Sullivan for Reader Views (12/07)


“Enlightened Chocolate” is an elegantly-designed cookbook focused on recipes using dark chocolate and unsweetened cocoa powder.  Why these two ingredients?  The Introduction explains the reasoning, the history, and the health benefits of these ingredients.  Dark chocolate is rich in antioxidants.  Saulsbury goes on to says that good chocolate is like fine wine, and an informed choice on what ingredients to choose is provided in the beginning pages. 
                       
Once you have the best ingredients in stock, it is time to start cooking.  The cookbook provides over 200 recipes that are low in fat and calories.  There are recipes for drinks, cookies, candies, cakes, pies, soufflés, and even main dishes.  All include dark chocolate or unsweetened cocoa powder.  I tested the Mocha-Chip Crispy Rice Bars and the Spiced Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread.  Both were delicious and easy to make.  I can’t wait to try the pudding, the cheesecake, the muffins, and more. 

All chocoholics out there will love this book!  As a chocoholic, I appreciate the seriousness Saulsbury gives to the subject of chocolate.  She provides good information upfront and great recipes in the book.  Nice color photos on the first two pages made me want to drool all over the pages.  I have at least two or three other chocolate cookbooks on my shelf.  But I think I will get rid of them.  “Enlightened Chocolate” is all I need.  It provides the same recipes and more, but with better chocolate and a low-fat approach. 

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