{"items":["6023c3a72fbeef0017fb5228","6023c3a72fbeef0017fb5226","6023c3a72fbeef0017fb5224"],"styles":{"galleryType":"Columns","groupSize":1,"showArrows":true,"cubeImages":true,"cubeType":"max","cubeRatio":1.7777777777777777,"isVertical":true,"gallerySize":30,"collageAmount":0,"collageDensity":0,"groupTypes":"1","oneRow":false,"imageMargin":5,"galleryMargin":0,"scatter":0,"rotatingScatter":"","chooseBestGroup":true,"smartCrop":false,"hasThumbnails":false,"enableScroll":true,"isGrid":true,"isSlider":false,"isColumns":false,"isSlideshow":false,"cropOnlyFill":false,"fixedColumns":0,"enableInfiniteScroll":true,"isRTL":false,"minItemSize":50,"rotatingGroupTypes":"","rotatingCropRatios":"","columnWidths":"","gallerySliderImageRatio":1.7777777777777777,"numberOfImagesPerRow":3,"numberOfImagesPerCol":1,"groupsPerStrip":0,"borderRadius":0,"boxShadow":0,"gridStyle":0,"mobilePanorama":false,"placeGroupsLtr":true,"viewMode":"preview","thumbnailSpacings":4,"galleryThumbnailsAlignment":"bottom","isMasonry":false,"isAutoSlideshow":false,"slideshowLoop":false,"autoSlideshowInterval":4,"bottomInfoHeight":0,"titlePlacement":["SHOW_ON_THE_RIGHT","SHOW_BELOW"],"galleryTextAlign":"center","scrollSnap":false,"itemClick":"nothing","fullscreen":true,"videoPlay":"hover","scrollAnimation":"NO_EFFECT","slideAnimation":"SCROLL","scrollDirection":0,"scrollDuration":400,"overlayAnimation":"FADE_IN","arrowsPosition":0,"arrowsSize":23,"watermarkOpacity":40,"watermarkSize":40,"useWatermark":true,"watermarkDock":{"top":"auto","left":"auto","right":0,"bottom":0,"transform":"translate3d(0,0,0)"},"loadMoreAmount":"all","defaultShowInfoExpand":1,"allowLinkExpand":true,"expandInfoPosition":0,"allowFullscreenExpand":true,"fullscreenLoop":false,"galleryAlignExpand":"left","addToCartBorderWidth":1,"addToCartButtonText":"","slideshowInfoSize":200,"playButtonForAutoSlideShow":false,"allowSlideshowCounter":false,"hoveringBehaviour":"NEVER_SHOW","thumbnailSize":120,"magicLayoutSeed":1,"imageHoverAnimation":"NO_EFFECT","imagePlacementAnimation":"NO_EFFECT","calculateTextBoxWidthMode":"PERCENT","textBoxHeight":26,"textBoxWidth":200,"textBoxWidthPercent":65,"textImageSpace":10,"textBoxBorderRadius":0,"textBoxBorderWidth":0,"loadMoreButtonText":"","loadMoreButtonBorderWidth":1,"loadMoreButtonBorderRadius":0,"imageInfoType":"ATTACHED_BACKGROUND","itemBorderWidth":0,"itemBorderRadius":0,"itemEnableShadow":false,"itemShadowBlur":20,"itemShadowDirection":135,"itemShadowSize":10,"imageLoadingMode":"BLUR","expandAnimation":"NO_EFFECT","imageQuality":90,"usmToggle":false,"usm_a":0,"usm_r":0,"usm_t":0,"videoSound":false,"videoSpeed":"1","videoLoop":true,"jsonStyleParams":"","gallerySizeType":"px","gallerySizePx":1000,"allowTitle":true,"allowContextMenu":true,"textsHorizontalPadding":-30,"itemBorderColor":{"themeName":"color_12","value":"rgba(216,216,216,0)"},"showVideoPlayButton":true,"galleryLayout":2,"calculateTextBoxHeightMode":"MANUAL","targetItemSize":1000,"selectedLayout":"2|bottom|1|max|true|0|true","layoutsVersion":2,"selectedLayoutV2":2,"isSlideshowFont":true,"externalInfoHeight":26,"externalInfoWidth":0.65},"container":{"width":300,"galleryWidth":305,"galleryHeight":0,"scrollBase":0,"height":null}}
Creamy, Chocolate Avocado Fruit Dip

A little over a week ago, I attended the Health & Fitness Expo in Des Moines. Lucky for me, my booth was super close to the "Cooking Demonstration" stage (or as I like to call it - the "Free Sample Stage"). The good people at Fresh Thyme had a demonstration on chocolate filled strawberries. Let me tell you - there is something about chocolate and strawberries & this recipe nailed it. Fruit, chocolate & healthy ingredients - what's not to love??

One bite in and I KNEW I was going to try this recipe at home. But the more I thought about hollowing out all of those strawberries ... and then piping the chocolate mixture into all of those strawberries...this tasty little recipe suddenly didn't seem so "quick & easy" anymore.

As I talked this over with my neighbor in the booth next to me, he said the most obvious & genius thing ever -
"I'd skip all that & just make it into a dip. Way faster."

A total, "duh, why didn't I think of that" moment - but a (slightly) new recipe was born! Make it a dip! And why let the strawberries have all the fun? I say, cover all the fruits in chocolate!! :-)

Plus, since I was no longer cutting the insides out of strawberries or getting my piping bag ready - this was ready to eat in about 5 minutes! Full of (*mostly) healthy ingredients - it's a great little snack or dessert.
(*Mostly healthy. Let's not ignore the maple syrup. But I made a couple of modifications and the rest of it is all good!!!).
If you've got 5 extra minutes, give this dip a try. I bet you already have the ingredients on hand. Just be prepared to share!!!


Creamy, Chocolate Avocado Fruit Dip
Ingredients:
1 ripe avocado
1/3 C Cacao powder
1/4 C maple syrup
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp orange zest
1/8 tsp sea salt
Put all ingredients in a blender and mix well. Serve with all of your favorite fruits!

Looking for more recipes? Check out my meal plan options!
~ Mindy