November 7, 2013

Chocolate + Running = Happiness

Today I'm excited to talk about my two of my favorite things-chocolate and running!

 I have a huge sweet tooth and always save room for dessert. Besides chocolate cake, chocolate chips, or hot chocolate, I love some high quality dark chocolate. However most nights I'm fending for myself in the kitchen for a sweet snack after dinner.  I sometimes get fancy and make cookies or mug cakes but usually it's some greek yogurt, chocolately protein bar, or anything involving nut butters! Last week I made a batch of these little almond butter chocolate bites and they were so delicious! It was the perfect bite (or two or three) when I was craving something sweet. I made mine in a silicone heart-shaped ice cube tray I snagged from Target last year near Valentine's Day, but any sort of tray or molds would work!


nutty-chocolate-bites-recipe1

Nutty Chocolate Bites
  • 1/4 cup cacao powder (cocoa powder works fine too!)
  • 5-6 tablespoons unrefined liquid coconut oil
  • liquid stevia drops to taste (or whatever your favorite sweetener is to taste but a liquid combines best)
  • 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
  • 2-3 tablespoons of your favorite nut butter
  • Silicone ice cube tray (muffin pans or any type of mold works)
First make sure your coconut oil is liquid-I usually microwave mine in a bowl for about 20 seconds. Combine coconut oil with the liquid sweetener or sweetener of choice. Stir in your cocoa or cacao powder and keep stirring until it's all combined.  Spoon a little bit of the chocolate, enough to cover the bottom of the mold, into each silicone ice cube mold greased with a little bit of coconut oil for easy removal. For this tray that was about a teaspoon. If you don't have an ice cube try you can use muffin cups or any molds you have. Pop the tray into the freezer for about five minutes, until the chocolate has hardened. Remove the tray and add a half a teaspoon or however much you'd like of your favorite nut butter and cover with the remaining chocolate mixture.  Freeze until solid, about 10-20 minutes. Once the bites are hardened, just pop one out anytime you need a sweet treat! 

nutty-chocolate-bites-recipe2
Nutty Chocolate Bites ready to eat!

Some colored sprinkles, chopped nuts, or dried berries would all be great additions!

Since I'm clearly a huge chocoholic, I was interested in running one of the races in the Hot Chocolate 15k/5k racing series. You get to run a race and at the post-race party, you can enjoy hot chocolate and a chocolate fondue snack bowl.  Um, sign me up! The official race charity partner is the Ronald McDonald House, which provides housing options for parents and children facing serious medical problems, which should make you feel even more warm and fuzzy inside. 
hot-chocolate-race-series


You can imagine how excited I was when I found out I was chosen to be an ambassador for the Hot Chocolate Races in Philadelphia! Everybody I've talked to involved with the race has been super nice, and I was even sent some awesome race goodies including a shirt, headband, and key chain. 



hot-chocolate-race-series-ambassador-swag1

If you weren't convinced by the chocolate (which I find hard to believe), then let me show you the race swag you get, which is not your typical race medal! All finishers get a his or hers fleece, wicking pulloverSounds like the perfect thing to wear when enjoying a mug of hot chocolate, if you ask me! There's also a bunch of photos of the yummy chocolate snacks and all the fun runners had at previous races on the race's facebook page so check it out!

I'll be running the Philadelphia Hot Chocolate 15k on April 6th, 2014, and I'd love for you to join me! You can use code "BREATHEMUG" when registering for ANY LOCATION of the Hot Chocolate 15k/5K and receive a free travel mug at packet pickup. Check out all the locations here

It's also your lucky day because I am giving away a FREE race registration (to any location) today on the blog! 
Just fill out the rafflecopter below-giveaway ends Wednesday November 13 at 11:59 AM. 


Disclaimer: I was provided free Hot Chocolate race gear and free race registration along with prizes for referrals in compensation for this blog post. As always, all opinions and thoughts are my own. 


What is your favorite chocolate treat?

27 comments:

  1. I love having a piece of dark chocolate at night. :)

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  2. The hardest thing for me in the past few years has been to give up chocolate for Lent. If I HAD to choose a favorite treat, it would be Reese's PB cups, but drizzling chocolate syrup over berries or ice cream comes in a close second.

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  3. My favorite chocolate treat during winter is definitely a good 'ole smore with extra chocolate!! LOL!

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  4. oh these look like the perfect treat! i can't give up my love for chocolate either :)

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  5. Chocolate.....waht's not to love!!

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  6. My favorite chocolate is Sees Dark Chocolate CA Brittle

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  7. Chocolate covered raisins!

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  8. those look so yummy! stealing the recipe.

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  9. I love the mini snicker or chocolate strawberry and bananas... Yum!

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  10. Oh I love that you make these kind of chocolate goodies, I do too, they taste really extra yummy w/ the chocolate stevia drops and chopped goji or bluberries in them w/ almond butter so yummy! I want to win and run in seattle! Thanks for the giveaway and good luck everyone!

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  11. Obviously PB cups are my fave :) This recipe looks awesome!

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  12. Those sound good & I actually have everything I need to make them tonight! YAY :)
    ps. awesome giveaway! xo

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  13. love white chocolate treats!

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  14. My favorite chocolate? I'd have to say anything involving dark chocolate + hazelnut. When I went to Egypt last year I found hazelnut EVERYTHING and I was in love.

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  15. My favorite chocolate is actually white chocolate! I like cookies and cream bars :)

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  16. Nothing like bite size chocolates :) Thanks for linking up to #RECIPEFRIDAY :)

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  17. Chocolate covered gummi bears!

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  18. Chocolate covered gummi bears!

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  19. Chocolate covered gummi bears!

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  20. Gosh, I don't know how to pick a favorite. I'll go with Girl Scout Thin Mints.

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  21. Peanut butter cups! Nothing beats them :)

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  22. I pretty much love anything chocolate, but malted milk balls are usually my favorite

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  23. I pretty much love anything chocolate, but I have a special fondness for malted milk balls

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  24. Dove Chocolate in any form!
    Maryalicia Verdecchia
    pegasusrdr@gmail.com

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  25. I think a easier question would be what DON'T I dip in chocolate! I do love some pretzel sticks dipped in melted chocolate.

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