So excited, I got my new Parenting magazine this week! I know I know, I'm old school, but I just love getting fun stuff in the mail. And I like Parenting because it has ideas about 'how to tame your toddler' and 'dress like the stars.' (Since that is the most important parenting subject... I didn't realize parents or kids had to get dressed? Unless of course we go to the fancy grocery store.)
Anyway, I found an article with many different (kid friendly) uses of avocado. Hmmm, that is right up my alley. And then I came across "Choco-cado mousse." WHaaaaaaa??? I like avocados, but avocados that taste like chocolate? Sounds even better. Sounds like a perfect hidden vegetable. Sounds like "Hey kids, here, dip your pretzels in this chocolate dip!" Sounds like "I found a chocolate spread for my graham crackers!" Sounds like "I think I'll have chocolate mousse for snack!"
I got right to work.
Here are the instructions from the article:
Combine:
1 avocado
1 tsp cocoa powder
1/2 tsp agave nectar (or honey
for kids 12 months and up)
1/4 cup skim milk
Puree
until smooth.
Here we go:
Ummm?:
This does not look like mousse (and anyone who has kids knows exactly what it does look like!). It does not taste like chocolate. It tastes like avocado. In fact, in a blind test I think I may have believed it was just pureed avocado. Which is not a problem, except it is supposed to taste like chocolate mousse.
We ate it anyway, as a dip:
But it leaves me to wonder... do they test their recipes? What is the purpose of adding chocolate and honey if you can't taste it at all? Was there a typo? Was my avocado twice as big as theirs?
Well, not to worry, I tried again. I added an additional tablespoon cocoa powder, an additional tablespoon of honey, plus a splash of vanilla.
Well it looks better, but still has a very strong avocado after-taste. In a separate bowl I put about half of the avocado mixture and dumped chocolate and honey on it until it was way to much, and that bowl was very sweet and chocolatey, but somehow also still avocado.
Here is what I think: avocado and chocolate just don't go together. The flavors just don't suit each other. In all the amounts that I tried, it just isn't something I would want to eat by the spoonful. My 2 year old did though, so that's something. But he is also a kid who can be bribed with pureed peas, so he might not be the best example.
The Verdict:
"It's edible."
My research team felt that this was a waste of good avocados, and after doing the experiment, I have to say that I agree.
Guacamole, we're baaaack!
Thanks for checking out that recipe! I've seen similar recipes that use avocado in desserts. I was always sceptical about how it would taste.... now I know to avoid making such recipes.
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