Salted Chocolate Chia Bark - 5 Minutes to WOW and My Little Low Carb Rant!

This evening I was in the mood for something quick and delicious for dinner. I used to be foolish enough to think those 2 things (quick and delicious) couldn't be combined. I've since learned that they certainly can be and that there is absolutely no good reason (that I can think of) not to combine them whenever possible. As a person that works full time by day and close to full time blogging and creating recipes by night...I've come to appreciate the simplicity of quick and easy, particularly on weeknights. 

I have so many new followers now...many that have no idea how long I've been doing this, nor how frequently. Do you realize that I have been blogging my low-carb, grain-free meals and recipes almost every single day for over 2 years now??? Besides the work here on my blog, I do many other projects for a variety of different "entities"...some that might just surprise you! But, I'm a lady and I never "cook and tell." Why do I do this some might wonder? For one simple reason...I want EVERYONE to experience the positive effects of living low carb and grain free that I have. It's not just about the weight loss...it's about so much more. My triglycerides were once 656 and I had various joint aches and pains. My weight went up and down...mostly up. Since going wheat and grain free with "no added sugar" over 2 years ago, my triglycerides plummeted to as low as 80...I not only dropped 68 pounds but have maintained it EASILY over these last 2 years. I am never EVER hungry...I don't exercise myself to death...I haven't counted a single calorie. I've eaten foods (like fats) that I had been brainwashed into believing would make me fat, not lose fat; only to find out that the foods I thought would make me slim like those darned "healthy" whole grains were actually what were causing and contributing to my weight gain, my sky high triglycerides, and the achiness in my joints. I would like to scream at the top of my lungs..."Liar, Liar Pants on Fire." Instead, I do the next best thing...I try to help folks SEE through my daily posts and photos how delicious grain free eating can be. When I first read the list of "allowable foods" in the Wheat Belly book...I just knew my culinary life (both cooking and eating) was over. Nope...just the opposite! I actually started this blog several months BEFORE going grain free. After going grain free, I just knew that not a single soul would be interested in my low carb cooking...WRONG AGAIN! As I type this post, I look at how much I thought I knew, but really didn't! 

Now, it took a little while for people to find me...and a while to build a following...it hasn't been easy. I have been persistent...I've done lots of work for free because every single person that I can get to SEE how awesome low carb living is and can be...and at least give it a try is worth my time and effort. As of today, I have almost 14,000 Facebook followers, almost 5,000 Pinterest followers and have had over 1.3 million visits to my blog. If you'd like to see a quick overview of my low carb meals over the last 2 years...check out this link to my Pinterest page: Gourmet Girl Cooks - 2 years of Low Carb Meals. If you click on a photo you like, it takes you to my blog post where the recipe resides. There are 643 pins of my daily meals...there will be 644 after I finish this post! I am not a professional cook or health guru...I am the girl next door, I am your friend, I am your sister, I am your mother...I am simply a "regular girl" with a personal mission to show the world what low carb living can be like for the "average person" like me. For me, this is a labor of love. For the many of you who have asked...some day I hope to write a cookbook...it's on my bucket list. But for now...this blog's for you!

This evening I made Grilled Boneless Chipotle Chicken Thighs and my Easy Coleslaw. If you haven't tried my coleslaw yet, it's worth trying. It is super duper easy and REALLY good. I usually use my own spices on my grilled chicken, but this evening I'm using McCormick's Grill Mates "Chipotle & Roasted Garlic" seasoning. It just looked and sounded good. I'm also going to post my recipe for the easiest little treat. I decided to mix dark chocolate and chia together...and no, this isn't chocolate chia pudding. It's so simple that you might shed a tear or two. It consists of your favorite dark chocolate bar melted along with a touch of coconut oil and mixed with chia seeds...and sprinkled with a little Pink Himalayan sea salt (or whatever sea salt you have on hand). So...in this one little dessert, you have the protein and fiber of chia seeds and the antioxidants in dark chocolate (preferably 70 to 85% or higher)...a smidge of coconut oil and the healthy touch of Pink Himalayan sea salt. All treats don't have to be bad for you...this is one of the "good guys". The simple recipe and photos are below. Enjoy!

Tonight's simple dinner...Grilled Chipotle Seasoned Chicken & Easy Coleslaw

Melted chocolate chia mixture is spread on parchment paper

Chilled in the refrigerator until firm

Broken into chunks of Salted Chocolate Chia Bark

Chocolatey, crunchy, salty...amazingly simple!

Salted Chocolate Chia Bark

Ingredients:

1 3.5-ounce dark chocolate bar (I used organic Green & Black's)
1 teaspoon organic coconut oil
Few drops liquid stevia, optional
1/4 cup organic chia seeds
1/8 teaspoon sea salt (I used Pink Himalayan Sea Salt)

Directions:

Break up chocolate bar and place in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave for approximately 2 minutes, checking and stirring at 30-second intervals. When almost melted, stir in coconut oil and mix until smooth and melted. Add optional stevia, if desired. Stir in chia seeds.

Pour chocolate mixture onto a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Lightly sprinkle with sea salt. Refrigerate for 30 minutes or until firm. Break into chunks. Store bark in the refrigerator.