It’s been six months since I moved to Sydney and recently I made it twenty five (19 at heart) years on this earth. It has been a wee bit of a rollercoaster ride but reflecting back, especially on the last few months, I realise how much I’ve grown and learnt about myself. But it doesn’t matter how sensible or mature or rational I’m being, I still seem to always want what I can’t have even when I know it’s bad for me. There is a scientific explanation for this. Our brain likes to play havoc with our innermost desires. It only takes a couple of times for its reward centre to form associations between random things in the outside world and something that feels so good we can’t stop craving for more.
Take these delectable savoury sweet treats for example. Chocolate and popcorn shouldn’t go together. Yet, I made them, taste tested one square, then two, then I couldn’t stop until almost half the tray was gone. All the while completely aware that I should not be a pig but the satisfaction of sweet and savoury just felt too good. Luckily, I used semi-healthy ingredients!
Chocolate Popcorn Squares
2.5 cups chocolate chips (I used dairy & gluten free ones), 2 tbsp virgin coconut oil, 1 bag microwave popcorn
Cook the popcorn in the microwave as per instructions on bag. Melt the chocolate chips and coconut oil in a glass bowl over a pot of hot water on a stove. Make sure the bowl does not touch the water. Then in a large bowl pour 3/4 of the melted chocolate over the popcorn. Stir until the popcorn is evenly coated by chocolate. Transfer the chocolate coated popcorn in a lined baking tray and flatten it out evenly. Get another sheet of baking parchment to cover the popcorn and press down on the mixture firmly. Then drizzle the remaining chocolate mixture over the popcorn tray. Refrigerate until chocolate is all set. Then cut into squares of your desired size.
Perfect light treat with a cuppa or for parties and kids!
