Cookbook Review: Superfoods for Life, Cacao by Matt Ruscigno with Joshua Ploeg

As a chocoholic, I have a difficult time turning down anything remotely chocolaty in nature. So when I was asked to review Superfoods for Life, Cacao by Matt Ruscigno and Joshua Ploeg, I had to say yes, even though I was already swamped with books and vegan products to review.

 

Knowing that chocolate is a superfood might be super dangerous for me, as that gives me excuse to eat it all day, everyday. With Superfoods for Life, Cacao, that could actually be possible, as there are recipes that could work well for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert, as well as snacks!

 

I like to read cookbooks as if they were novels, and this is the perfect book to curl up with, as there’s so much info in it. In Superfoods for Life, Cacao, you’ll learn about the history of cacao, which dates back thousands of years to pre-Columbian Mesoamerica. Did you know that cacao was originally used in a drink known as “xocolatl”, which means “bitter water”? The drink was served cold and was made with ground cacao, chiles, cloves, cinnamon, and cornmeal, which is a far cry from the hot chocolates and chocolate milks we’re familiar with today. It’s believed that Montezuma II drank fifty cups of xocolatl a day! (That could actually be too much chocolate for even me!)

 

The authors also delve into the many health benefits of cacao, and it’s pretty amazing how many ailments cacao is known to combat, from heart disease and high blood pressure to diabetes and obesity. Cacao is also known to help with brain function and has been shown to ward off strokes and Alzheimer’s. Of course, the health benefits come from high quality cacao, not sugary chocolate bars.

 

The recipes in Super Foods for Life, Cacao are all vegan, and they’re mainly savory in nature. The addition of sugar to chocolate is a relatively new invention, as the Mayans, Aztecs and Kuna Indians prepared cacao crushed up – without sweetener – and mottled with spices. Recipes include such dishes as Tasty Cocoa Jerk Tofu, Rich Chocolaty Vegetable Tarts, and Cocoa-Potato Tacos. There are also recipes for drinks, like as the Cocoa-Mango Lassi, and the Bloody Cocoa Mary. For those who may need to work their way up to savory chocolate dishes, there are plenty of sweet treats, such as the Coconut Shortbread-Double Brown Delight, Dairy-Free Double Chocolate Cookies, and Flavanol-Full Chocolate Pudding.

 

If you find yourself craving chocolate, this is the book to have on hand, as it’s packed with lots of chocolaty goodness. Go ahead and give in to your craving!