“Dessert Nachos for breakfast?! Seriously? This is awesome!” exclaimed my kids, as I prepared a gorgeous plate that not only tastes great, but will also fuel them all morning. Life is to be ENJOYED and food that makes us feel super can be FUN! If you have been following my column over the years, you already know that I am a bona fide foodie, as I ABSOLUTELY LOVE FOOD! Being a nutrition professor and dietitian simply gives me an edge when it comes to knowing which foods we can eat to maximize our energy level and mood. When we choose nutrient-rich food, we quickly realize that instead of feeling sluggish and bloated after we finish eating, we feel light, renewed and recharged.

I am thrilled to share two of my latest creations, as I hope that my Dreamy Chocolate Sauce and Dessert Nachos will bring a little more FUN into your kitchen! This chocolate sauce is truly “dreamy” for many reasons! Not only is it crazy delicious, but it is a cinch to whip up with just a handful of ingredients that you probably already have on hand, but never realized worked so well together and were energy boosters!

T’s Dreamy Chocolate Sauce (makes ~12 fluid oz)
While this stellar sauce would last the in fridge for a few days, my guess is that it will vanish pretty quickly! Try it as a topping for homemade pancakes or waffles, drizzle it into a whole grain tortilla or crepe filled with fresh fruit, add it to oatmeal with sliced banana and walnuts or make Dessert Nachos! (see instructions below)

Ingredients
5 Medjool dates (pits removed, soaked in 3/4 cup water)
1 Tablespoon cashews (can soak with the dates)
2 Tablespoons unsweetened cocoa/cacao powder
1/2 cup cooked black beans (try locally grown heirloom varieties: Black Valentine or Black Calypso www.elegantbeans.com)
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
Extra water on hand to add to during blending

Procedure
In a high-powered blender (e.g. Vitamix or Blendtec), combine all of the ingredients, including the soaking water for the dates, and blend until silky smooth. 
Add extra water, a tablespoon or so at a time, (up to ~5 tablespoons total), to achieve the right consistency, (a semi-thick sauce rather than a stiff dip). Store in a squeeze bottle, in the back of the fridge.

A fun way to share this yummy sauce with your family and friends, while celebrating some of the incredible summer fruits at our local Farmers’ Market, is to set up a Sweet Nacho Bar! Let the ideas below get your imagination running wild, when it comes to delectable toppings.

Hagenburger’s Sweet Nacho Foodie Bar™
Be prepared for some oohs and aahs, whether you debut this as a surprise breakfast or a cool dessert on a hot summer night!

“Chip” Options

• Whole grain lavash bread – brushed with a little almond milk or soy milk and dusted with cinnamon and coconut sugar or date sugar, cut into triangles and baked at 375F for ~5 min, just until crispy – don’t let them burn!
• Apple – cored and thinly sliced (leave peel on!)
• Pineapple – sliced into “chip-size” pieces, just thick enough to be able to hold the toppings

Toppings

• Fresh fruit (diced small) – strawberries, peaches, nectarines, kiwi, mango
• Fresh or frozen berries – blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, pomegranate arils
• Banana slices (cut in half)
• Nuts – pecans, walnuts and roasted hazelnuts are some of our favorites!
• T’s Dreamy Chocolate Sauce – If you don’t have a squeeze bottle handy, pour some of the sauce into a sandwich sized zip-top bag, removing as much air as possible before sealing. Then, just cut the very tip of one of the lower corners off (don’t make the hole too big) and use that as a disposable pastry bag!
• Finish your nachos with a dusting of cinnamon, toasted coconut and/or a sprinkle of fresh mint!

Inspiring you to LOVE THE FOOD THAT LOVES YOU BACK! Enjoy every bite, and feel strong and energized, as you become a better version of yourself, from the inside out!

Timaree Hagenburger, a plant-based registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN), certified exercise physiologist with a master’s degree in public health, has over 20 years of experience as a nutrition professor. She is a sought after speaker, media personality and author, who works with private clients, and in corporate wellness, has contributed to several cookbooks and published her own cookbook, The Foodie Bar Way: One Meal, Lots of Options, Everyone’s Happy (www.foodiebars.com)! Timaree is also the founder of an incredible online membership community, The Foodie Bar Way of Life, that makes loving the food (and living a life) that loves us back… simple, satisfying, sustainable AND FUN! You can contact her about working with her through 1:1 dietitian nutrition coaching, for hands-on cooking instruction and to inquire about arranging a speaking engagement.