Avocado Chocolate Pudding (using raw cacao)

I love me some chocolate. I mean, I love, love. When I discovered this healthy recipe for chocolate pudding I was over the moon. I make this when I have that deep craving for something decadent and know I'm going to eat a lot of it! The trick to this recipe is making sure that you soak your dates before you use them (I'll soak them for a good 20 min).What makes this healthy?

1. 1. Avocados provide close to 20 essential health-boosting nutrients, including potassium, vitamin E, B-vitamins, and folic acid.
2. Raw cacao is the highest antioxidant food on the planet, the #1 source of antioxidants, magnesium, iron, manganese, and chromium and is also extremely high in PEA, theobromine (cardiovascular support), and anandamide ("bliss chemical").
3. Dates are full vitamins, minerals and phytonutrients and are easily digested. They are full of fiber so they help keep your colon moving things along and lower LDL absoption.

Need I say more? So without further ado, here is your recipe:

• 1 ripe avocado, pitted
• 6-10 dates (depending on size of dates), soaked if necessary
• 1⁄2 teaspoon vanilla
• 4 heaping tablespoons raw organic cocoa (I like Navitas and Sunfood brands)
• 1⁄2 cup water

Place the first four ingredients in a food processor (you can use a blender or Vita-Mix, but food processors work much better for this recipe) and begin blending. Drizzle in the water, stopping to scrape the sides of the bowl if need be, until the mixture resembles a thick chocolate pudding. Let it continue mixing until smooth and creamy. If you are on a low- glycemic or anti-candida diet, use Stevia or agave to taste in place of the dates, or a combination of both.