My Favorite Way to Eat Soy: Chocolate-Tofu Silk

For 4 small portions (this is rich):

1 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips
7 to 8 ounces of tofu (silken is smoothest, but firm has more protein)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 to 2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon of milk

In a microwave-safe bowl, melt the chocolate chips.

In a food processor, process the tofu until smooth. Add the vanilla, honey, and milk, then process to incorporate. Scoop the melted chocolate into the food processor and blend with the tofu mixture.

Spoon into small dishes, such as custard cups. This can also be layered in tall cups with fruit or fruit filling (such as cherry pie filling), cookie crumbs, or cake cubes for a parfait. Or, a double batch can be scooped into a pre-baked pie shell and chilled.

Garnish with shaved or chopped chocolate. Refrigerate for 2 hours.

Chocolate-Tofu Silk will likely be on our Valentine's dinner menu, in some form, with berries, if the budget permits.

Creating Flavored Coffee and Tea on the Cheap

I can buy this product and spend about $1 per cup of delicious, almond-flavored coffee.

Or, I can use my inexpensive instant coffee and add almond extract (plus a little sweetening and creamer) and spend about 10 cents per cup of tasty, almond-flavored coffee.



I can buy this product and spend about 30 cents per cup of flavorful vanilla tea.

Or, I can use inexpensive, plain tea bags and add a few drops of imitation vanilla flavoring, spending under 5 cents per cup of flavorful vanilla tea.

I also doctor up plain coffee with cinnamon, nutmeg, and/or vanilla for flavor. I brought a wonderful thermos of creamy, cinnamon-vanilla coffee with me when out the other day. Having this with me kept me from the temptation to buy a cup of coffee, as mine was as delicious as any coffee house coffee.

These tasty little treats costs pennies, but they keep me on my budget without deprivation.