Wednesday, June 29, 2011

This is Guilt-free Pure Decadence:
Sweet Spice and Chocolate Fantasy
Review and Giveaway!

Today I have two delightful new treats to share with you. I stumbled upon each of them completely by chance, and both are making life so much more delicious! Both of these culinary treasures will bring sweetness to your life without adding unnecessary calories, sugar, or fat. You can enjoy them together or on their own, and the ways in which you can savor them are limited only by your imagination.

Heather McClees is the creator of The Soulful Spoon's Sweet Spice, a special blend of five sweet spices. Heather started using her favorite sweet spices like cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg pretty much every day, and then began learning about and experimenting with other exotic spices. She honed in on two spices that are beneficial to health and taste great together with cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg. These two "secret" spices make up the remainder of ingredients in Sweet Spice, a truly unique blend, unlike any other five-spice.

What are some of the ways you can enjoy Sweet Spice? Well, in smoothies, for one. It has added a delightful flavor to every smoothie combination I've tried so far. (You'll LOVE the recipe below!) It's also fantastic in hot cocoa. (More on that in a minute.)

Sweet Spice is perfect for adding a touch of exotic flavor to baked goods like cookies, muffins, dessert breads, and cakes. I'm going to try adding it to a coconut nog scone recipe I'm working on, and I can hardly wait to taste the results!

I heard about Inspired Foods Dark Chocolate Fantasy Sweet Ground Cocoa from one of my readers. This lovely product evolved out of Daria and Darrin Danielson's passion for food and beverages. Daria grew up in a home immersed in tea culture, as her mom was a wholesale supplier of tea for many years. Daria and Darrin launched Eclipse Beverages (a Sparkling Tea company), and during their research into healthy alternative sweeteners, they discovered and fell in love with stevia. With their increasing passion for healthy and convenient beverages, they discovered the health benefits of cocoa and knew they needed to create a stevia-sweetened cocoa powder. The result is a delicately sweetened, ethically traded African rainforest gourmet cocoa that has just 9 calories per serving.  


You can use Chocolate Fantasy with your favorite non-dairy milk beverage. I make the most delicious cup of hot cocoa ever with Dark Chocolate Fantasy Sweet Ground Cocoa and So Delicious Unsweetened Coconut Milk. A 12-oz cup has just 84 calories, but is so rich and chocolaty, it tastes fantastic. Add half a teaspoon of Sweet Spice, and now you've got an exotic hot chocolate! (See, I told you these are great alone or together!) I'm sipping one right now!

I also make a delectable smoothie with Trader Joe's Very Cherry Berry Blend, but you could use any frozen berries, cherries, or any other fruit you like. It tastes like something out of a dream!


Choco-Cherry Spice Smoothie

2 ripe bananas
1 cup So Delicious Unsweetened Coconut Milk
1 Tbs Dark Chocolate Fantasy
1 cup frozen cherries and/or berries
1 medjool date
1 handful spinach
1 tsp Sweet Spice

Blend all together, pour into two tall glasses and serve!

You can order your very own jar of exotic Sweet Spice online right here. To fulfill your own Dark Chocolate Fantasy, click here to order. But wait—would you like to win a delicious prize pack? One lucky winner* chosen at random will receive a free coupon for their favorite So Delicious Coconut Milk, a jar of Sweet Spice, and a container of Dark Chocolate Fantasy! To enter the giveaway, simply leave a comment below telling me how you might enjoy these lovely treats. To earn extra entries, you can do any or all of the following. (Please leave a separate comment for each one you do):

1. Follow my Hungry Vegan Blog by clicking the "Follow" link in the upper left-hand corner of this page.

Good luck!

*Sorry international readers—Giveaway open to US residents only.

135 comments:

Jenni (aka Vegyogini) said...

I would enjoy these treats while reading a great book. Thanks for the giveaway!

Helen said...

I wonder what the two "secret" spices are! How intriguing! I'd love to try the smoothie you made. It sounds delicious!

The Vegan said...

I love the mug you have your Choco-Cherry Spice Smoothie in. Meanwhile I would enjoy these by using the recipe you posted here. I can't go wrong following one of your delicious creations. :-)

The Vegan said...

I liked Choc Fantasy on FB.

The Vegan said...

I now follow The Soulful Spoon.

The Vegan said...

I already follow Hungry Vegan but I never get notified of new entries.
:-(

Dolores said...

I would enjoy these wrapped up in a cozy blanket reading a good book with dim lighting...They sound so delicious!!!

ellen said...

Um..really? How would I NOT enjoy chocolate and this cool spice blend? Sounds good cool in the summer and warm in the winter ... assuming it lasted that long!

thanks!

PotatoSalad said...

I would enjoy these treats by giving myself some time to relax and just enjoy them!

PotatoSalad said...

I now follow the Soulful Spoon blog :)

PotatoSalad said...

I follow the Hungry Vegan blog :)

Anonymous said...

wow! i am new to veganism this year (love it thus far!) and this is perfect to curb those (monthly!) chocolate cravings..and i love how you snuck spinach in there!! thanks for sharing..i'm following and tweeting and liking you on all of the above :)

Jen said...

I would make hot chocolate for my teenage daughter and I to have together - I'm trying to get her to eat more vegan foods and she loves chocolate!

The Vegan said...

I now follow Heather McClees on Twitter.

avoir_la_volonte said...

OMG...hot chocolate sounds AMAZING! I know it's summer, but I love hot cocoa any time of year. : ) I'm also intrigued by the idea to put it into a smoothie. Hmmmmmmm...

karen l said...

I would love to use the three products to make a Coconut-Fig and Chocolate Tart!

PotatoSalad said...

I now follow you on twitter :)

PotatoSalad said...

I follow now Heather on Twitter :)

Anonymous said...

I LOVE So Delicious coconut milk and how could I NOT love stevia-sweetened cocoa and exotic sweet spices? I would make muffins and smoothies and all manner of deliciousness. Pick me, please!

Anonymous said...

This stuff looks amazing! I'd love to try it - it would replace my chocolate cravings at random times during the day...

Holly Grenz
fire_girl@firehousemail.com

PotatoSalad said...

I liked Chocolate Fantasy on Facebook :)

Anonymous said...

I follow your blog. It's my favorite!

Anonymous said...

Liked Chocolate fantasy on FB

Holly Grenz
fire_girl@firehousemail.com

PotatoSalad said...

I follow So Delicious on Twitter ;)

Anonymous said...

I like So Delicious on Facebook!

Anonymous said...

Like So Delicious on FB

Holly Grenz
fire_girl@firehousemail.com

avoir_la_volonte said...

I follow your blog!

PotatoSalad said...

And lastly, I liked So Delicious Dairy on Facebook :)

Lara said...

Yay! I'm following both blogs and following on facebook: So Delicous (already a fan) and Chocolate fantasy (what a name!)
I'm thinking I would use the Sweet Spice to make Gluten/Dairy free Snickerdoodles! Ooh, or maybe some GF/DF Biscotti to have with a Chocolate Fantasy Soy Milk Mocha!! Whew boy, my mouth is already watering.
Thank you!

avoir_la_volonte said...

I'm now following "The Soulful Spoon".

The Vegan said...

I, of course, already like and follow So Delicious.

Anonymous said...

I follow you on Twitter!

Carrie Key Rodebaugh said...

Hi! I am now following you on Twitter!

avoir_la_volonte said...

I follow you on Twitter.

avoir_la_volonte said...

I follow Heather McClees on Twitter.

Carrie Key Rodebaugh said...

I am following Heather on Twitter!

Jen said...

I'm now following you on Twitter! Looking forward to reading your tweets.

avoir_la_volonte said...

I liked "Chocolate Fantasy" on FB.

Nicole K. said...

I follow So Delicious Dairy Free on Facebook

avoir_la_volonte said...

I follow SoDelicious on Twitter.

Carrie Key Rodebaugh said...

I liked Chocolate Fantasy on Facebook!

avoir_la_volonte said...

And I like SoDelicious on FB.

Carrie Key Rodebaugh said...

I am following So Delicious on Twitter!

Carrie Key Rodebaugh said...

I like So Delicious on Facebook!

Jen said...

I just liked Chocolate Fantasy on Facebook. Looks delicious!

Nicole K. said...

I would enjoy the Choco Cherry Spice smoothie while relaxing on the couch after all my kids have gone to bed. :)

Robin Batterson said...

I would love to relax with a guilt free sweet spice and chocolate smoothie or try baking with them also. I have liked both Chocolate fantasy and so delicious coccoanut mild on FB. Please enter me in your yummy giveaway. Thanks

Jen said...

I already follow/like So Delicious on Facebook and Twitter. That's what led me to your blog!

Ashley said...

It sounds like a great combo for hot cocoa, that's probably the first thing I would try. It also sounds like it would be a great flavor to add to ice cream.

Ashley said...

And I already like So Delicious Dairy Free on Facebook

littledebisnack said...

I am now following your blog!

Bethany S. said...

I "Like" Chocolate Fantasy on Facebook!

littledebisnack said...

I am new to making smoothies, but have never tried these products you are giving away. They sound really awesome. Would love to win some to try! Thanks!

Bethany S. said...

I would use them to make homemade ice "cream." Time to experiment! :)

Bethany S. said...

And I "Like" So Delicious Dairy Free on Facebook!

Bethany S. said...

I follow my Hungry Vegan Blog via e-mail.

Anonymous said...

Sounds delious! I would enjoy this after a long day maybe sharing this with my husband.

AgelessJen said...

I might be inclined to try & create a coconut milk cheese cake with this combo! I'm thinking that one of the secret ingredients is turmeric?

Stephanie Jensen said...

The smoothie would be the perfect post workout treat! That's how I would enjoy it!

littledebisnack said...

Im following you twitter!

littledebisnack said...

I'm also following the soulful spoon blog!

littledebisnack said...

I'm following heather on twitter!

littledebisnack said...

I'm following chocolate fantasy on Facebook.

littledebisnack said...

I am following so delicious on twitter.

littledebisnack said...

I'm following so delicious on Facebook.

littledebisnack said...

I would use these ingredients to make some good brownies as well as a matching smoothie, if I won them!

Melissa said...

I would follow your recipe since it sounds so good! I'd also add the spices to my morning oats!

xmeliss182x (at) yahoo (dot) com

Marlo S. said...

I Follow my Hungry Vegan Blog by email.

marlosmi (at) comcast (dot) net

Holly said...

where is the link to the giveaway?????

Marlo S. said...

I Follow The Soulful Spoon Blog by email.

marlosmi (at) comcast (dot) net

marlo S. said...

I follow Hungry Vegan on Twitter.

marlosmi (at) comcast (dot) net

marlo S. said...

I follow Heather McClees on Twitter

marlosmi (at) comcast (dot) net

Therese said...

I would enjoy these in the daily smoothie I have after walking home from work.

Marlo S. said...

I like Chocolate Fantasy on Facebook.

marlosmi (at) comcast (dot) net

Marlo S. said...

I follow So Delicious on Twitter

marlosmi (at) comcast (dot) net

Marlo S. said...

I like So Delicious on Facebook

marlosmi (at) comcast (dot) net

Marlo S. said...

I would enjoy these treats as an iced spiced chocolate frappe'! Sounds wonderful for a hot day like today.

marlosmi (at) comcast (dot) net

Bev McArthur said...

I use So Delicious almost every morning in my green smoothie and would love to try the sweet spice and the Dark Chocolate Fantasy as a little treat once in awhile

Bev McArthur said...

i now follow you on twitter

Bev McArthur said...

I follow Heather McClees on twiter

Anonymous said...

The smoothie would be great an hour or so before my workout. The hot chocolate is just the thing to enjoy anytime. Hot or on ice, it's chocolate...enough said! :)

Bev McArthur said...

I have Chocolate Fantasy as a friend on Facebook

Bev McArthur said...

i follow the soulful spoon blog

Bev McArthur said...

i follow So Delicious on Twitter

Bev McArthur said...

i am friends with So Delicious on Face book

Allison Rivers Samson said...

Everything looks so yummy!! I would adore playing in the kitchen with all these new toys. =) A frosty Chocolate Coconut Milkshake sprinkled with Sweet Spice would be SO DELICIOUS on a hot summer day!

karen l said...

I also like so delicious on fb.
(forgot to add that earlier).

email contact is hoorayforanonymous @ gmail.com

Allison Rivers Samson said...

I follow you on Twitter

Allison Rivers Samson said...

I follow your blog

Allison Rivers Samson said...

I follow So Delicious

Allison Rivers Samson said...

I like So Delicious

Allison Rivers Samson said...

I like Chocolate Fantasy

Allison Rivers Samson said...

Thanks for this great giveaway , Gail! I love your blog and that you share all these fun new products with us. =)

Anonymous said...

I would enjoy the sweets while relaxing on a day off from work when there are no cares, just me, myself and I.

Anonymous said...

Love chocolate, love smoothies, where could I go wrong.

Rebecca said...

I'm following your blog!

Rebecca said...

I'm following the Soulful Spoon Blog!

Rebecca said...

I'm following you on twitter!

Rebecca said...

I'm following Heather McClees on twitter!

Rebecca said...

I liked Chocolate Fantasy on facebook!

Rebecca said...

I'm following SoDelicious on twitter!

Rebecca said...

I liked SoDelicious Dairy Free on facebook! Thank you for this giveaway :)

kelly g. said...

I could use all three to make ice cream!

kelly g. said...

I also follow your blog

kelly g. said...

as well as the Soulful Spoon...

kelly g. said...

I already followed So Delicious on Twitter (I'm @easyvegan)

kelly g. said...

...and I already followed you on Twitter, too...

kelly g. said...

I also liked Chocolate Fantasy on FB...

kelly g. said...

and liked So Delicious on FB, too!

Anonymous said...

My daughter has suddenly become lactose intolerant and I would use these products to show here that this is not the end of yummy stuff!

Monique said...

I absolutely love the idea of all of these products in this give-away... Awesome! I would most definitely enjoy it ALONE! With candles lit, enjoying peace & quiet.... Wait! Back to reality...eventually I guess I`d share with my beautiful children...they love So Delicious coconut milk.

Anna (Green Talk) said...

What a great giveaway! I love chocolate. And sweetened with stevia. Heaven!

Anna (Green Talk) said...

I follow your blog.

Anna (Green Talk) said...

I follow you So Delicious on FB

Anna (Green Talk) said...

I follow so delicious on twitter toocansubv

Anna (Green Talk) said...

I follow you on twitter! (@greentalk)

Anna (Green Talk) said...

i follow Heather on Twitter. Hoping she replies to my request for a great collard greens recipe!

Maddy said...

I would enjoy these treats in that smoothie you made! sounds so good!

Maddy said...

I follow the soulful spoon!

Maddy said...

I like chocolate fantasy on facebook!

Cathy said...

I want to use these ingredients in your wonderful smoothie recipe!

Unknown said...

I now follow your blog and The Soulful Spoon. I also have "Like-d" Chocolate Fantasy and So Delicious Dairy Free on Facebook.

If I had some Dark Chocolate Fantasy Sweet Ground Cocoa, coconut milk and Sweet Spice, I would make a frozen "hot" chocolate sundae/parfait.
To make, freeze hot chocolate in an ice cube tray, and pulse the resulting cubes in a blender. The end texture will be whipped and slightly slushy. Next, layer spoonfuls of this mixture with your favorite non-dairy ice cream and sliced summer fruit in a pretty glass. Enjoy!

Angel said...

You always find the most amazing products! I'm going to order both the Sweet Spice and the Chocolate Fantasy. (I'm already a So Delicious fan!) Would love to win some, too! :)

catpella said...

I liked your description of hot chocolate, so I would make hot chocolate and curl up with a favorite book. I also love to experiment with making my own chai-spice blends, so I might try adding some of the Sweet Spice to some loose rooibos and see how that works out. I can also envision the spice working well in a carrot and spice cake?

Please post that coconut nog scone recipe when it's worked out, it sounds like the best!

I follow SoDelicious on twitter already.

Heather said...

Hot chocolate? Yes please. I bet this would make an amazing frozen hot chocolate.

Lizzie Bordello said...

A nice cold "milk"shake, at the picnic table in my backyard - in the SHADE. Ahhh...

Anonymous said...

I would use the Sweet Spice in a chocolate hazelnut spread or a batch of vegan brownies! Hooray for fun, delicious giveaways!!

ASLFC said...

I like the idea of dairy free and sugar free coco without artificial ingredients. So a pure cup of coco, maybe later in the year, sounds heavenly!

Merrie Beth said...

Would enjoy these on my recliner with my puppy curled up at my ankles!

VeganMarr said...

YUM!!!!

chlobo said...

Bring it on. It sounds so delicious.

chlobo said...

I liked "So Delicious" on facebook

stacey said...

I am working to "green" up my family's diet. Granddaughter lives with us...she has asthma and I am working to wean her off milk and onto alternative beverages. This might be a great enticement for her.

Anna said...

I would enjoy these treats snuggled up with my boston terrier pup!

free business listings said...

I love this idea!!! I'm going to try it out and see how it goes. Thanks for sharing