recipe: vegan chocolate mousse

I decided to post a recipe after determining I am sure that this is truly a great recipe.  I now have tried this recipe out on my extended family, all who loved it (with one request to make it sweeter), and all were amazed one of the main ingredients is avocado.  I first heard of this recipe on Dr. Oz or some sort of similar talk show and the sweetening was from Medjool dates.  This certainly made the consistency quite thick.  I have looked on-line for similar recipes and made some minor variations.  I have also made this recipe to accommodate the diabetics and those who are lactose intolerant in my family.

Vegan Chocolate Mousse
(now you can indulge and feel healthy about it!)

makes about 8,  1/2 cup servings

6 ripe avocados (the smaller sized ones)
1 1/4 cup cocoa powder
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp (if that) of stevia powder (if this is not in your pantry, you can always double the ingredient you decide to use for sweetening)
1/4 cup agave syrup (which may be substituted by honey, maple syrup or the like)
1/2 cup almond milk (which may be replace by rice milk, soy milk etc.)

This can work in a blender, however I found it mixes up better in my food processor.
Blend the avocados in the food processor.   Add the vanilla, stevia and agave syrup. Add cocoa powder 1/4 cup at a time alternating with the almond milk, also being added little by little (I used about 1 Tbsp at a time). Blend thoroughly and make sure there are no clumps of cocoa left. Adjust the mixture to your taste: adding more sweetener if you like sweeter, or more almond milk if the consistency is too thick.
Serve mixture in individual cups.  I like to add some berries on top.
Enjoy.

Thanksgiving

This weekend is Thanksgiving weekend in Canada.  It is always a time of year that I love.  Earlier this week I found myself driving out to the countryside to visit with a friend and her new baby, along with dropping of some remnants from my son's babyhood.  As I drove on the winding highway out of the city and into the countryside I savoured the breathtaking views of autumn foliage, the reds, oranges, yellows and greens that harmonize in the just right way to be spectatcular.  I love the crispness of the air and the beauty that surrounds me every day.  From the blue morning glories faithfully flowering as they creep over to my neighbour's side of the fence to the last little green tomatoes stubbornly persisting despite the cooler weather.
I like Thanksgiving and the associated family feasts:  the great home cooked dinners with pies for dessert. The company of loved ones sharing together.  My family meets for meals frequently, but there is something different about the "special" occasions.
The opportunity to be reminded about what I am thankful for happens at this time of year.  I try to remember what I am grateful for daily and I'm attempting to connect my son to these ideas, but Thanksgiving provides an opportunity to really engage this conversation.
This time of  year coincides with my husband's birthday which almost always falls on Thanksgiving weekend. Now, it is a time when I reflect on him a little more than usual and what his birth gave to the world and those who knew him.  It is also the time of year when my sister-in-law, niece, son and myself (sometimes other family members but we seem to be the core group) go on a hike in husband's honour.  It's not like we say it is in his honour, but hiking is something I did frequently with Al and my family makes the effort to go to one of the places we would hike; we pack a lunch and enjoy the beauty while reflecting on our surroundings. Inevitably we talk about what Al would say or think or be doing; and somehow, by divine or simple spiritual connection I always feel Al is present with us and I leave these hikes refreshed and feeling as if I spent the day with Al.