Sweet Valentine: Dark Chocolate Mint Pears

Valentine's Day is almost as famous for sugary confections as it is love notes. Try making a healthier version of your favorite holiday treats by opting for fruit dipped in dark chocolate. Dark chocolate has less sugar than its milk counterpart and is packed with beneficial antioxidants. And fruit naturally is a better sweet source than sugary candies made with artificial dyes and flavors.

This recipe for Dark Chocolate Mint Pears can be adapted for other fruits and toppings like heart-healthy nuts—plus, kids can join in the kitchen fun. Now, it's easy to indulge and be mindful when celebrating your life's loves with food.

Dark Chocolate Mint Pears

Serves 4

Ingredients

• 10 red & white mints (look for organic peppermints that use natural dyes like beet juice to get the red coloring)
• 1 cup organic dark chocolate chips
• 2 large organic pears

Directions

1. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper; set aside.

2. Place mints in a Ziploc bag; seal and crush using a wooden spoon. Transfer mints to a food processor; pulse until candy canes resemble a powder.

3. Place chocolate in a medium bowl; heat in the microwave until melted, approximately 2 minutes.

4. Meanwhile, slice each pear into 4 slices.

5. Remove melted chocolate from microwave; mix well and dip pears into chocolate; coat each pear slice only 1/2 way. Allow excess chocolate to drip off, then lay pears on the parchment paper.

6. Sprinkle crushed mints onto the chocolate half of the pears; place in the refrigerator to cool for 20 minutes.

Enjoy!