Now that my nieces are all preparing for their SATs, I thought I’d share a little story with you on how I prepared for my SATs some 15+ years ago.
I’ve mentioned it a few times already that I moved to the United States when I was 9 years old, and although I was fluent in English when I arrived, where I came from, I had never read a book in my life. Translation ~ my reading & comprehension skills sucked, and I had no vocabulary!
Back in the day, the Verbal section of the SATs was divided into 3 parts – Antonyms, Sentence Completions, and Critical Reading. I sucked at all three, but my biggest weakness was reading.
My goal was to break 500 out of 800 on Verbal, and break 700 out of 800 on Math which would put me above 1200, well that was the plan at least.
My strategy – I bought a great SAT study guide, made flash cards, and memorized all 3500 vocabulary words in the SAT book over a course of 1 year. 
The Plan. Since I was being penalized for every wrong answer, I decided to skip the Critical Reading section entirely, yes, you heard right, I skipped the Critical Reading section entirely because that’s how bad my comprehension skills were, and I didn’t wanna risk being penalized for every wrong answer. By doing so, I was breaking 500 on all my Verbal practice tests at home, my strategy was working. 
And when I finally went in to take the exam, I only answered the Antonyms and Sentence Completion sections which took only about half of the allotted time. I would look over my work and wait patiently while the other students would still be finishing up the remainder of their tests. 
Did it work? Well, sorta. I was a few points shy from a 500 on Verbal, not the best score, but whatever, my Math score made up for my lack of comprehension skills. Although I’ve shared this story with my nieces, I’m glad none of them need to follow in my footsteps and skip the Critical Reading section thanks to their excellent reading and comprehension skills. 
Anddddddddddd onto this delicious Chocolate Avocado Mousse that I made for my husband and I. This pudding tastes best when eaten right away. Amazing texture and flavor. No milk, no cream, no butter. Give it a try!
Chocolate Avocado Pudding (healthy, antioxidants, vegan, high fiber, gluten free, dairy free, refined sugar free, low carb)
Ingredients
- Avocado – 1
- Ghirardelli Unsweetened Cocoa Powder – 2 1/2 tbsp
- Honey – 2 tbsp
- Pure Vanilla Extract – 1/2 tsp
- Salt – just a pinch
- Ghirardelli Bittersweet Chocolate Chips – 2 tbsp, melted
- Cinnamon Powder – just a pinch, optional
Instructions
- Using a double boiler, add the chocolate chips and let them melt. Or you can use a microwave.
- Slice the avocado in half.
- In a food processor, add the avocado, cocoa powder, honey, vanilla extract, and salt.
- Blend.
- Add the melted chocolate to the food processor. Blend.
- I added a pinch of cinnamon, or stop at this point.
- Serve right away - I didn't like the flavor after refrigerating. I prefer the flavor of the mousse when eaten right away. Smooth, thick, creamy!
STEP BY STEP IMAGES
1. Using a double boiler, add the chocolate chips and let them melt. Or you can use a microwave. 
2. Slice the avocado in half.
3. In a food processor, add the avocado, cocoa powder, honey, vanilla extract, and salt.
3. Blend.
4. Add the melted chocolate to the food processor. Blend.
5. I added a pinch of cinnamon, or stop at this point. 
6. Serve right away – I didn’t like the flavor after refrigerating. I prefer the flavor of the mousse when eaten right away. Smooth, thick, creamy!
TELL ME: Did you take the SATs? Were you better at Math or Verbal? Share your test taking strategy? If you didn’t take the SATs, how do you typically prepare for Standardized tests?
Recipes You Will Love:
Healthy Date Walnut Cacao Bites (vegan, paleo, flourless) 
Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Banana Bread (10 ingredients, flourless, dairy-free, gluten-free) 
Flourless Avocado Walnut Brownies (healthier, gluten-free, low-carb, dairy-free) 
Quinoa Bread Avocado Toast (gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, healthy)
You should have tried ur reading skill.. Y u left that part…. Btw… Chocolate with avocado pudding looks simple n yummy..
Yeah, I should have tried, but I wasn't good at it, and that's why I skipped the section entirely. Thanks – hope you try this recipe.
I can definitely survive only with avocado chocolate pudding. Yum!
As a Malaysian, we took SAT's, but quite different from the States. I barely spoke grammatically or vocabulary-corrected English when I arrive here the first time. It's a continued struggle 🙂
Yeah, it's good stuff.
Luckily I was fluent in English when I arrived, but yeah, my vocabulary and comprehension skills sucked. 🙂
Whole of my first 12 years of basic education, we were taught in our local language. With exception to English paper 😀
I think your nieces should snack on this bowl of deliciousness while revising- you know what they say about healthy fats and its positive effect on brain power ;)! I once took the SAT for fun (haha don't ask) and I scored significantly higher in the math section- luckily English universities don't require it as a qualification!
Lol.. I'll have to make it for them, they won't make this for themselves. Man K, you are a super nerd, who takes the SATs for fun? I think most Asian kids do significantly better in Math than in Verbal.
The pudding looks awesome especially the second shot looks so appealing and tempting!
Thank you.. hope you try it. 🙂
I totally agree with Khushboo – chocolate def boosts brain power! :
This avocado chocolate pudding/mousse looks amazing! I am so glad to have seen this recipe – thanks so much for sharing!
Shashi @ http://runninsrilankan.com
Chocolate does boost brain power. 🙂
Hope you try it Shashi, it was really good.
I made something similar but I think I left it too long in the refrigerator and did not taste very good..I am going to give this another chance by eating it right away. About the SATs – I hate standardized tests and I don't know how I managed to get enough scores to get through college and now enrolled in grad school. I am just glad I am in.
Yup.. I left one batch in the refrigerator but I didn't care for the flavor, hence I think it tastes best when consumed right away.
I know what you mean, I hate Standardized Tests too, I guess just have to do the best you can.
aww I missed your stories, I really like reading them, you tell them well and you have a very interesting past! The avocado mousse is perfect healthier treat too.
Thanks Amelia.. you are so funny, yes, I do have an interesting past and I can't wait to share many other funny stories. Glad to hear you enjoy you reading them. 🙂
Definitely try the avocado pudding.
I've had this pudding on my to-do list for ages! I wish I had a bowl right now 🙂
Bianca – it's yummy, hope you try it soon. 🙂
I've made avocado chocolate pudding once. It's so rich – I love it! Never thought to add melted chocolate…will def. do that next time!
I really like it too.. melted chocolate gives it a more rich chocolate flavor, the cocoa powder wasn't enough for me. 🙂
Look at this gorgeous pudding! So smooth, silky and I bet heavenly tasting. Lovely recipe!
Thanks Georgia, it was all 3. 🙂
this looks really delicious and tasty!! do you taste the avocado at all or does it taste mostly like chocolate?
Thanks Mari. No, you don't taste the avocado, maybe very slightly since I know it was in there, however adding liquid chocolate masks the flavor of the avocado, you can always add more. Yes, it mostly tastes like chocolate. Hope this helps.
Very rich and creamy looking and I love that it's such a simple recipe. I'll have to try this out. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks Cynthia. It is rich and creamy looking, but it isn't really. Hope you try it soon. 🙂
Pretty clever strategy…my reading comprehension skills are terrible, when it comes to standardized testing! I am not a fan, thankfully I have zero plans to enter the world of testing again!
Cute story. 🙂
Thanks Ameena.. I would never have thought that after interacting with you. I suck at test taking, hence never wanted to pursue further education, I'd much rather work. 🙂
I had to SATs too but here in England they are a little different. We are tested on English, Maths and Science in 3 test per subject so that's 9 tests. I must have revised so much for them as the results would ultimately define which group I would be in i.e Advanced, Intermediate or Basic. The result were announced by the home room teacher in front of the whole class! Luckily or quite strangely I scored 49 out of 50 in all three of my tests! To this day that is the only thing I remember about the SATs -my score! 🙂
Oh wow, 3 tests… Science would have been really hard. That's great you did so well.. that's all that matters in the end. 🙂
Honey, this looks fantastic and combines two of my favorite ingredients, avocados and chocolate.
Thanks Nik.. you and me both! 🙂
Love this chocolate pudding recipe. Avocado makes everything super creamy –yum! 🙂
Thanks Anne.. it was so good. Yup, avocado makes everything creamy. 🙂
Gah! I absolutely love your website! I for one can't cook for nuts if I am provided just the ingredients. I always need the recipe. Even then my cooking turns out just meh and it's hard for me to bring out the flavor. I've tried a few recipes from your website and the result has been delicious. I'm one of those people who follow recipes word to word the first time. Keep cooking and posting… you truly inspire me 🙂
Thanks so much for your comment Miti, it totally made my day, hence I'll be sharing it on this week's Friday's Favorites. I'll keep posting while I still love doing it. People like you inspire me to keep cooking and posting. 🙂 Thank you!
What a healthy way to make pudding! I love how unique that is, I would of never thought to make it with avocados.
Yes, indeed, and you can't even taste the avocado. It's so popular on the internet.
Have tried your bread pudding long back and I'm going to make this too one of these days. Need as many eggless dessert options as possible!
I think I did good in my SATs and TOEFL 10 years ago; I was quite a nerd back then. But I have been dreading the thought of giving GMAT and TOEFL past two years despite the willingness to join school than stay at home all day doing nothing worthwhile -_-
Hope you try this Nisha, I think you'll like it.
That's great you scored well on your SATs. It's always a good idea to consider school if you have time, it can only help you really. 🙂
I was pretty good at math, science and english back in Bombay and did well at school/college. I figured standardized tests would be a cakewalk. I had no experience with it when I took the GMAT. I was horrified at the pressure that ticking clock puts. I couldnt remember any of my strategies or the prep I had done and I'm not one to be nervous!
I've feared standardized tests since then. Its made me want to master them though and I might take one to just prove to myself that I can do it!
My husband is another story! He takes standardized tests for fun and creams them with 30 days of prep. Kaplan invited him to teach their classes 🙂
Wow… so impressive Kaplan invited your husband to teach. You're not alone, I get nervous taking tests too, I'd much rather work and earn. 🙂
I was always good in Math, but horrible in Verbal. I hope by starting this blog I somewhat improved my reading, writing, and comprehension skills. Strange how that happened. 🙂
Your pudding looks so rich and creamy! I made a chocolate avocado protein shake once and loved it, so I'm sure I would love chocolate avocado pudding. I relied on the math to pull me through he SAT too. Numbers have just always made more since than words to me. They're much more predictable!
Thanks Christin, it is. I have yet to try an avocado smoothie. Haha.. I always found Math easier than Verbal, numbers are definitely more predictable, so black and white. 🙂
Love the creamy mousse, I've always wondered how avocado would be in desserts, I might have to just try it.
SAt's, how glad am I that I don't have to study…I suck at vocab, I always found solace in numbers..
Thanks Asha.. it was yummy, and you can't really taste the avocado. So glad I don't have to study either, always hated it. 🙂
Hi Honey! Oh my…this made me realize how happy I am that I don't have to study for the SATs! What a pain! This pudding however? Delicious! Thank you for sharing it with us!
Haha.. I know Monet, those days are long gone. This pudding is delicious, hope you try it. 🙂
You are such a great aunt. I have made this a few times and love it. I made mine orange flavored and it was a huge success. I need to make it again soon 🙂
Haha.. I didn't make the pudding for them, but thanks. Orange flavored pudding sounds yum. Thanks for sharing.