Friday, July 22, 2011

How to Eat a Hug ...


Eating a hug ... that's the best way I can describe these treats :) Yum! I've made them countless times so I thought I'd better share the recipe.
They are fairly ... actually in my book they are VERY guilt free! Dairy free, vegan, gluten free, and hold the phone they're sugar free too! Well sort of ... I found a loop hole, there is a bit a maple syrup in there for sweetness.

I don't have a name for them so they can just be coconut/ cocoa/ almond/ date-ish ball things for now. I'd love some name suggestions. :)

Here's the recipe:

Ingredients

400g Dried Pitted Dates
1/4 cup Psyllium Husk*
1/4 cup Rice Bran Oil
2 tbsp Maple Syrup
1 tsp of Vanilla Bean Paste**
1/4 cup Cocoa Powder
1/2 tsp Cinnamon
1/8 tsp Salt
1/2 cup (50g) Fine Desiccated Coconut
1 cup (160g) Blanched Almonds

+ a second measure of 1/2 cup (50g) of coconut for coating them at the end.
Either fine desiccated or shredded. I prefer shredded, it's a little fancier.

*Can substitute the psyllium husk for wheat germ, LSA mix or whatever is in your cupboard of the same texture and taste.
**Use essence if you don't have paste, but keep in mind that paste is so much better!
(for this recipe you need a food processor)


Method

Put all the ingredients except the coconut and almonds in a food processor, blend/pulse until the mixture resembles a paste like texture.
Transfer the mixture into a large bowl.
Put the almonds in the empty food processor and pulse until they are roughly chopped, add to the bowl with the first measure (1/2 cup) of coconut.
At this point you'll have to get your hands in there to combine the mixture evenly.
Once you've got a good consistency you can divide and roll the mixture into small balls (2 cm diametre).
Use the second measure of coconut to coat the balls. (I like to toast the coconut slightly before coating them).
Put them in the fridge in an air tight container for a few hours before eating to allow them to set. If you can refrigerate them overnight, even better!
Then eat!!

Sunday, July 10, 2011

The Start Of My Zero Waste Addiction.



The zero waste home blog. I came across it here only a few weeks ago at Danelle Bourgeois' tumbler. She posted the above video which lead me to the blog. The zero waste blog is written by Bea Johnson. Five years ago, she (and her family) decided to move into a smaller home. They downsized their belongings and took on a zero-waste style of living. The above video explains it all. She has got so many great tips on her blog for reducing waste, I've taken on most of the ones I've read so far, like she says in the video, it's very addictive. In the past two weeks I've been occupied with de-cluttering, reducing, reusing and shopping in the right places. I've donated three station wagon boot loads full of house stuff that I don't need anymore to second hand stores. I've made a compost bin for food waste. I've put up a much needed 'No Junk Mail' sign on the letterbox. I'm shopping at markets where I can get my own bags and containers filled no problem (laundry mesh bags for mushrooms, beans, loose lettuce etc). Refilling my egg trays. Using a canvas bag for bread at the bakery which tastes better and is fresher anyway. At the supermarket I'm opting to buy things that last in bulk rather than buying small bottles and jars, that is until I have more jars/bottles to refill etc. Phew! Like I said ... it's addictive. We've already reduced our rubbish and recycling by half. I had been wanting to do something about the sad state of our overfilled rubbish bins (recycling included) for a while now and Bea Johnson's blog seemed to kick it into gear.

I decided to make this post for people living in Melbourne as a resource for great places to buy produce from. Please do comment if you have more links to add.


and of course check out the zero waste home blog. :)

http://zerowastehome.blogspot.com/