Apricot, Oats & Cacao Balls

Bliss balls are such an easy snack. I make these on a regular basis and always change the ingredients. The other day when I felt like something sweet I made these amazingly delightful little balls and I thought I would share the recipe with you all.

 

When making bliss balls, I tend to make a big batch and pop them into a glass container to leave on the bench where I can see them, that way when I’m feeling a little peckish I reach for a healthy snack.

 

 

Oats have many benefits and are an important food to include into your daily life. Eating oats for breakfast is a great way to gain the strength and energy to carry you through a hectic morning schedule, keeping you fuller for longer. To read more about the many health benefits on oats click here 

  

Recipe: 

2 cups oats 

1 cup dried apricots

¼ cup petitas 

¼ cup honey 

1 tbsp. butter

1 tbsp. coconut oil

¼ cup cacao for rolling 

Place oats, apricots, pepitas, honey, butter and coconut oil in a food processor. Blend together for a few minutes until combined. 

Using damp hands roll level tbsp. of mixture into balls.  

Roll the balls into the cacao. 

Pop straight into your glass jar and leave on the table ready for a quick snack. 

 

Enjoy

Peace n Love

Jeanette

 

Soda Water Scones

 

 

 

I know that Lemonade scones are more common but I like to try and eliminate as much sugar as I can when cooking. I like to play around with recipes trying to make them a little more guilt free.

I have had many failures in my cooking when trying to eliminate the common cooking ingredients such as eggs, dairy products and sugar. As I have never been shown how to cook, it isn’t that easy when first starting out but over the past four years I have made a conscious effort to teach myself how to cook. Cooking is now a massive part of my life and I love getting in the kitchen. I dream about having a massive kitchen one day......but for now I make do with what I have.

Now don’t be scared to have a play around and if something doesn’t turn out, just try again.  There is no harm in trying and it will only make the next dish or cake better and tastier, well here is hoping.

I have been playing around with Soda Water Scones and I am now happy enough with the outcome to share the recipe with you. I did still use eggs, manuka honey instead of sugar and I used rice milk and natural yoghurt instead of cream.


I love Manuka honey here are some of the benefits:

Colds, Cough & Flu Symptoms, Sore Throats

Heartburn, Acid Reflux Disease & Indigestion

Stomach Ulcers

Gum and Periodontal Disease

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) / Constipation / Diarrhoea

 

Recipe:

2 cups organic Self-Raising flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

2/3 cups soda water

2 eggs

2 tablespoons rice milk

1 tablespoon Lemon Rind

3 tablespoon lemon juice

1 tablespoon manuka honey

(I added 1 tablespoon of chia seeds in one batch)

 

Preheat Oven 180*

Combine self-raising flour and baking powder in a mixing bowl.
In a separate bowl use a folk to whisk the eggs, add soda water, rice milk, honey, lemon rind and lemon juice together. Combine liquid ingredients to flour mixture and use a wooden spoon to fold.

Line a baking tray with baking paper and spoon a small amount of the mixture onto the paper.

Cook for 15 minutes.

 

 

 

 

 

Add your favourite toppings.

 

 

 

 

 

 Enjoy :)

 

 

Peace n Love

Jeanette

Bliss Balls

Need a little extra energy throughout your day? Try making these no fuss, no cooking bliss balls which are made in a matter of minutes. Just find some nuts, dried fruits and seeds in the cupboard, mix in a blender , roll into balls or logs and pop in the fridge. Enjoy!!!

Tahini Bliss Balls

1/4 cup Tahini

2 tablespoons Organic Honey

1/2 cup Cashews

1/2 cup pumpkin seeds

1/4 cup sunflower seeds

2 tablespoons dried cranberries

1 tablespoon Shredded Coconut 

Cocoa powder for rolling

Blend or chop nuts and dried fruits finely either with a knife, in a blender, a food processor or Thermomix. Mix all ingredients in a bowl. Roll into small size balls and cover lightly in shredded coconut, sesame seeds or cocoa. Keep in the fridge or make a big batch and have some tucked away in the freezer.

Makes about 25 balls depending on the size you roll them.

 

 

 

Marmalade Bliss Balls

1/4 cup tahini

2 tablespoons of home-made marmalade (or you can use your favourite jam)

1/2 cup mixed raw nuts (e.g. macadamias, almonds, Brazil nuts, walnuts, hazelnuts, cashews, Pistachios)

1/2 cup finely chopped mixed dried fruits (e.g. dates, apricots, figs, currants, raisins, cranberries)

1/4 cup shredded coconut (for coating)

Follow instructions above on combining the ingredients.

 

 

Coconut Bliss Balls

3 tablespoons raw organic coconut oil

1 tablespoon agave syrup       

2 drops of natural vanilla extract  

1/2 cup raw cashews 

5 pitted dates

1/4 cup dark chocolate

1/4 cup L.S.A for coating.

Green Bliss Balls

3 tablespoons raw organic coconut oil

1 tablespoon spirulina powder

1 tablespoon agave syrup

1 tablespoons of tahini

1/4 cup Cashews

1/4 cup pumpkin seeds

3 pitted dates

1/4 cup L.S.A for coating

It really depends what you have in the cupboard. Along with any nuts, I usually add sultanas, oats, chia seeds, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, dark chocolate pieces, dried cranberries or dried apricots. I coat the balls with sesame seeds, L.S.A mix, hazelnut meal, cocoa powder or shredded coconut.

Keep trying until you find a mixture you love.  

Benefits of Seeds:

High in fibre, vitamin E and monounsaturated fats that can help keep our heart healthy and our body disease free. Seeds are also a great source of protein, minerals, zinc and other life-enhancing nutrients.

Benefits of Nuts:

A great source of healthy fat (unsaturated fat), they are also a great source of protein but are high in calories. Try to stick to a handful of nuts a day or just a couple of bliss balls.

Brazilian nuts, almonds, cashews, pine nuts, macadamia nuts are nutritious sources of protein, amino acids and minerals. Almonds, are rich in iron, calcium and vitamin E, cashews are rich in vitamin A, and peanuts offer zinc. Walnuts, flax seeds and hemp seeds are high in omega-3 fatty acids like oily fishes, mixed up in a bliss ball = loads of goodness.

 

Peace n Love
Jeanette

Carob Cookies

Carob has become a popular chocolate substitute also known as 'healthy chocolate'.

Although it has a slightly different taste than chocolate, it has only one-third the calories, is virtually fat-free, is non allergenic, has abundant protein, and has no oxalic acid, which interferes with absorption of calcium.

Carob has excellent nutritional value. Along with up to 80% protein, it contains Magnesium, Calcium, Iron, Phosphorus, Potassium Manganese, and the vitamins A, B, B2, B3, and D.

 

Carob Cookies

 

 

1 1/2  cups plain flour
 

1/2 teaspoon baking powder

Pinch of salt

1/4 cup brown sugar (or less)

1/2 cup Rice Bran oil

1 large egg

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

3/4 cup carob pieces

1/4 cup dried cranberries

 Directions:

Preheat oven to 180

  Stir together flour, baking powder and salt. Set aside

 

 Whisk together sugar, oil, egg and vanilla.

 

Add flour mixture to oil mixture and stir just until blended.

 

Stir in the carob pieces and dried cranberries.

 

Make into small lumps and place onto baking paper and then onto a baking tray ready for the oven.

 

Bake for about 15 minutes

 

 Enjoy a cookie with a cup of tea.

 

(Cookies are a sometimes treat)

Peace n Love
Jeanette