Fig, almond and cacao balls

3/4 cup almond meal
3 soft dried figs (or alternatively, 3 soaked hard dried figs)
1 tbsp melted coconut oil
1 tsp raw honey
1 tbsp raw cacao powder
1 tbsp shredded coconut (plus a little more for coating)
1 heaped tsp all-natural peanut butter (I used crunchy)
pinch of cinnamon
a few drops of natural vanilla essence

Whizz all ingredients together in a food processor.

Using your hands, roll into balls then coat in coconut.

Das it!

Enjoy with your fave hot bevy.

Sweet and HEALTHY! 

sweet potato brownie bites – the perfect little treat to curb your sweet tooth

Gluten-free
Refined sugar-free
Dairy-free
Vegan
and no baking required!

1 large sweet potato (I used the orange variety)
6 medijool dates (pitted)
4 tbsp raw cacao powder
3 heaped tsp raw honey or pure maple syrup
1 cup ground nuts of choice (I used almond)

You’re going to laugh at this but this morning I Googled ‘how to cook a potato in the microwave’ and applied the instructions to my kumara (what us NZers call sweet potatoes). My sister glanced at the computer screen while I was googling and fell into a giggling frenzy exclaiming: “ha ha ha said the girl with the food blog”. To which I replied: “I have no shame bitch” Minus the bitch, I just thought that part – sorry sis if you’re reading this, which you most probably are… as it seems these days, my only followers/likes on Facebook are my sister and my mum! Nevertheless, my “developing” (an optimistic word/view to make myself feel better) culinary skills have produced these epic brownie balls/truffles/bites whatever you like to call them, deliciousness.

As per Google’s instructions (sorry Einstein next time I shall use my own brain – whatever that means in this day and age?):

Scrub the potato, and prick several time with the tines of a fork. Place on a plate.

Cook on full power in the microwave for 5 minutes then turn over, and continue to cook for 5 more minutes.

Scoop out the insides of the sweet potato and place in the food processor alongside the remaining ingredients

Whizz for a few minutes or until mixture starts to come together like a dough.

Using your hands, roll into balls.

To finish, coat in raw cacao powder.

Refrigerate before consumption or nom nom straightaway if you just can’t wait.

Chocolate and Pistachio Balls

1 cup shelled raw pistachio nuts
1/4 cup raw cacao powder
1/2 cup pitted prunes
1 tsp honey
1 tsp water

In a food processor, process the pistachio nuts in to a dense flour. Take out just under a 1/4 cup and leave aside for coating.

Add the cacao, prunes, honey and water to the pistachio nuts in the food processor and mix until a dough-like mixture is formed.

Using your hands, roll mixture into small balls.

To finish, coat balls with the extra ground pistachio.

Enjoy!

CAUTION: may attract mob of ravenous old folk.