Delicious homemade raw chocolates three ways (preservative and dairy free)

I am sorry this post comes at the tail end of Easter when, like most people today, I am trying to avoid the mountain of chocolate treats we were given over the past few days but I know that at some point in the future you will eventually seek it out again. The last few weeks I have found that every time I am at the supermarket, I end up standing there staring at shelves of foil wrapped lardy-sweetness wondering what I really want to give to people, wondering what might actually contain palm oil, and what might really be hiding under all that shiny facade.
And so it was that I did what had to be done. I called for backup. This came in the form of my extremely talented and nutritionally wise friend, Dee. She was here to enlighten me in the world of making my own chocolate using raw, organic whole foods. I thought this might take us all afternoon, but in reality it was very quick and with a very delicious end result.

For about 25 smallish chocolates you will need:

• 100gm cacao butter (this comes as a solid and is available from most health or whole food stores and online)
• 4 tbs raw cacao powder, plus extra to adjust to taste
• 3 tbs maple syrup, plus extra if needed. You could use any sweetener you prefer, Dee had advised that honey can tend to separate and sit to the bottom so just a heads up about that.
• Chocolate moulds or ice cube trays. Something silicone may be easiest to get the chocs out of at the end, so be careful if using the ice cube trays.
• Berries, nuts, coconut etc if choosing to add fillings (see below)

The process itself it very simple:

1. Chop or grate the cacao butter into small pieces (this will make it melt quicker) and melt in a glass bowl over a saucepan of boiling water. 

 

2. Remove from heat and stir in cacao powder and maple syrup, adjusting to taste.
3. Pour into moulds and place in the fridge to set.
4. Leave refrigerated until serving.

That is actually it. I know, ridiculously easy.

So, on my first solo attempt I decided I wanted a challenge, and made three types of chocolates with different, healthy fillings.
Here are some optional fillings:

• place a fresh raspberry in each mould prior to filling, and pour chocolate over the top. The raspberries go kind of oozy in the chocolate and are really yummy.

 

• place a hazelnut (or nut of choice) in the mould and add 1tsp cinnamon to the chocolate mix prior to filling moulds

• This was my favourite - I think if it as the 'cranberry bounty' and was done in layers in the mould. 
• Firstly place a 1-2 tsp chocolate mix in the bottom of each mould and place in freezer for 10 minutes to set.

• While your bases are setting, place 4 tbs cranberry flakes, 2 tbs dried cranberries, and 1 dessert spoon coconut oil (melted) in a small blender and blitz it all together.

• Remove bases from freezer and top with a layer of the coconut mix. Return to freezer for 10 minutes to set.

• Remove from freezer and top with remaining chocolate. You may need to remelt the chocolate prior to using it again, and will definitely need to give it a really good stir prior to pouring it in.

• Leave to set in the fridge.

Then just box them up, and give them out. I had visions of handing out delightful, vintage looking Eastery tins, however the fact I left this until the week of Easter, and had to work the 3 days prior to good Friday meant that all I was left with was plastic. But a little ribbon and a Pinterest printable had them looking a bit cheerier.

I am still waiting for feedback on these ones, but the verdict in our house was 'almost as good as Dee's', which I will most graciously accept.

For more clean and calm living tips from Dee, you can find her on Facebook as Deelightful Doings and see her recipes featured on The Home Journal. She is a remarkably inspiring gal so please check her out!

xx

Easy Easter Craft for Kids

It was a bleak and bleary afternoon last week and I felt Ruby and I both needed a break from 'Frozen' playing in the background of ALL our daily activities ("I need it" she tells me). So I thought a little crafternoon project was in order. With Easter fast approaching, and while Rubes was having her nap, I set about preparing a little something to get her creativity going.

We have had fun before with the old 'contact paper on the window' activity, so I thought we could give this an Easter twist. So after scouring the craft box (thankfully containing lots of goodies following Ruby's birthday). This is what we came up with.

What you'll need:
* Clear contact paper
* Coloured cardboard/ thick paper
* An assortment of items for sticking eg. sequins, feathers, bits of cut up coloured paper, felt shapes etc
* Glitter glue pens (optional)

Now, take your cardboard and draw an large egg shape on it. Then fold the card in half and mark about and inch or so inside your egg shape, and cut all around so a smaller egg comes out, but you are left with your outline.

 Measure and cut a piece of contact paper the same size as your cardboard, then remove backing and stick the card onto the contact. (I stuck the backing back over it, as we weren't using it right away and I wanted it to stay sticky). Then cut out around the line you drew earlier so you are left with an egg shape.

 Remove backing, and lay sticky side up on the table and let them stick away!

Hmmm, this requires some concentration...

When they have finished their artwork, stick it to the window so the sun catches it.

We used the glitter glue to decorate the smaller egg shape we had left over from the beginning. Not actually sure we are ready for glue yet though...

Wishing everyone a safe and happy Easter!

xx

A 2nd birthday garden party

Last weekend we had the glorious event of our 'baby' girl turning 2. Where the last 2 years have gone I am not entirely sure, but never the less this occasion called for a party. We had been away for Ruby's first birthday, so decided this year we would take the opportunity to invite some of those special people who have offered us great support, advice and friendship these past two years to help us share in the joy that is our Ruby.

Ruby loves being outside. She loves getting into the garden with her dad, and so we decided a little garden themed party would be just the thing. Thank goodness for Pinterest, and all the brilliant ideas floating about, as I doubt I could have pulled this off without it (or my amazing support crew aka my incredible family).

Being my first theme party, I was at a bit of a loss as to where to begin, but in the end it was simple. It all started with a cake... 

Now, this also being my first attempt at a cake that actually looks like something I wanted to keep it relatively easy - no piping, no shaping or cutting of cakes, and this little beauty was exactly what I needed. Thank you Australian Womens Weekly!

For the rest of the food we had spinach and feta and cheesymite pastry scrolls, homemade sausage rolls, sandwiches, sushi, chicken dippers, veggie sticks and dip, and ladybird crackers for savoury, and rice krispie bugs, sugar cookies, some amazing whole food refined sugar free sweeties from our talented friends at Dee_lightful Doings, and some sweet little ladybird and bee chocolates for decoration (all of which Ruby herself managed to comsume).

 

To set the scene we went with some cute spotty balloons and streamers in red, yellow and green inside the house, and paper pom poms in the same colours clustered outside. I bought some fake grass at our local Bunnings, and cut this to make a table runner (I am already thinking what other themes this may be of use for in future). My favourite thing of the day was the 'happy birthday' banner I made. I do not see myself as particularly creative. I can usually copy an idea, though always with variable success (see our rice krispie bugs above), however this was one occasion I actually envisioned something myself, made it, and it turned exactly as I had imagined, almost better in fact. Major win. 

To keep our wee ones amused, we had had a 'build a bug' station, where they could assemble a critter to take home from an assortment of painted egg cartons, pipe cleaners, pom poms, stick on googly eyes and wings. Printable sign courtesy of Sugar Tots Design.

 

We also had the children plant a seedling in a little terracotta pot to take home instead of a lolly bag. They may have been a little too young for this, though my nieces and nephews seemed to enjoy it, they being a little bit older. Ruby loved it too.

We were fortunate it was such a glorious day, warm and sunny and full of Autumn promise. And how do my husband and I celebrate a successful party, all cleaned up, and a sleeping toddler? A glass of bubbles in the evening sun.

Life in our world is very, very good! xx