We moved into our newly renovated home last week. From the garage. Just a hop, skimp and jump away. It was monumental. We were indoors. We had a TV (it is pretty darned important people and it can be sorely missed when you don't have it blaring to lull you to sleep at night!). We had heating (we finally found the remote and managed to warm our fuzzies!).
We had hot running water! And a sink! (no more 7 pm dishwashing in cold water in tubs out in the darkness). We had a new kitchen and it was everything we had ever imagined it to be and more (pictures and the big reveal coming very very soon!)
It has only been about five days since our kitchen was completely installed. I made a simple vegetarian pasta the first night and a savoury hearty porridge on the second night amidst slowly unpacking and moving our stuff back in. We still have a long way to go but I am figuring out a system of working and claiming the space as my own every single day. One of the first things I did this week was bake a huge batch of my House Granola (recipe in my cookbook!) and prop it up on the generous window sill in a sturdy glass jar. Right next to a jar of home-baked cookies.
I also whipped up some super nutty, super fruit and super healthy chocolate balls for all those guilt-free snacking moments. Again propped right onto the window sill next to more home-baked goodness. These powerballs are a world apart from my goji berry powerballs in colour and texture. They are made with raw cacao powder which combined with some virgin coconut oil makes these antioxidant-rich. They are dairy-free and refined sugar-free. With just the right amount of sweetness from dates I like to roll them in cacao powder so when you first pop them in your mouth, you experience the tartness of the cacao followed by the juicy sweetness of the dried fruit. And they are just scrumptious, go on ... make them! They only take five minutes!
This is the first quick shoot in my new space. Lots of gorgeous light and creamy whites offset by concrete greys and bold blacks. I am working on setting up a little indoor herb garden and this bushy thyme is one of my favourites. Are you following me on Instagram? I am sharing instant recipes, sneaky peeks of the new kitchen and heaps of cooking tips and recipe ideas throughout the week. Have a great weekend folks!
Recipe
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ARE YOU NUTS CHOCOLATE POWERBALLS
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cup pitted dates
- 3 tablespoons cacao powder, or cocoa
- 1/2 cup almonds
- 1/4 cup pistachios
- 6 dried figs, stalks snipped
- zest of 1/2 orange
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- extra cacao powder to roll in
Instructions
- Place all ingredients except extra cacao powder in the bowl of a food processor and process until the mixture is coarsely ground and starts to come together. (I like to use a small food processor like the plastic bowl attachment that comes with stick blenders)
- Take a tablespoon of mixture in your hands and gently roll with your palms. Place caco powder in a shallow plate and quickly roll the nut balls in the cacao powder before storing in a glass jar.
- These will keep in a cool corner of your kitchen for up to a week.
Hello,
First time reader here from UK - your recipes look gorgeous and I can't wait to give them a go!
http://thelexchapter.blogspot.co.uk
They look delicious! It must be so great to be back in your own house as well. 🙂
These were really good!
woohoo new kitchen! i love these delicious balls, healthy and good for you! win!
Congratulations on the new kitchen, it must be such a pleasure to create your own space exactly how you want it. I am looking forward to seeing the pictures. Love these chocolate power balls they make a great healthy treat!
I love the look of your new kitchen... gorgeous! We renovated a few years ago... I feel your pain of washing dishes in the tub! The gratitude of finally having a completed space is overwhelming... isn't it? The powerballs are so much fun (and healthy too:) Thanks Sneh!
your photos have officially blown me away! gorgeous!!
WOW, these look delicious! Is there a decent substitute for the figs? Would dried apricots work?
Hi Kati, yes apricots would work well as would sultanas/craisins/prunes .. any dried fruit that would act as a binder 🙂
Sneh, these look CRAZY good! I have to make them this w/end. I have all the ingredients.
The orange zest - that'll take the flavour over the top.
Have a great w/end! xo
A new kitchen? That sounds awesome! (I'm a bit jealous, can you tell? 😉 )
I can't wait for all the recipes you're going to create there. Enjoy!
A new kitchen - how wonderful! I love this recipe, in the past I've kept my chocolate/nut balls in the freezer and they seem to last longer...
Congrats! Creamy whites, concrete greys, black...sounds gorgeous. And the powerballs look delicious too 🙂
Congratulations for coming in from the cold and working in your brand new kitchen. It must make you smile from ear to ear when you walk through the door. These powerballs are favourites of mine.
Absolutely no guilty snacking moments. No extra sugar, just sweetness of fruits and 'healthy' fats from nuts.
Wow! The lighting in your new kitchen is great!
The contrast is so vivid but natural; I am sure you will take many more awesome photos here
These look so delicious! Perfect for a little energy boost! 🙂
Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU for using the term "refined sugar free"! It makes the Nutritionist in me happy 🙂 Alas, I still can't eat these delicious looking morsels due to my nut allergy, but I am admiring them from afar.
I love it!!!!!!
I love chocolate truffles but these chocolate powerballs are muuuuuuch better!!!!!
Thank you for this recipe!!!!!
Love, hugs & kisses!
Federica
Mmmhh, delicious! I love to make that kind of healthy treat.
Cheers,
Rosa
Ohh delicious sneh. Will be bookmarking these to make them ASAP. Can't wait to see your new kitchen space. Exciting.