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January 01, 2019
These sound like an unusual mix but are a delicious healthy sweet, and our last recipe for Veganuary. Vegans are a small but growing group, with numbers tripling in the last three years. But even more people are increasing their ratio of plant-only foods and meat consumption continues to decline.

Ingredients:
1 ripe avocado
4 tbsp raw cacao
2 tbsp coconut oil
2 tbsp maple syrup/honey
½ tsp vanilla extract
Hazelnuts - whole and chopped
Pinch of salt
80gms chocolate (cut into small pieces, vegan if desired)
Method:
Peel and destone the avocado, put the flesh in a food processor or blender with 3 tbsp of the cacao powder, maple syrup or honey and sea salt. Blend until smooth and creamy. In a saucepan gently melt the coconut oil and broken up pieces of chocolate, then add this to the food processor along with the vanilla extract and combine all.
Transfer the mixture to a container and place in fridge for a few hours, until firm. Once cool, scoop out bite size pieces of the mixture and roll into balls. I added a whole hazelnut to the centre of some of them, and then rolled the balls in the chopped hazelnuts or the remaining cacao powder. Put back in the fridge to firm up.
Enjoy.

Gaby Van Clarke
October 31, 2025
October 30, 2025
Water is a source of life and vitality. As we age our bodies are less able to hold water so our skin sags, our bones become brittle, our hair drier, thinner and frizzy.
October 30, 2025
Introduced by Portuguese merchants in the 16th century, and adapted over time to suit Japanese tastes, this light bouncy sponge is considered a traditional Japanese speciality. More delicate and airy than a regular sponge cake, castella ( カステラ, kasutera) is famous for a fine and moist crumb.