Friday 21 October 2016

Chocolate tahini maca bliss balls

This is not a Halloween post.  However Sylvia is skipping with joy at the thought of Halloween so we have lots of Halloween food props and ideas and plans.  (Though I have said no to trick or treat.)  I am still trying to think what would be the best way to use some candy eyes I have saved from Christmas in July.  Today I made these bliss balls and thought that you could do far worse than to make healthy recipes like this and put some eyes on them for Halloween treats.

But honestly I don't want to talk about Halloween.  I just want to post some good food.  Life is busy with Vegan MoFo preparation (sign up deadline is today), school fete preparation (am going to make grubs after work tonight),  my neighbour asking me who are the candidates in the local elections (thanks Catherine), a busy week with only one night where I am not heading out, birthday celebrations, and other stuff I can't even remember.  Above is a photo of the mac and cheese I made last night.  Perhaps I should call it a Mac and Cheese bowl.  So good.  But it was a dairy one that wont make it into November when my blog goes vegan for Vegan MoFo.

This photo also wont make it into my vegan month of November.  It was a very good afternoon tea birthday spread for my dad recently.  My mum did an amazing job of it.  I loved the guiness chocolate cake and the scones with jam and cream.  I will be telling you about my latest version of vegan sausage rolls.

I haven't done much of my own baking lately.  Yes, I have been trying to eat healthily.  Doing my best but could do better.  However, even if this was not the case, I still have baking the freezer and little time to bake.  Today I just wanted to make these bliss balls.  The combination of tahini and chocolate reminded me a bit of some favourite recipes.

It also seemed a good opportunity to use up some of the maca powder.  Apparently all its powerhouse of nutritional benefits is more potent when uncooked.  I am still a bit scared of the powder after the packet says not to eat too much at first but they say it makes you feel good and I could do with some of that feeling right now.  I am not that sure how much influence the maca is having but I can tell you that they taste great and that makes me happy.

And did I mention that they are nut free which is great for school snacks (if your kids aren't too fussy.)  I found them rather sweet and enjoyed them more when rolled in cocoa.

I took the above photo of some blossoms in Brunswick yesterday.  Look at that blue sky.  It was a wonderful warm spring day.  Today the sky is blue and tomorrow, the day of the school fete, is forecast to be cold, windy and wet with a chance of hail and thunderstorms.  Wish us luck and I will tell you about the jam I made for the fete soon!

I am sending these to Gluten Free Fridays, Healthy Vegan Fridays, We Should Cocoa and Treat Petite

More bliss balls on Green Gourmet Giraffe:
Almond, date and cranberry truffles (gf, v)
Almond energy snacks (v)
Chocolate bliss balls with banana and oats (v)
Cocoa bites (gf, v)
Coconut almond balls (gf, v)
Wattleseed cashew truffles (gf, v)

Chocolate tahini maca bliss balls
Adapted from Wholefood Simply via goodfood.com.au
Makes 20-24

1/2 cup hulled tahini
1/4 cup maple syrup
2 tbsp rice malt syrup
2 tbsp maca powder
2 tablespoons cocoa
Pinch of salt
1 cup desiccated coconut
extra 1/4 cup cocoa, for coating

Mix tahini, maple syrup, rice malt syrup, maca powder, cocoa and salt to make a paste.  Mix in coconut.  Roll into walnut sized balls and coat in cocoa powder.

On the Stereo:
Amsterdamned: Tom Waits

21 comments:

  1. Love the idea of using little props with your regular food to make it Halloween-ish! I'm obsessed with Halloween myself but that's because I still think of myself as a kid (which as actually long past by decades).

    Can't wait to see what you have in store for MoFo!

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    1. Thanks Mary Ellen - I am not obsessed with halloween - but I live with a small child who loves anything halloween (and a big child who loves it too come to think of it) so I can't avoid it

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  2. I have never heard of maca powder but these bliss balls sound fantastic.

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    1. Thanks Cakelaw - I bought the maca in woollies on a whim and haven't used it much - it is meant to have lots of nutrients and be a bit malty

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  3. So glad my write-up helped, and it was great to see you today! Best school fete ever, despite the terrible weather...

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    1. Thanks Catherine - glad you enjoyed the fete - the cake stall was pretty impressive!

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  4. A mac and cheese bowl sounds like more my kind of meal than the traditional type! Your plate looks very colourful and interesting. These bliss balls also look interesting and sound delicious - eyes and all.

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    1. Thanks Kari - I find just eating macaroni cheese a bit stodgy but really liked it served that way - I have been calling my bliss balls, "eye balls" which amuses me

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  5. Love these chocolate tahini bliss balls. How fun..even if it's not a Halloween post..I think I'll make them for Halloween! Thanks.

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    1. Thanks Janet - hope you enjoy them for halloween - am sure they would go down a treat

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  6. "This is not a Halloween post." And yet you made cute bliss balls with eyes ;p
    "I haven't done much of my own baking lately. Yes, I have been trying to eat healthily. Doing my best but could do better. " Ugh. I need to work better on that. Halloween kind of threw me off. I need to make some healthier treats like these to enjoy =)
    You'll be fine with the maca - it's great stuff! I've been using it for a few years now. I honestly find it gives me better energy when I need it. I put it in my smoothies and oatmeal bowls (and date balls of course). It's not something you can really taste even.
    Thanks for sharing at Healthy Vegan Fridays! I'm pinning & sharing. Hope you're enjoying your weekend Johanna!

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    1. Thanks Kimmy - Halloween is not good for eating well - the store is full of lollies/candy and so many fun treats to make. Thanks for your maca reassurance - I don't think it has made me spin out of control but I still need more energy - ha ha! I must make more effort to use mine more

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  7. Yummy! I'd not thought of adding tahini to my bliss balls (sesame seeds yes but not tahini). Thanks for sharing at Healthy Vegan Fridays. Oh, and make sure you take some time out to rest once in a while, your life sounds very busy! :)

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    1. Thanks Life Diet Health - I am a bit hit and miss with tahini (haven't been swayed by tahini caramel) but this really works well for me. And thanks for the suggestion to rest - I keep thinking quieter days are ahead but they just never come

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  8. Ha! well Sylvia can join us where we love Halloween. I don't know why you dislike it so much Johanna and are so negative about it when it's just a fun time for people.

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    1. Thanks Lorraine - Sylvia (and E) would love your Halloween celebrations as would I. I am not down on Halloween per se but I hate all the trick and treating and shops trying to sell even more lollies than usual under the name of Halloween. I didn't mean the start of the post to mean I don't like Halloween, just to say that I put some eyes on the bliss balls but did not mean them to be Halloween treats (I was having a bit of a laugh at myself about using the eyes!) I can assure you that there are some Halloween treats in the pipeline so stay tuned

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  9. Excellent to hear you're doing mofo this year - I do love getting the chance to binge on my favourite blogs. I like the look of the maca balls too! Can't wait to see what you're making for Halloween too.

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  10. They are so cute Johanna. I love that they only have one little eye..... Can I adopt one please????

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  11. These are adorable!!! I love it. I've also wanted to sign up for Vegan MoFo- next year I'm going to try to prep for it. Thanks so much for sharing this!

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  12. What a yummy and healthy treat! Thanks for linking up with #TreatPetite

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  13. I just adore these little one-eyed monster balls. They look super cute and I bet they taste gorgeous. It reminds me of chocolate halva that used to be such a treat. I find it far too sweet these days, but I think I could cope with one or two of your non-Halloween treats! I'm loving the look of your mac n cheese bowl too - it looks so vibrant ant tasty.

    Good luck with Vegan MoFo and thanks for joining in with We Should Cocoa.

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