Recipe; Date PB Chocolate Truffles
Happy Friday my wild childs! This week I’m back with another tasty recipe perfect for an after dinner treat or sweet mid-afternoon snack. Using only a few wholefood ingredients, these truffles are so easy to make and a lot healthier than any pre-packed desert often full of refined sugars and sweeteners.
Whilst the basic components of these truffles are simply dates, peanut butter, nuts and chocolate, each element can be altered to suit your personal taste. For example you may choose to use a different chocolate like salted caramel or white chocolate, or maybe even mix it up with different spreads for the filling like biscoff or sprinkle with hundreds and thousands for a fun decoration alternative… the possibilities are endless!
The first step is to remove the stone from each date and fill with your spread of choice. Medjool dates are the best kind given their larger size and naturally sweet, gooey flesh. My favourite peanut butter by Pic’s works perfectly as a smooth, creamy filling with a hint of salt.
Adding a sprinkling of crushed nuts at this stage gives a little crunch to the centre of the truffles. Alternatively crushed biscuits or even a whole hazelnut would be another good addition.
Now pop the dates into the freezer whilst you melt the chocolate ready for coating. I opted for Green & Blacks 70% dark chocolate block to match the intense salted peanut flavour from the PB and simply melted this in a mug in the microwave for a few minutes.
Now comes the fun part where things tend to get a little messy too! It’s easiest to use a fork and spoon to submerge each date into the melted chocolate and lay straight onto a board ready for setting. I then got artsy by drizzling the remaining chocolate all over the finished truffles and decorated with strawberries for an aesthetic desert board.
Finally I chose to complete my truffles with a sprinkling of desiccated coconut, but yet again feel free to get creative with different toppings here. Leave them to set in the fridge and serve chilled or remove from the fridge half an hour early for an extra oozy centre. As you can see these require very little effort to make but look super impressive, especially when presented on a board with berries and extra chocolate! I’ll be enjoying mine curled up on the sofa with a glass of wine tonight 😉
I’m always reading poetry and collecting quotes as I find words and writing to be one of my favourite outlets of creation. Having a little journal by my bedside is key for capturing those unique moments of imagination and other worldly dreams which fascinate me.
After a few days break from work I already feel a new wave of inspiration and motivation as my mind, body and soul has had time to catch up with itself. Not pressuring myself to go out and do lots of things on my days off has been a blessing as I’ve had quality me time, something which I’ve neglected since going back to work.
I’ve always been a night person and feel a strong connection to the moon and the stars as they accompany me in my midnight madness… perhaps I’m a moon child, still searching this infinite galaxy for the stars within myself.
I guess in some ways it has taught me to enjoy the simple pleasures of relaxing at home and soak up this bonus time we have to spend with friends and family. It’s also been a perfect opportunity to work on self care and personal challenges or goals.
One of my achievements during lockdown has been to improve on my handstands which I’ve practiced every single day since March. I can now get up without support and hold it for at least 20 seconds or so. If I keep up this consistent routine of balancing everyday, my aim is to be able to handstand for over a minute and move my body into different yogi positions whilst doing so.
Upon reflection, there are a few positives of being unable to travel at the moment, like not having to deal with the stress of busy airports and cramped planes. Not to mention getting to avoid the suffering of post holiday blues, often accompanied by a week long hangover from all those cocktails which seem so hydrating and refreshing in the scorching sun! Instead I’m feeling healthier and fitter than ever before as I relish the fresh summer countryside air of Hampshire.
Life really has been turned upside down and like most people, this year has brought me many challenges as a result of such unpresidented events. I know I’m not the only one to have struggled with my mental health during these times, as we’ve all been forced into our bubbles of isolation and given no option but to reflect upon ourselves.
Yet it has been the resilience of human spirit from within and to each other which has got us through – and that fundamental element of our species is something not even a virus can rob us of. Whilst the world is yet to find its feet with any kind of normality, lets remember to just keep our heads up and always look at the glass as half full.
Located on the distinctive blue road at The Brentford Project, this event ooses classic American 50s charm as waiting staff on roller-skates take orders from the comfort of your car window. Guests can enjoy draft beer by The Brewery Tap, cocktails from Rye by the Water, freshly popped popcorn and even the best pizza in London (as voted by Time Out) from Santa Maria Pizzeria.
Upon arrival, each car is escorted into position in front of the big screen and fellow car fanatics can be treated to the congregation of such prestigious motors gathered in one place. This is not only a fun movie viewing experience, but a truly unique opportunity for any classic or supercar owners to showcase their motors amongst the elite car community.
We had the pleasure of pulling up front row to complete a stunning white line-up of sports cars. The McLaren GT certainly made an impression as we arrived with its roaring engine and falcon-wing opening doors. It was fun to have a walk around the array of awesome classic and supercars at the event, before getting setup with our beers, popcorn and pizza on order ready for the movie.
This evening’s screening was the another automotive classic film 2Fast 2Furious. As the moonlight twinkled at dusk casting a pinkie blue hue across the sky, everyone took their seats back behind their wheels ready for the movie to commence.
The Fast and Furious series never get old and what a spectacular and scenic setting in which to watch it again! Duke of London showrooms even brought out a number of their own range of classic cars for the event from partner RNG Classics, including a Porsche 928, Lamborghini Murcielago, Jaguar E-Type, Ferrari 308 GTSi and MGB GT.
We were in our element as we kicked back in the McLaren and devoured our delightful pizza delivered up to the car window by our very own roller-skating waitress. Supercars, a movie classic, authentic Italian pizza and beers on tap – now that’s a date night right out of a Hollywood movie!
At the start of lockdown, my room also became my office as I worked from home for a month or so. I like my desk space to be well ordered and neat for me to work most efficiently, as well as decorated with inspiring quotes and art pieces to fuel my creativity.
This gold text printed piece from Maggs London is one of my favourite quotes. For me ‘Stay Wild’ evokes a number of motivating ideas; don’t be too serious about life, trust your instincts and remember to have fun.
On the subject of quotes and words, I always have a collection of books on my bedside table which I am currently reading. I tend to dip in and out of self-help books and poetry from time to time, as well as flick through coffee table books often related to style, fashion or food.
Candles, fairy lights and flowers are another finishing touch to making my bedroom feel warm, comforting and homely. The ideal nighttime routine for me is to set the mood with twinkling fairy lights and subtly fragranced candles, before winding down with a book before bed. (Ok, I admit that I scroll through Instagram before bed also, but I am consciously trying to reduce my screen time now!)
I often light a candle whilst working at my desk too as this helps me to stay calm and present when trying to get a lot done. My diary and personalised kiki.K organiser are never far either as I always write to do lists and jot down ideas as they come to me.
Onto my wardrobe and I would be lying if I didn’t confess that I have an obsession with clothes and shoes too! Nevertheless, I have been minimising my shopping during lockdown and have taken the time to consolidate my wardrobes. I dream one day of having a much needed walk in wardrobe for all my treasured garments, but for now I’m happy with my well ordered dressing corner.
And finally, number one job I do every morning is to always make my bed, something I have done since I can remember. There’s nothing better than coming home to a freshly made bed and if you feel like you haven’t achieved much else in a day, at least you can say you made your bed :)
A little off the beaten track and quite the scramble down a steep hill, Dancing Ledge is a flat area of rock at the base of the cliff where a small rock pool forms at low tide.
With the ledge being a straight drop off point into the sea deep enough for small ships, it was previously used for the quarrying of Purbeck stone. It’s now an ideal spot for divers and fisherman as well as those seeking a picture perfect moment by the ocean.
The swimming pool carved into the rock was originally created in the early twentieth century for a local school. It now remains a beautiful spot for a dip overlooking the sea without the danger of a vicious tide. As keen photographers and always on the hunt for epic content, me and my boyfriend were in our element capturing some unique shots.
I love playing with reflections and colour, so the rock pool was an incredible canvas to play with. Using Lightroom to edit, I focused on experimenting with different colour hues and exposures to enhance my images.
Here I added more green to the mix along with golden oranges to create a vintage effect. Alternatively with the photo below, I reduced the colour temperature and opted for an overexposed, ethereal style final picture.
I’m still learning a lot when it comes to editing my photos, so I often seek inspiration from my favourite Instagram pages or Influencers whose style I like. Having good quality photos in the first place is always key too and going out to explore new places never fails to get my creative juices flowing!
Practicing and trying different methods will improve editing skills and eventually you will find a signature style. I was really happy with the outcome of the edits in which I brought out those purple colours in the sky and turned down the exposure to achieve that moody tone.
But whilst you capture your life through the lens of the camera, always remember to enjoy those moments before they become memories. And upon reflection, that’s when a photograph will say a thousand words – when you are truly happy and living in that moment ❤
In celebration of my good news, we stopped at the local pub for drinks to enjoy this beautiful summers evening from the pub garden. Of course the McLaren never fails to turn heads as we pull up and exit the car feeling like celebrities 😉
Soon enough it was Monday morning and time to get back on that work grind. It felt nice to be smartly dressed again in a crisp blue shirt paired with a suit skirt and classic court heels, a welcome change to trackie pants and leggings!
What a joy it was to be reunited with my friends and colleagues and such a relief to see that business is continuing to thrive at the Four Seasons Hotel Hampshire. I was of course exhausted by the end of the day as my mind and body aren’t used to those 8 hour shifts following extended time in Furlough. Nevertheless, I am extremely thankful for my job and lucky to be working again after such an unpredictable period worldwide.
With a lot of hairdressers in England all booked up for the next month or so, I opted for the highstreet chain Supercuts who are now only taking bookings 24 hours in advance on a first come first serve basis. I was really happy with the last cut I had there and their prices are so reasonable too – starting at £15.99 for a wash and cut.
The salon took all the necessary precautions in regards to PPE and as always the service was lovely. I had the same hairdresser as last time who was a pleasure to chat with whilst doing a fabulous job of my hair. As I don’t need any colour treatment for my naturally very blonde locks, the total cost for my cut was just £22.99, a fraction of the price a lot of professional salons would charge.
At first I thought it was a little shorter than I had envisioned as she had taken off a good 5 inches! However looking at it from the back and the side, it has so much more shape and volume now and it’s so much easier to style. She added some choppy layers all through the back and also shaped the front around my face which I’m loving.
I’ve never had so many compliments after a haircut and I’m enjoying having a play around with the different up-dos I can create now too. With my hair being on the thinner side, shorter styles have always given it more volume and also suits my heart shaped face.
I couldn’t wait to show off my fresh chop this weekend as we hit the pub and even went for our first meal out since restaurants re-opened. If you’re in need of a haircut ASAP post lockdown, I would highly recommend Supercuts given their efficient, cheap service which doesn’t compromise on quality.
Despite my frustration of not working and being unable to indulge in my usual social activities, I’ve made the most of this time to work on some personal projects which have lead me to rediscover my creativity and imagination.
The other week me and my boyfriend ventured out to another awesome shoot location, this time heading into London at night to get the full city in lockdown experience. With deserted streets and nowhere open in the centre of town, it was super eerie and surreal to see the bustling city of London now a ghost town.
After getting a little lost around Canary Wharf, we finally reached this futuristic bridge located at One Canada Square underground station. It was the perfect moment to capture some epic shots as we had the entire place to ourselves.
Looking down the symmetrical lines of the tunnel echoed that view through the arches at Ouse Valley Viaduct bridge which we visited last month. In contrast to the viaduct, this modern walkway situated in the urban jungle of London, felt like we had left planet earth and were in some sort of a spaceship. It was a unique opportunity during lockdown to see the city of London so quiet and serene.
As nature flourishes and we as humans take a break from our usual busy lives, its significant to note how hectic our pre-covid lifestyles were. The compassion and kindness which has come to light during this time is also overwhelming and proves our resilience as human beings. So as we plummet back towards our ‘normal’ way of life, lets remember how this time in isolation brought us together and proved that not everyday has to be go, go ,go!
The set also came with a handy recipe guide full of useful tips and tricks for making the most of this versatile machine. I was excited to learn you can even make cocktails with it! Anyway, here are some of my own creations for some healthy food inspo.
Starting with the most basic of recipes I have tried so far, I decided to make my own almond butter from scratch. The principle is simple: roast a bag of plain unsalted almonds, pour into the processor and blend until a nut butter consistency is formed.
Now this does take some time and patience, so I would allow about 10-15 minutes of processing and every so often opening the cup to combine all of the almonds. It’s very satisfying when the butter does finally come together and seeing the consistency progress until a super creamy almond butter is formed.
You can see from this series of photos as the texture changed – the more you blend it, the more creamy and smooth it becomes. It is however important to note that the Magic Bullet did seem to get very hot during this whole process, so do make sure to take regular breaks for it to cool down.
I was surprised at how well this turned out and the amount it made from just 200 grams of almonds. You can of course try this method to make any kind of nut butter and perhaps experiment adding some flavourings such as salt or honey to enhance the taste. This is such a pure and wholesome home made alternative to store brought nut butters, which often come packed with unnecessary sugars and oils.
My next recipe is another simple 3 ingredient store cupboard staple useful for breakfasts or a sweet snack anytime of day. Rawnola is a stripped back healthy take on granola using only dates, oats and coconut. For a single serve I just used 2 medjool dates, half a cup of rolled oats and a quarter of a cup of desiccated coconut.
Blitz the dates a few times before adding the other ingredients, then just a few more 10 second pulses and the rawnola is formed. Be careful not to over blend it though as it will become too dusty, whereas the desired consistency is little clusters like a granola. Believe it or not, this actually tastes like cookie dough!
The original creator of this recipe, Loni Jane, became an Instagram sensation with her creation back in 2012 and ever since people have gone mad for this nutritious delicious snack. Whilst I enjoy using rawnola in a cereal bowl soaked in coconut milk and topped with plenty of fruit, the possibilities don’t end there. Try rolling the mixture into bliss balls, enjoy sprinkled on top of smoothie bowls, bake in the oven for a crunch or even add chocolate for an extra sweet treat.
Rawnola can be made in single batches as I have done here, or alternatively multiply the ingredients to make a larger batch which can be stored in a jar for up to a week in the fridge. No additives, no preservatives or artificial flavours, just a pure wholesome snack which will have you reaching for more!
With summer heating up here in England, my go-to recipe with the Magic Bullet has definitely been smoothie bowls. There are numerous combinations and flavours to try with smoothies and with just a few simple tips, you’re sure to have a super thick bowlful every time. Frozen banana, ice cubes and of course the work of the Magic Bullet will provide you with the basis for a perfect consistency whatever combo you opt for.
Frozen fruits are preferable and I’ve even tried adding a little bit of frozen cauliflower to fluff up my smoothies, which actually worked really well and added volume to my bowl. Serve in a coconut for those tropical aesthetic vibes and don’t skimp on those toppings, particularly the rawnola!
Finally, moving onto a savoury recipe, I decided to make a roasted butternut squash and carrot puree. This is another useful one for meal prep, as the mixture can be stored in a jar and kept in the fridge for a ready made sauce or even just a dip.
Once again this is a super simple process using minimal ingredients. For 1 jar full, cut about half of a butternut squash and 1 carrot for roasting. Bake for around 20 minutes, then place in the food processor along with garlic powder, salt, pepper, nutritional yeast, lemon juice and a dash of almond milk. Begin to blend and gradually add a little water to loosen the mixture until a thick puree is formed. Taste and adjust seasoning as required, perhaps adding more nutritional yeast if you would like a cheesy sauce.
I used a tablespoon of this batch straight away for a creamy pasta and stored the rest in a jar for the week. Again, I would encourage you to get creative with this idea as you could use many other combinations of vegetables and seasonings, such as sweet potato and chipotle or cauliflower and cheese.
Upon review of the Magic Bullet, I am extremely impressed with the diversity of ways in which you can utilise it’s functions. Having one small and compact device which blends, mixes and processes food all in one makes food prep quick, easy and fuss free. I can’t wait to try some of the suggested recipes in the booklet and I know those handy on the go lids will come in useful when I finally return to work.
Dani Aneka 