The key to a boys heart

They say the key to a boys heart is through food...
But unless the boy you're trying to woo is vegan then this statement is completely void.
It doesn't matter how great you think your Seitan Roast is, he's probably going to be more impressed by a beef burger.
And since I've meet no vegans in Edinburgh to woo, I've found the key to my own heart (awww).
I found this recipe on PPK, it was advertised on valentines, so I decided in the name of single-dom to wait until a week later to make it.
It's easy, quick and doesn't require a million strange ingredients that only baking obsessed people, such as my self, keep in their cupboard.
Here's the recipe from PPK
http://www.theppk.com/2012/01/raspberry-truffle-brownies/

Chocolate Truffle Brownies

4 oz unsweetened chocolate, chopped

1/2 cup raspberry fruit spread
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup unsweetened applesauce
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon almond extract (optional)

1 1/2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup frozen raspberries

Preheat oven to 170 degrees. Line an 8 inch pan with parchment paper and lightly mist with non-stick cooking spray.

Melt the chocolate in either a double boiler or the microwave. Set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, vigorously mix together the jam, sweetener, and apple sauce. Stir in the extracts and the melted chocolate.

Sift in the flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Mix very well until a stiff dough forms. Fold in the raspberries. Spread the mixture into the prepared pan. It will be very thick, you’ll probably need to use your hands to evenly spread the batter.

Bake for 16 to 18 minutes, they should still be soft and gooey. If a tester toothpick comes out clean, they’re overbaked. Remove from oven and let cool completely.

The gorgeous chocolate heart company

It's been a while since my last blog, too much good food being eaten and no time to write.
Christmas and New Years flew past in a haze of dark chocolate, vegan haggis and mulled wine. My stomach and liver is finally beginning to recover and I'm ready to break in my new kitchen and create some delicious treats.

But first I must pay tribute to my new favourite post gym treat. I've always been a sucker for truffles, which usually results in my jeans miraculously becoming smaller (I swear it's the dryer), but today in the Real Foods sale bin I discovered a yummy little ball of chocolately goodness that won't hurt the waistline... too badly.

A 'High Energy Superfood Berriball' by The Gorgeous Chocolate Heart Company.. That's actually their name, I'm not just being overly kind.
It's 60% Cocao 40% other goodies (ground almonds, cranberries, sour cherries, raisins, apricots and chia seeds) and 100% natural!
It's raw, wheat free, dairy free, SUGAR FREE, and gluten free. Plus it actually tastes good.

They've got tonnes of other flavours which I can't wait to sample (all for the blogs sake of course), take a look at their website http://chocheart.co.uk/

Gotta love a company that's dedicated to offering an alternative for chocoholics.

Little truffles made with love

If I was going to design heaven, it would be made of Booja Booja truffles.

A Norfolk based team who have been operating for the past 11 years (how have I only just heard of them??), everything they make is dairy free, vegan and organic and full of love.
They use Pacari Chocolate in Ecuador, a family owned business dedictated to the organic way and to preserving Ecuador's native Arriba Nacional cacao.

The other day I went to Real Foods supermarket to buy myself something sweet (I'm kind to myself) and I found a huge selection of Booja Booja treats.
They have so many scrumptious flavours, including my favourite 'midnight express' a heavenly expresso truffle that makes me want to sing and dance and make friends with strangers!!


Not only do Booja Booja make delicious sweet treats, they also provide beautiful messages hidden in the bottom of the box that, however unintentionally, inspired my mind to float away on a romantic daydream.


Over the next few days whenever I felt like a little truffle of happiness I had a Booja Booja. As I was about to throw away the box, a little piece of glossy card fell out of the bottom and lay face down on the ground. I picked it up and thinking it was just rubbish was just about to throw it away, when the writing caught my eye...


"Love is what we fear to do until we fall in love"

I spent the rest of the day with a smile playing across my lips.
What more could you want in a truffle?

http://www.boojabooja.com/