Once upon a time, kids parties meant a few honey joys, chocolate crackles and maybe some jelly filled orange skins, if you were lucky. From what I’m told, things were simple back then. In an age where visual social mediums are saturated with images of kids party decor, towering sugar coated cupcakes and rainbow layer cakes, it’s no wonder even the most unaffected parents are feeling the pinch. And in an adult world where the words, ‘I Quit Sugar’ have become common place, how come so many kids parties look like a candy store just exploded? A juxtaposition of sorts, which begs the question, how do we strip things back, take the pressure off and simplify? And if we fail to do this, do we risk losing the essence of what kids parties are all about?

In an effort to keep this year striped back to basics, I decided to try my hand with some old school favourites, none other than chocolate crackles. To make a healthier, more wholesome version, I used coconut sugar and raw honey to sweeten, organic brown rice bubbles as the base and coconut oil to hold it all together. Keeping it clean need not mean going without, complete with sprinkles and edible glitter, these delicious little treats resulted in some pretty satisfied little chocolate covered faces.  With only a handful of ingredients, not only are they easy to pull together, but there’s something to be said about being able sit back at your own kid’s party, rest assured that the food being served is actually nourishing their little souls.

Nourishing Chocolate Crackles

Ingredients
(Makes approximately 12)
3.5 cups brown rice bubbles
4tbs coconut oil
1/4 cup raw cocoa
4tbs raw honey
2tbs coconut sugar
Sprinkles
Edible Glitter

Directions
1. Lay out 12 cupcake liners on a plate ready to go. In a large pot over low heat, heat the coconut oil, just as it’s melting add the cocoa, coconut sugar and honey. Gently stir mixture until the coconut has melted and blended to form a smooth paste. Remove from the heat, careful not to burn.
2. Add the brown rice bubble as mix together gently but rapidly. Fill paper cups immediately and then allow to cool. Transfer to the fridge and store in an air tight container.

 

 

 

They say the higher your vibration, the greater your manifestations. Writing for the ever inspiring Your Zen LIfe, was one of those manifestations. In 5 Tips to Naturally Beautiful Skin, the age old saying, you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone, couldn’t be more poignant. If you’ve ever found yourself fixated with a tiny blemish, a fine line or a wrinkle here and there, head on over to Your Zen Life for the full Article. Plus, my recipe for Almond Butter & Dark Chocolate Beauty Balls, the perfect antidote to late night chocolate cravings, incorporating key ingredients for beautiful, radiant skin.

 

 

 

Just in case you’re looking to fill your kids lunch boxes up with some super healthy, home made chocolate goodness, that just so happens to be refined sugar free, dairy free, gluten free and even potentially nut free (should you omit the 1tbs of nut butter), then please check out the recipe I wrote for the gorgeous, brand new My Super Nanny Website. And, if for that matter, you just so happen to be in the market for some melt-in-the-mouth-deliciousness to satisfy your own late night chocolate cravings, these Choc Coconut truffles work their magic equally well on big kids too xx

 

 

 

Once upon a time, Passover bought with it a whole wave of perpetual panic. 10 days without bread or pasta seemed almost unthinkable. The world of healthy eating has changed since then. Call it the Gluten Free, Paleo, Raw Food or Real Food Revolution, but grain free recipes are a familiar site these days, cleverly using nuts, seeds, pulses or alternative grains to fulfil and nourish. Now, don’t get me wrong, I still love my carbs and will miss some of them very much over Passover. But these days, the choices are so much more diverse. When it comes to healthy, bread-free eating, our repertoire has become far more wide reaching. In turn, Passover has become somewhat of a walk in the park. For those of you I have completely bamboozled, I should add, the lengths to which one keeps Passover, vary greatly from one individual to the next. None the less, whichever way you roll, this recipe promises to satisfy sweet and salty cravings all the way from Paleo to Passover.

Coconut & Caramel Truffles
Recipe by Shelley Kamil

Ingredients
1 cup Medjool dates, halved and pitted
1.25 cups unsweetened desiccated coconut
½ cup LSA
1tbs Maca Powder
2tbs almond butter
1tbs coconut sugar
¼ cup coconut milk (from a carton)
Pinch of Pink Himalayan Sea Salt
Extra coconut for rolling
Linseeds for rolling

Directions
1. Place all ingredients in a high power blender. Blend for 1-2 minutes or until a rough dough like mixture forms.
2. Roll mixture into small balls, then alternate rolling each ball in either coconut or linseeds.
3. Transfer to an air tight container and store in the fridge for 5-7 days.