Date & Puffed Quinoa Balls (GF)

We all have that one friend or relative that has everything so what do you give them for their birthday? My sister is just like that and she appreciates the food gifts I give her but she’s always on some kind of special diet. I thought it was gluten free this time so decided to make these Date & Puffed Quinoa Balls.

I always like to use what I have on hand so had plenty of dates, macadamia nuts and a box of puffed quinoa (which is easy enough to make yourself). Finely dice or blitz the dates and macadamia nuts.

Add the puffed quinoa, peanut butter (or any kind of nut better) and honey.

Mix together until the mixture is firm enough to form into a ball shape. If it’s too dry, add more honey. If it’s too wet, add more puffed quinoa.

Form into balls and enjoy. It’s that easy. You could add anything you else you wanted too. Things like chocolate chips, other dried fruit and other http://www.mudboggerforum.com/profile/4837061 nuts. Also, if you don’t have puffed quinoa, you could use puffed rice breakfast cereal.

I used the lid off a box I had, put the balls inside and wrapped in clear cellophane. You want to know something funny? When I handed them to my sister, she informed me that she was no carbs! Oh well. They came home with me and were enjoyed by the family. A great addition to any lunchbox or a quick pick-me-up snack.

DATE & PUFFED QUINOA BALLS (Gluten Free)

•  1 cup dates, finely diced or blitzed
• 1 cup puffed quinoa (or puffed rice breakfast cereal)
• 1/2 cup macadamia nuts, finely diced or blitzed
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1/2 cup peanut butter

1. Combine the finely diced dates, macadamia nuts and quinoa.
2. Add the honey and peanut butter.
3. With wet hands, roll tablespoons of the mixture into a ball.
4. If the mixture is too dry, add more honey. If it’s too wet, add more puffed quinoa.
5. Refrigerate until required.

Easy Sticky Date Pudding with Caramel Sauce

Sunday nights are usually easy dinner nights and tonight was no exception. A Ceasar Salad sandwich followed by Sticky Date Pudding with Caramel Sauce. I can’t even remember if I’ve ever made a Sticky Date Pudding. Plenty of cakes and muffins with dates but not ever a pudding. The Sticky Date made a huge comeback there a couple years ago, appearing on menus everywhere but it wasn’t something that I usually went for. This recipe is from my Country Women’s Association (CWA) Cookbook “Country Classics” and it’s as easy as to throw together at the last minute.

Easy Sticky Date Pudding with Caramel Sauce

1 cup chopped dates
1.1/4 cups water
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
60g butter
3/4 cup caster sugar
1/4 tsp vanilla
2 eggs
1 cup self raising flour

Sauce:
1 cup soft brown sugar
125g butter
150ml cream
1/2 tsp vanilla

1. Preheat oven to 180 deg C and grease an ovenproof pan or dish.
2. Cook dates in water, until combined.
3. Beat in remaining ingredients and mix well.
4. Pour into prepared tin and bake for 25 mins or until cooked.
5. For sauce, combine all ingredients in a saucepan and boil for 5 minutes.
6. Pour over pudding to serve. Serve with cream or ice cream.

 

Nanna's Walnut & Date Slice

This is another one of my favourites from my Nanna's handwritten recipe book she gave me. It brings back so many lovely memories of morning and afternoon teas at her place. There was also another reason why I baked this today. I'm entering myself into a cooking competition, hosted by the Danish butter company "Lurpak". You have to cook a recipe and upload the photo onto their website for a chance to go into a draw for $1,500. I've never really won anything and I do love to bake. I thought there's no harm in trying. If you'd like to vote me, you can do so by clicking here. I think you're only able to vote once per day. The competition closes on the 17th of July so you have until then to vote. I appreciate it so much if you have.

I love the fact that this recipe is so badly stained. I wonder how many times Nanna referred to it over the years? It make me feel like I'm capturing a moment of time in her life when I look it, like I was there when she was busily making it. Best thing about this recipe is that it's just a quick mix recipe and baked in 20 minutes and you're done. It's so tasty too.

Nanna's Walnut & Date Slice

1.1/4 cups Self Raising flour
2/3 cups sugar
3/4 cups chopped dates
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
125gm butter, melted
1 egg

Combine all ingredients and press into a slice tin (28x18cm approx) and bake in a 180 deg C oven (or 160 deg C oven if fan forced) for approx 15 to 20 minutes or until golden brown. Cut into squares when cool.

Thanks Nanna for another lovely recipe! In your honour, I set the table up outside with one of your lovely tableclothes, your bone china tea cup, saucer and plate and enjoyed a piece of the slice and a cuppa in the sunshine (as well as trying to take a half decent photo for the competition - I feel so stupid 'staging' photos sometimes).