Desserts, RECIPES

Homemade Chocolates

These are great as a gift or simply as a treat for yourself or your family

Ingredients

  • 1 cup chopped cocoa butter
  • 5 tbsp maple syrup
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract 
  • 1 pinch sea salt 
  • Rose petals & corse sea salt for topping

Instructions

  • Add water to a large saucepan and bring to a boil. Then set a medium glass or metal mixing bowl on top, making sure it’s not touching the water (this creates a “double boiler/bain Marie”).
  • To the mixing bowl, add cocoa butter and let melt.
  • Once melted, add the maple syrup and use a whisk to mix until fluid and thoroughly combined. Remove bowl from top of the saucepan and set aside.
  • Add cocoa powder, vanilla, and sea salt to the bowl, and whisk to combine until there are no clumps.
  • Pour chocolate into 14 mini (I used mini quiche molds) but you may also use chocolate molds or other. Top the chocolates with rose petals and corse sea salt or any topping of your choice, get creative !
  • Transfer chocolate to the freezer to set for 10 minutes. Enjoy !
  • Store leftovers in a sealed container in the refrigerator for 1 week, or in the freezer up to 1 month.

Made with Love

Peas and Peace

HEALTH

Follow your dreams !!!

I am 57 years old, and I am here to dispel the notion that being a certain age restricts you in terms of the activities you can do. I am a firm believer in the notion that age is but a number, it is all in how you feel on the inside. I would like to illustrate this via my love of ballet.

From a young age, I have been fascinated with the dance world, and the innovative ways in which it marries music, movement, and expression. I Took ballet classes in my teens, but life caught up with me, and I eventually resorted to simply spectating at performances here and there, nothing more. However, as time went on, I could no longer fight the urge to revisit it for myself. There was one small thing holding me back in my mind. If I were to go back, and start from the beginning, I would be placed in a class with young children, and would need to keep up with them, and the fear of old knee and other injuries flaring as well. Still, despite all of these apparent concerns, something compelled me to enroll myself.

This is a photo of me at my midterm recital, as you can attest, my fifth positon is not perfect and I need to work on and improve many movements and steps. Regardless, I made it! I attend two hour classes twice a week and can keep up with my much much younger class mates. My passion for the art of ballet inspired me to push my limits, stay fit, practice the sequences, and better myself with each and every class.

Somewhere, I am hoping that I could maybe also be an inspiration to a parent or grand parent, anyone really to follow their passion or dream. This goes to show that no matter how old you are, you can do anything you set your mind to, it’s never too late! If there’s something you’ve always wanted to do, find out the necessary steps, and work towards your goal.

Desserts, RECIPES

No Bake, Double Chocolate & Peanut Butter Treats

INGREDIENTS

  • 3/4 cup smooth peanut butter
  • 5 tbsp maple syrup
  • 2 tbsp melted coconut oil
  • 1/4 cup oat flour
  • 1/4 cup cacao powder
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • Pinch sea salt
  • 1/4 cup vegan chocolate chips
  • 1/4 cup cacao nibs

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. In a bowl, whisk the peanut butter, melted coconut oil, maple syrup, vanilla extract and sea salt together until fully combined.
  2. Stir in the cocoa powder and oat flour until a thick mixture forms.
  3. Mix in the chocolate chips and cacao nibs.
  4. With a medium size scooper (*Makes 12), form round shapes and place on a lined tray. Sprinkle on some cacao nibs and more chocolate chips (optional) and place in the freezer for 30 minutes until set.
  5. Store in the fridge and enjoy !
RECIPES, Soups

Matzo Ball Soup

*Makes 12 Balls

Ingredients for the Matzo Balls

1 cup matzo meal
1/4 cup chickpea flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup soya milk
1/4 cup canola oil

Ingredients for the Soup

1 tablespoon of olive oil
2 medium carrots, diced
3 garlic cloves, minced
6 cups vegetable broth
1/4 cup chopped fresh dill
Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

To make the matzo balls, stir all dry ingredients together in a bowl. Stir in the milk and oil until thoroughly mixed.

Cover the bowl and chill the mixture for at least 30 minutes, while you begin the soup.

To make the soup, coat the bottom of a large pot with olive oil and place it over medium heat. Add the carrot and sauté for 5 minutes, until the carrots just begin to soften.

Add the garlic and continue to sauté for another minute.

Stir in the broth. Raise the heat and bring the broth to a boil. Lower the heat to a simmer.

Shape the matzo mix into 1 inch balls, pressing the mixture firmly together. Carefully drop each ball into the soup right after forming it.

Allow the soup to cook, uncovered, at a low simmer, for 45 minutes. Do not stir.

When the soup is finished cooking, remove it from the heat and season with salt and pepper to taste. Carefully stir in the dill.

Ladle into bowls and serve.

Desserts, RECIPES

No Bake Date Squares

Ingredients:

Crust
1 1/2 cups raw almonds
1 1/2 regular oats
10 pitted & roughly chopped dates
1/4 cup melted coconut oil

Filling
25 pitted & roughly chopped dates
1/2 cup of water

Directions:

1. Line a 8 inch by 8 inch square pan with parchment paper. In a food processor, process the almond and oats until a fine crumble forms. Now add in the dates and process until crumbly again. Add melted coconut oil to the mixture and process until sticky. Remove from processor, set aside 3/4 of the mixture for later and press the rest of the mixture very firmly and evenly into the pan.

2. Grab your pitted and roughly chopped dates and water and process in a food processor until a paste forms. You will have to stop and scrape down the sides of the bowl often. You can add a tiny bit more water if needed, but you want the paste quite thick. Scoop out the date mixture onto the crust and spread evenly.

3. Sprinkle on top the 3/4 cup of mixture you set aside and press down. Refrigerate in the fridge until firm (At least 1 hour).

Cut into squares and serve.

Store in the fridge.

RECIPES

Make Your Own Chai Mix

I Love Chai tea, bake with Chai, add it to smoothies and overnight soaked oats. Store bought mixes cost quite a bit, therefore I make my own !!! this recipe is strong in flavour and has bite. I am certain you will enjoy it

INGREDIENTS

  • 2 teaspoons ground cardamom
  • 2 teaspoons ground allspice
  • 2 teaspoons ground nutmeg
  • 4 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 2 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 6 teaspoons ground ginger

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Mix all ingredients together.

That simple !!!

Cristina for Peas and Peace

TRAVELS

Traveling with Peas & Peace

Jerusalem Israel at the Machane Yehuda Market

Mains, RECIPES

Stir Fry

Stir Fry is a simple meal to prepare and filled with nutrition. Always Think of putting premium fuel into your body. Nutrients that will keep your body and mind going strong throughout the day and keep you healthy and sound through life !

Sautée all of the following ingredients; Sunflower oil, garlic, sambal oelek for kick (found in all grocery stores), snow peas, yellow bell peppers, carrots, shitake mushrooms. At the very end add tamari sauce and mix well. Top with shallots and raw sesame seeds.

You can certainly change it up and add your favorite vegetables. You may also add, cashews or peanuts, even tofu !

Enjoy !

Cristina for Peas & Peace

Desserts, RECIPES

Matcha Treats !

Ingredients:

1 cup coconut cream
1/2 cup of tahini
3 tbsp of maple syrup
1/3 cup of melted coconut oil
3 tsp of matcha (Buy the culinary matcha for beverages and baking)

Blend the above 5 ingredients until creamy

Pour into a lined loaf tin and place in the freezer to set for 4 hours.

Topping: 100 gr of 56 % baking chocolate

Remove the matcha blend from freezer and pour the melted chocolate over entire surface. Let it set in the fridge for another hour.

Cut into little squares or rectangles and enjoy !!!

Cristina for Peas & Peace


Desserts, RECIPES

No bake coffee & cashew mousse cake

CRUST

200 gr almonds
30 gr shredded coconut
20 pitted dates

FILLING

400 gr soaked cashews (up to 12 hours) *Note 200 gr when dry
160 gr oat milk
160 gr maple syrup
1 tbsp cacao powder
2 shots of espresso

Add almonds & shredded coconut into a food processor and pulse until fine texture, add the dates and mix again.

Press the crust into an 8 inch springform pan and set aside.

Drain and wash the cashews and blend well along with the other filling ingredients. Pour the filling into the cake pan and freeze for 6 hours or overnight.

Decorate with your favorite toppings, could be a chocolate drizzle, berries, crushed roasted cashews or simply as is

Keep cake in the freezer, remove 15 minutes before serving

Delicious !

Cristina for Peas & Peace