Raw Chocolate Dipped Strawberries

This is my raw, dairy free, sugar free Easter Treat!!

50g raw cacao butter
50g raw cacao powder
50g agave nectar or honey or a mixture
pinch of good quality salt
1/2 to 1 tsp vanilla extract
16-20 medium to large strawberries, pre washed, dried and refrigerated 

To make the raw chocolate melt 50g of cacao butter on 37 degrees. The time will depend on how big your chunks of butter are as you buy it hard.

Stir through raw cacao powder,  agave/honey,  salt and vanilla extract  on speed 2

Pour mixture into a ceramic bowl and dip prepared and cold strawberries from the fridge into the chocolate. They will set quickly at room temp ready to eat straight away!!

Messy but fun licking the bowl!!

If you can't get the ingredients to make the raw choccy from scratch then melt a pre-bought a raw chocolate bar or regular dark chocolate.

You can order raw cacao butter and powder, and agave nectar from Loving Earth at http://www.raw-chocolate.net or a good health food store should stock it.

Agave nectar is from the agave cactus plant and is a low GI, high mineral alternative to sugar or honey. Loving Earth agave is raw, sustainably harvested and organic. Some on the are heat treated and cut with high fructose corn syrup, so don't buy cheap alternatives from the supermarket.

Vegetarian Mexican Chill Beans

This is an all time fave meal and I have mastered the Thermomix conversion!

 

Ingredients

1 large carrot roughly chopped

1 large onion, peeled and quartered

2 garlic cloves peeled

1 green & 1 red capsicum de-seeded and quartered 

30g olive oil

1 tin of tomatoes

1 tsp ground cumin

1 tsp ground coriander

1/2 tsp turmeric

2 tsp chilli flakes or 2 whole chillies

2 tins of drained/rinsed beans or 500g cooked beans e.g red kidney, butter, borlotti etc

Salt or tamari to taste

1 tsp honey/sugar

Method

Add garlic and carrot to TM bowl and chop speed 5 for 4-5 secs

Add onion and capsicums and chop on speed 4 till chopped into small pieces (approx 1/2cm), you may need spatula to assist

Add olive oil and spices and saute 100 degrees for 10mins on reverse speed 1

Add tomatoes and cook for 15 mins 90 degrees reverse speed 1

Add beans, sugar/honey and a little salt/tamari and cook 5 mins 90 degrees reverse speed 1

Check seasoning and add more salt if needed

Serve with finely chopped green salad and tacos warmed in the oven

Optional extras include grated cheese, guacamole and sour cream