Back in the kitchen! Healthy jaffa bombs

Truth be told, we never really left the kitchen, but our blogging and eating out was temporarily put on the Miele back-burner because we launched our new Bondi Junction Village Markets in Sydney and all our energies were focused on launching 3 consecutive weekly markets.

What a ride it has been.  However, this post isn't about our Sydney market journey, its back to what we love most: food!!!

Whilst we love all types of wonderfully indulgent, fresh seasonal food, we're always on the look out for banging healthy recipes that are good for our bodies but also taste better than a cardboard box.  And after we discovered & fell truly, madly & deeply in love with Emma & Tom's Orange & Cacao Live Fruit & Nut bars, we decided to have a little dabble in the kitchen to see if we could make something that was just as healthy and half as delicious.  And something we could make with the ankle-biters.  Result?  Our Healthy Jaffa Bombs are truly da bomb!

Can we just say how excited that we are to have found something so yummy, sweet & chocolatey that isn't bad for us??  Doing a little jaffa happy dance....

Healthy Jaffa Bombs

Ingredients

10 medjool or California dates, pitted
1 cup raw cashews
1/2 cup seedless raisins or sultanas

3 tablespoons cocoa powder

20 drops sweet orange oil (available from good health food stores, usually in the aromatherapy section). You could also substitute peppermint oil if you were keen on choc-mint bombs.

Olive oil

Method

Using a food processor or hand held whizz stick, process cashews until finely ground, but with still a few smallish pieces in the mix.  Set aside in a separate bowl.  And while you're looking at the photo, pause a moment and take in the glory of our new Kitchenaid Food Processor . Its our new baby and we love it ;-)

Pit 10 dates and place in food processor.  Add raisins & orange oil.  Process until thick and smooth.  Then add cocoa and blend again. 

Finally, add cashews, leaving some aside to roll the balls in, and process again for a minute or two.

Add a little olive oil to your palms.  Using a teaspoon, take teaspoonfuls of the mixture and roll into balls.  The oil will stop the mixture from sticking to your hands, although you may need to 'oil-up' a couple of times. Makes about 20 balls

Refrigerate for several hours so they harden a little. Voile!  You now have a scrumptious, healthy snack that everyone can eat, sans the guilt.  They're also a bit of fun to make.  Enjoy! About 70 calories each.