chocolate truffles

I wonder if you have heard of Crossfit. If this cult-like gym has taken over your life or the life of your loved ones. If these people leave the house for hours at a time, climbing into $70 shorts from Lulu Lemon, chanting ‘we don’t use machines, we become them’, jogging out the door to join their fellow crossfitters, glassy eyed as they perform pull ups, clean and jerks.

 

Perhaps it is not quite as dramatic as all that, however my sister has, in less than a year, become a paleo-eating, state-competing, die-hard cross fitter. Her boyfriend Hayden is to blame for this transformation, from Emily being a normal young lady to becoming a 152 centimetre (yes, she’s very short,) lump of muscle with shins covered in scabs from box jumps and snatches. Again, perhaps I am exaggerating, but the most upsetting change my sister has made is that now she eats the paleo diet- in summary, no grains, no dairy and no sugar. NO SUGAR. Oh how sad my life has become, I can now only force feed cupcakes to my parents! They don’t appreciate the depth of flavour of salted caramel, nor the appropriate texture of whipped chocolate ganache!  

 

However, there is one upside to this sad, sad tale: paleo treats. Since I can no longer cater to my sister’s sweet tooth, she has started baking more frequently, and has made some pretty delicious things. My favourite of her recipes is her paleo truffles. They are made with dates, cocoa and almonds and extras like goji berries, cocoa nibs and coconut can be added, yet they taste like normal chocolate truffles. Even my fruit/vegetable/anything healthy hating friend Tiff decided she liked them, which is pretty impressive.  I don’t have a specific recipe for this, as when my sister makes them she simply pours ingredients into the food processor until they are the right consistency to be rolled into a ball.

 

 Method:
1. Simply add a small handful of dates into a food processer and process until smooth.
2. Add almonds, again processing until smooth and free of any big chunks.
3. Add some cocoa and vanilla extract if desired. If needed, pour in a small splash of water.
4. Mix in goji berries, dried fruit, or paleo chocolate chips.
5. Roll into teaspoon sized balls and roll in shaved coconut or cocoa.