School lunches (well, kinder) are all new to me this year. In addition to the well known no-nuts, Alexander’s kinder has sent notes about other allergies and sensitivities in the class and although the children don’t share food, I choose not to include any of those foods that might trouble some of his friends.
It’s fun, though I have to say with a son who is genuinely happy with a sandwich and some veggie sticks and crackers with hummus, he doesn’t really seem to mind what I put in there.
We do love to make these little nut-free Bliss Balls, though. I like to think the hit of sugar (through the dates) gives him a little sweet treat after his sandwich and powers him through to home time (when he requests a snack and some ‘chill time’, namely a ridiculous show called ‘Grizzy and the Lemmings’ on Netflix. It drives us a little nuts, but oh if you could see the big belly laughs it brings him when he watches it….’.
NUT-FREE BLISS BALLS
Makes around 25 balls, depending on how big you roll them.
Ingredients
- 225g Medjool Dates, pitted, halved and soaked in boiling water for 10 minutes, then drained (reserve a little liquid)
- Half a cup of Pumpkin Seeds
- Half a cup of Soy Protein Crisps (you can find them at Coles supermarkets, it’s there own brand and they’re in the health food aisle but brown rice puffs of plain cereal can also work).
- Half a cup of Desiccated Coconut (+ extra for rolling).
- 1/4 of a cup of Cacao Powder
- 1 tsp of Vanilla Extract
Method
Simply add the pumpkin seeds and protein crisps to a food processor first and mix until they form a crumb texture, then add the coconut and pulse again until well combined, then add the dates, cacao powder and vanilla and mix until well combined (you may need to stop and scrape down the sides a couple of times).
If the mixture feels dry and doesn't roll together nicely, add a little of the reserved date liquid and mix again (only a tablespoon or so at a time).
Roll into balls with wet hands, (which stops them from sticking to you), and then roll in coconut.
Keep in the fridge and use within a couple of weeks, or try freezing and taking them out the night before.
Below is the first stop motion video I’d created in a long time. I was trying to ‘do something different’ and stand out a little. I no longer like it very much, but it’s been part of the back-to-work journey so I’m sharing it anyway.
I hope you, or more importantly your school-aged child, loves them as much as we do.
I’ll also be working soon to update my web site so that recipes are more easily searchable so stay tuned.
Nat x