i try making healthy, raw cherry ripe slice

I adapted this recipe from Live, Love, Eat Raw. I made a few changes (mainly with the topping) so I've re-written my version of  the recipe below. This is a really delicious recipe. The tartness of the cherries balances out the subtle sweetness of the base and top well. and, best of all, its healthy, vegan, raw and refined sugar free.

Ingredients

Base
10 mejool dates
1 cup almond meal
1.5 cups shredded coconut
2 tbs raw cacao powder
2 tbs rice malt syrup (a little more if you prefer it sweeter)
2 tbs chia seeds
pinch of sea salt

Filling
2 cups of frozen cherries, thawed and drained of excess liquid (can use fresh cherries if in season)
Juice of small lemon
1.5 tbs coconut oil
3 cups shredded coconut
1 tbs rice malt syrup
1 cup cashews (soaked for 4 hours)
1 tbs chia seeds
pinch of sea salt

Top
55g cacao butter
30g coconut oil
3 tbs agave nectar (more if your prefer it sweeter)
50g cacao powder, sifted
pinch of sea salt

Method

1. To make the base: combine all base ingredients into a high-powered blender/food processor. Process until mixture is well combined and comes together. 
2. Press into lined 24cm baking tin. Refrigerate.
3. To make filling: place all filling ingredients into a high-powered blender/food processor. Process until mixture is well combined and comes together. 
4. Press into tin on top of base mixture. Refrigerate.
5. To make top: Bring a small amount of water to a simmer in a small pot. 
6. Put cacao butter and coconut oil in a glass bowl and place a glass bowl on top of the pot of water (ensure the bottom of the glass bowl does not touch the water). Stir gently with a metal spoon until cacao butter is melted.
7. Whisk in agave nectar.
8. Remove from heat. whisk in cacao powder and salt. 
9. Pour over filling and base. Refrigerate until set. Slice and serve.

Note: I recommend keeping your slice in the freezer.

i try baking biscotti

Now I'm not a master chef. I probably never will be. But I can certainly try!

I love biscotti. I eat it like chips. Considering it has very basic ingredients and a relatively straightforward method it is quite expensive to buy. In terms of biscuit it is relatively good for you because it has no butter.

I've been known to stray from recipes. Sometimes intentionally (add a little more of that, replace this with that) and sometimes unintentionally (oh, it said 1 teaspoon of baking powder). Here I've adapted a recipe from Super Food Ideas Magazine. And the great thing is you can substitute the apricots for any dried fruit (figs, cranberries, strawberries, raisins, dates, etc) and you can use whatever nut you prefer!

1 cup caster sugar

2 eggs

1 and 2/3 cup wholemeal plain flour, sifted

1 teaspoon baking powder, sifted

3/4 cup almonds, (coarsley chop 1/3)

3/4 cup dried apricots, chopped

Preheat oven to 180 degrees/160 degrees fan-forced. Line two trays with baking paper.

Whisk eggs and sugar together. Add all remaining ingredients and stir to combine. Knead on a lightly floured surface till smooth.

Shape dough into two 30cm logs, flatten slightly. Place on trays and bake for 30 minutes or until golden. Cool on trays for 20 minutes.

Reduce oven temperature to 140 degrees/120 degrees fan-forced. Using a serrated bread knife slice logs diagonally into 5-10mm thick slices. Ticker or thinner if you prefer. Lay on trays in single layer and bake for 5-10 minutes each side or until crisp.

Cool on wire rack.

Warning: totally addictive!