FOUR THINGS RIGHT NOW: DELIVERIES, BERRIES AND TASTY SMALL HANDS

The Mexican oilcloth fabric bits I had ordered arrived. I love Mexican oilcloths; the patterns and their colours! NowI just have to figure out what to do with these...(no really, I will choose one for a big table cloth to order and the small bits will have a purpose on the balcony and porch and so on.)

The mailman also brought me an "instant beehive"  which I rolled my hair around to a big slightly messy 'do.

Dag has discovered his hands and that they are nicely cheweable. Drool.



And now it's time for some evening jam; as in jamming berries and fruit!


PS. I have been invited to participate in this inspiration flow-concept among Finnish blogs starting in October. Due to that there is a sidebar poll by TNS Gallup for my readers - or well, for some precent of you, as it is in Finnish. Among those who have answered the pop-up questionnaire ten will be drawn to win giftcards. There poll will go on for about a week.

CHECKS AND PASTELS, CAPE & COATS DILEMMA

I have a new wonderful little cape. It came with a skirt, but I'm saving it for later.
(Like when I can button all hree buttons in the waist and not just two :)

I've always loved the idea of wearing a cape. I have not had one before for the very reason that they are rather unpractical in a climate that allows you to wear a short sleeved jacket for about four weeks of the year only; two weeks in autumn and two weeks in spring. Sort of. I however almost got myself this one last spring already but came to reason, but somehow I managed to come up with an idea why this cape would be a genial solution for fall. I just can't remember that the idea was anymore. (And no, cuteness does not count.) What I actually should have gotten would have been a practical trench coat or so as I in the heat of the moment (you know: Closet space! Letting things go!) sold the blue one I had at a flea market last spring...Damn.

But alas, just now as I had started settling for the thought of knits and hats and mittens the weather turned surprisingly warm, so I might get to wear my little cape for more than a fortnight after all!

On a totally different note; it is funny how dark your hair turns when combed in another parting than usual, not with the "sunny side up".

Also, it apparently takes an outfit post to notice your hemline is broken. So there is a point to all of this!

(The cape is from Tara Starlet and the skirt is Zara from a couple of years back that would not go over my hip a month ago. But now it does.)

THE MAGIC CHOCOLATE MOUSSE

This set here:

Will turn -

into...

this!


You know how you sometimes wish there could be something that's really really good in the yummy sort of fatty sense, but that could still some magical way be healthy? And you know what? There actually are such foods and dishes available -like this raw chocolate mousse! It's an avocado based dessert that has a super luxury chocolate feel to it, and is very easy to make. It's not calorie free, but just full of good calories. But who counts calories these days anyway - it's mostly about the quality of the food nowadays.


For about two persons you will need:
One avocado
5 dried dates, if the bigger kind (medjool). If smaller ones double up.
1,5 dl cocoa powder
2-4 table spoons of agave syrup
1-2 teaspoons of coconut oil (optional, I often leave it out)

Now for the how-to:
Soak the dates until they are soft and moist. Mix the dates with the avocado and agave (and coconut oil if you added it) to a smooth mousse. Today I also added a couple of dark dried apricots to the mix. Sometimes I've tried it with a few soaked raisins in there as well. If you don't have agave you can use honey instead, or perhaps try with maple syrup. (Agave is however available from most bigger stores over here nowadays and it's not totally un-affordable.) Add the cocoa to the mix and stir. Add more agave if the mix is not sweet enough for your taste. Then it's ready to serve!

The mousse is rather heavy; I feel it's best enjoyed with some fresh fruits or berries.

You can try some variations, like adding cocoa nibs or coconut flakes to the mousse, or a dash of cinnamon or chili. I once made this with a little less cocoa powder but some bits of melted raw chocolate instead (cocoa butter + raw cocoa powder).

You can also put this in the freezer for a few hours and it turns into chocolate ice cream, sort of. You need to take it out and stir a couple of times to fluff it up in between.

Note that the avocado batter is hard to get off bowls and such if it dries so make sure to wash your utilties up as soon as you have emptied them.

I know for some the words vegan and raw before something you eat will be an immediate yuck-factor. Or a question mark. But that is only if you are not familiar with such foods (and/or have an attitude). There are lots of things that are vegan, and also raw, that everybody eats, without thinking that much about it. No yucks there then. Also the thought of having avocado in a dessert may freak some people out, but it is actually a very useable fruit due to it's consistence and mild taste. Avocado is a perfect "smoothifier" in smoothies and milkshakes too, as well as (raw) pie fillings.

I cook a lot of vegan and raw recipes, but I also enjoy traditional -vegetarian- cooking (as in warming up my food and having bread, I love bread :) and traditional desserts. Man I love cake. But now as I am aiming to get as close to my pre-pregnancy waist as possible I have been more strict and it's been less cake and lots of raw food in different forms instead. (So far I've lost 15 kilos -or maybe ten, as I guess around five came out with the baby- so I'm getting there. 10 centimeters to go!)