I Love Valentine's Day Chocolates - Day Or Night

I love chocolate. Love, love, love it!!

Even more so, since I learned how to make raw chocolate desserts! Mmmm.

These are the ingredients I used. It's not my recipe, so I can't give you the measurements here, but I'll give you the link to where I got it, at the end of this post. I'm cool that way.

Because of Valentine's Day, I thought I'd use my new toys.

I love new toys.

More fun stuff. I love fun stuff.

Now - to making the Chocolate Almond Butter Cups. (Be still my heart!)

The gal, (Jessica) used peanut butter, but I didn't have any and couldn't find any, so I used raw almond butter instead. I was kinda bummed, because "Reese's Peanut Butter Cups" were my favorite candy, when I ate non-raw goodies. Ohhh, I can taste them now!

Sorry... got lost for a second there.

Okay, the first thing I did was melt the coconut oil, by sticking the jar in a pot of hot water.

Then I added the Agave Nectar,

raw cacao powder, a pinch of sea salt and the Stevia. Then I whisked it. Whisked it good.

Next I poured the mixture into my brand new trays. Love them. So cute.

I was supposed to fill them 1/4 full, but that's trickier than it sounds. I think mine were 1/3 full. More chocolate for me. Yayyy!

I wanted some to look like the Reeses, so I put some of the mixture in these little gold-foil thingies. Then I stuck them all in the freezer for about ten minutes, so that the chocolate could harden.

After ten minutes in the freezer it was time to add the almond butter, but making sure to leave enough room to cover them with more chocolate.

Since I was giving most of these... some of these... okay... a few of these

as gifts, I wore gloves because I had to use my finger to get the almond butter off the spoon.

While filling the tray with the almond butter, I gave the chocolate mixture a few stirs, just to keep it smooth. Okay, last one.

Now it was time to add the remaining chocolate and pop them back in the freezer.

And there they are!! Of course, by then I'd tasted a couple, (okay... 4) so I know how great they are!

I was wondering why these little guys were so hard to keep straight. It wasn't until after I took the pictures that I realized they were rounded on the bottom, from that cool tray! Ha!

In my defense, most everything I post here about making raw food stuff, is a first time experience for me. So, not only is it exciting and fun, I get to laugh at myself too. :)

So, in closing -

Here's wishing you all a wonderful and happy Valentine's Day!!

"I don't understand why Cupid was chosen to represent Valentine's Day. When I think about romance, the last thing on my mind is a short, chubby toddler coming at me with a weapon."

- Author Unknown

"True love comes quietly, without banners or flashing lights. If you hear bells, get your ears checked."

- Erich Segal

"Love is much nicer to be in than an automobile accident, a tight girdle, a higher tax bracket,

or a holding pattern over Philadelphia."

- Judith Viorst

THE RECIPE:

For more information about creating these wonderful chocolates, and other great recipes, please check out this fabulous website:

"Delicious Obsessions" Love it!!!!

OK!! I have no idea why I'm getting those dots, or how to get rid of them!! I've tried and tried. Oh well, let's pretend they're tiny little chocolates. A sweet little decoration in honor of the day. Yeah right.

There are SO many things to love!

I love "Followers" and comments too! Dots, not so much.

Thank you.

Signing off for now,

gabriele

Creamsicle Smoothie

One of my favorite kid-hood memories is running after the ice-cream man, trying to get my hands on a "Creamsicle"! Remember those?! I wonder if they still make them.

Last summer I actually heard the familiar music of an ice cream truck! But getting my purse, finding my money, putting on my shoes and running after him...

Ain't gonna happen. Especially the 'running after' part.

So, the other day I had a real craving for that Creamsicle taste. If you've ever had one, you'll never forget it. Yummm!! I went online and found several links that had recipes.

(I googled raw Creamsicle Smoothie recipe.)

So, I combined, removed and came up with this. A trial run.

These are the ingredients I thought I'd be using. The stuff in the bottle is Organic Vanilla Extract.

I had to buy a cleaver (yikes!!) to open the young coconut. If you've been reading this blog, you know that I'm totally freaked-out by big ol' honkin' knives!! And this is a BIG one!!

I finally worked-up some nerve, put my left hand behind my back, so as not to whack it off, since I plan to use it again... and hacked away!! They make it look sooo easy, when they open coconuts on YouTube. Fibbers, all of 'em!! I hacked. And hacked. With my toes curled under.

I finally turned the coconut on its side and shaved some of the top away.

Saw that on YouTube too.

Hacked at it some more. Hold on! I think I'm getting there!! I see white!

Yup! I finally got through!! I had to keep hacking until I got through all the way around.

Then I was able to lift the top off. Not an easy feat. My fingers slipped and I jammed one into the wood. Ouch. But, through it all, I kept my left hand glued to my back!!

I emptied the milk into a glass. I was surprised at how much was in there. Nice.

But the meat... a disappointment. It was much harder than the other young coconuts I've eaten.

Much too hard to scrape out of there with a spoon. I'm not the most patient person in the world, when it comes to stuff like this. I gave up after a few tries.

I poured the milk and the meat into my BlendTec Blender (which I love!) and added one banana.

Then two oranges.

One of the things I love about my BlendTec, is that the fruit/greens/whatever, doesn't have to be cut into tiny pieces, like some blenders, to blend completely. Just fling 'em in.

Then I added 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla. I was going to use the mango, but decided against it.

I set the BlendTec on the 'Large Smoothie' setting and let it do its thing.

I did a taste-test and it needed to be a little sweeter. I had three choices; Agave Nectar, Alcohol- Free Stevia, or Alcohol-Free Vanilla Stevia. I used the latter, because it made my mouth water. The next time I make one of these, I'm going to add another orange.

It needed to be ice cold, so I added some crushed ice.

I gave it another whirl...

And there it was! A Creamsicle Smoothie!! Ohhh yeahhh.

But I'm still trying to get over my fear of knives, cleavers and...

The movie, "Psycho"!!

Schriek

Schriek

Schriek

Schriek

Let me leave you with a much more pleasant image...

ENJOY!!!! ~

What are some of your favorite kid-hood treat memories?

For more about smoothies;

Green Smoothies

Raw Food, Desserts And Green Smoothies For Kids

There are SO many things to love!

I love "Followers" and comments too!

Thank you.

Signing off for now,

gabriele

We Love Dale Watson

His voice is fabulous!! If you like Merle Haggard (love him!) or Johnny Cash, you'll like Dale Watson. His voice has that same low quality and he's a heck of a great songwriter!!

My daughter and I are huge fans. Here are some of her CDs by Mr. D.W.

The rest are in her vehicle. I think she has every one he ever made. Told ya. Huge fan.

I only have twelve. Dangit!! (Time to play catch-up with my girl!)

On a recent visit to Oregon, my daughter and I went to this... the "River City Music Festival". But you already figured that out, right? We were SO happy to be able to see him live, onstage! He usually honkers-down in his home state of Texas, or tours Europe. We lucked-out!

A cozy venue.

He sang several songs we knew and loved.

But we didn't sing along. It was be-kind-to-others week.

He had a good rapport with his musicians, which is always nice to see.

He didn't hog the spotlight. Although, in this picture, he did. And is making a liar out of me.

His voice was as strong and right on-pitch, as it is on his CDs. What a talent!

He told great little stories, which were funny and gave us a better idea of what he's all about. Loved that.

He sang several songs from his current CD, "The Sun Sessions". Which was a big hit with the audience. I always know when I've been to a good concert... my hands hurt from applauding.

My hands really hurt when we left.

Here's my daughter, getting a few shots of him with her phone.

The show was over and we decided to go to the table in the lobby, and buy his new CD, for me. She already owned it. Of course she did.

As we're standing in line to buy the CD, who comes around the corner? Mr. Watson, himself!!

Oh! Oh! Please sign my CD!!

I was a little cooler than that. But not much.

I'm not really wringing my hands. I'm holding my glasses. Or I'd be wringing my hands.

Look at me! I met Dale Watson and he shook my hand!

I had to spell my name for him. I have to spell my name for everybody. In my next life I'll be Betty Smith.

Say, "Cheeese".

One more, for good measure.

And let's not forget my daughter! He shook her hand and chatted with her too.

He's not uppity in the least! Another thing we love about him.

If you're reading this, kid, thanks so much for taking me here! And introducing me to his music, many, many years ago!

While walking through the lobby, we saw this group of people and heard the upbeat sound of bluegrass. As we got closer...

We saw this young boy playing the fiddle. And play that thing he did!! Such a talent, at such a young age!

We had a wonderful time and can't wait to catch Dale Watson in concert again!!

In the meantime, we'll be enjoying his music on his CDs and on Pandora Radio.

And watching his videos on YouTube!!

For tour dates, videos, and purchasing his CDs, please check out his website;

Dale Watson - "America's premier honky-tonk, country, Americana rock 'n roller".

PS Dale's record company people found my blog and forwarded it to him. (Small world!)

Much to my surprise and delight, he sent me an email, thanking us! Wow!

A true class-act, Country Gentleman!!

He also said he'd be in Oregon more this year, so if you're in the vicinity, go listen to the man!

I'm hoping that he'll take pity on all us Californians and show up here as well!!

UPDATE! I'm caught up!!!! :-D

Ohhh yeahhh, baby!!!!

I'm listening and dancin' from room to room! Not a pretty sight, but what the hey!

Thank you Dale Watson, for the great music!!!! We LOVE you!!!!!!!!

What's your favorite music and musician/group? ~

There are SO many things to love!

I love "Followers" and comments too!

Thank you.

Signing off for now,

gabriele