When SIMPLE is BEST: Vanilla xo

When it comes to sweet treat 'flavours' these days, we are SO spoilt for choice at every turn; at every supermarket, every cake shop, ice cream stand etc.  Like at today's exotic coffee shop visit with friends, the menu boasted hot chocolates flavoured with hazelnut, mint, caramel, rose, chilli etc the list goes on!  And then there are the gelato stands that spoil us with every tastebud tantaliser imaginable, from the popular classics like pistachio, hazelnut and chocolate, to the inventive flavours like 'Ferrero Rocher' or 'green tea'.  

But do we still remember the joys of the humble vanilla bean?  It's a classic, simple and reliable flavour that is sometimes all we need instead of the over complicated choices out there.  I don't know about you, but as a kid when there was a choice between chocolate, strawberry or vanilla flavoured ice-cream, I ALWAYS chose vanilla.  And when spoilt for choice on a fudge shop visit.... vanilla fudge suited me best.  Vanilla is so subtley sweet, so gentle on the taste buds, so dreamy, so comforting, honest and pure.  As I type this I am remembering my last creme bulee moment where my spoon scraped away every last speckle of the vanilla pods at the the bottom of the ramekin.  Bliss xo

So while I'm still riding this wave of 'healthy desserts', this time I went simple and sweet with yummy and chewy bliss balls with a generous hit of vanilla extract.  Again, even bliss balls these days have so many flavour options... with the addition of dates, apricots, peanut butter, cinnamon, cocoa, ginger etc.  But yep... this one is simply vanilla and I LOVE IT.  Enjoy xo

Vanilla Bliss Balls (adapted from All Recipes) (makes 10 - 12 balls)      

Ingredient:

1 1/4 cup almond meal

3/4 cup desiccated coconut

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

pinch of salt

1/4 cup maple syrup

2 tablespoons melted coconut oil

extra coconut for coating

Instructions:

Mix together in a bowl the dry ingredients.  Stir in the wet ingredients.  Then roll dough into small 1 tablespoon worth balls and roll in extra coconut.  Chill in the fridge for 30 minutes.  Yum xo