Poo Balls

A couple of years ago I went to Melbourne to visit my good friend Caitlin and whilst I was there she took me to meet and her dad and his family. His wonderful wife Lorena cooked us all a delicious meal and for afters we had 'Poo Balls', well that's what their two young girls called them, a more explanatory description would be Date Truffles.

Lorena, a very creative and talented photographer, artist and food blogger - follow her here at Comida de Moda - has just recently published her first cook book, The Rich Hours, well done Lorena! And the recipe for Poo Balls is in there! A sneaky peak can be found here or contact her if you'd like your own full copy.

I've just made a whole batch of Poo Balls and they're amazing! Here's how..

Ingredients:

1 cup sunflower / pumpkin seeds

500g dried and pitted dates

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tbsp cocoa

Shredded coconut

Method:

Whizz up the seeds in a food processor then add the dates, cinnamon and cocoa and whizz again until you've got the consistency of coarse sand. Lorena's note: "Be careful not to burn out your food processor - it's hard going for the poor motor." Form into little balls and roll in shredded coconut.

Couldn't be simpler. What's more, they're delicious and are even good for you!

Thank you for sharing Lorena!

Middle Farm, Lewes

 

Picture source: Middle Farm

I can't think of a much better way to end a looong week (and in fact it was even only a short one!) than to come home carrying a box full of English ciders, ales and crops. And this exactly what I did yesterday! Wey! I visited Middle Farm and oh my, what a discovery it was, it's my new haunt! Can't believe I've been just driving straight past it on my way to and from work without actually stopping in! You can read all about the wonders of Middle Farm HERE.

My box full of rough Somerset ciders, local ales, an organic perry, two different varieties of tomato plant, a small oregano bush, rhubarb chard seeds and a How to Grow Apples and Make Cider book!

As well as being a working family farm there's a restaurant, gift shop, farm shop, plant nursery and, you guessed it...an incredible CIDER SHOP!!! I was totally overwhelmed by the range and quantity of English ales, meads, country wines, fruit liqueurs, ciders and Perries! Just look...!

 

Picture source: Middle Farm

I also spotted this interesting looking book on the counter...'How to Grow Apples and Make Cider'. This year I will definitely be making my own cider! I didn't get round to it last year as the two weeks of the apple harvest transpired to be the two weeks that I was between the leaving of my old job and the starting of a new and the leaving of London for a new life by the sea. So not all bad I guess - but I think this book will be able to provide me with all the information I need and possibly more to get going on a batch of my own this year! It's written by Bill Bleasdale, a cider maker who lives high up on a magical mountain in Wales. Check out his website Welsh Mountain Cider.

 

Cheers and adieu!