Chocolate Peanut Butter Dates

Today's post is going to be super quick, not that I'm busy, I'm just lazy. So I'm just popping to say hi, provide you with one of the easiest and most delicious treats ever and then disappear again.

The other day the super lovely Madison of Eating for Balance nominated me for a Sunshine Blogger Award. If you've never stopped by Madison's blog, I would recommend it. Not only does she have the best taste in movies and tv shows (I say this because we are scarily alike) but she has an amazing collection of vegan, gluten free and sugar free recipes. Yeah, that's right. I would recommend the Gluten-Free Sugar-Free Vegan Banana Bread and the Microwave Brownies :)

So onto the award:

Here are the rules… 

• If you are nominated you must include the link in a blog, linking to the person/blog that nominated you.
• You must answer some questions and nominate 7 fellow bloggers and link their blogs in your post.
• Let the people you have nominated know that you have nominated them!

1. Who is your favorite philosopher? 
I decided to go with Plato, because he said 'love is a serious mental illness', and I cannot help but laugh at that. And agree with him wholeheartedly.

2. What is your favorite number?
14 - my birthday. My brother, one cousin and one grandmother are also born on the 14th.

3. What is your favorite animal?
Snow leopards. Or any kind of leopard. Or maybe a cheetah. For a person who doesn't like cats, I really like big cats.

4. What are your Facebook and Twitter?
Facebook - It's my 'official', not personal, one: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rebecca-Gillies/178085738973379
Twitter - Come follow me, I love Twitter - https://twitter.com/RebeccaGillies

5. What is your favorite time of day? 
 The morning. I wake up early and refreshed and get tons done in the morning. As the day drags on I get lethargic and tired and hate everyone and everything. My roommates can attest to this.

6. What was your favorite vacation? 
 Probably when we went to Italy. It was great fun. Venice was the most breaktaking city. But I am looking forward to going to America at the end of this year.

7. What is your favorite physical activity?
I think we all know the answer is tennis. But a close second is swimming, and then netball. But I miss playing tennis so much - I can't wait till I go home in a few weeks and have access to a court and people to play with.

8. What is your favorite non-alcoholic drink? 
Well, I pretty much only drink water, and even then, not exactly a lot of it. However, if I had to chose, it would be pineapple juice.

9. What is your favorite flower? 
Tulips. I love how colourful they are! They're just absolutely gorgeous. *roommates, hint hint*

10. What is your passion?
Writing. I have honestly no idea what I would do if I didn't or couldn't write. I'm not good at much else. I suppose this links to my love of reading and most entertainment industries. I just love stories. I live for them; books, video games, comics, tv shows, movies - all of it.

Now I can't chose seven bloggers to nominate, I have so many new found blogs I love. So instead I want you all to answer a question or two - let me know if we have anything or nothing in common!

And now onto the food, the real reason you are here.

These dates are damn delicious. They are the perfect afternoon snack. I mean, chocolate and peanut butter go together perfectly anyway, but when combined with a tinge of coconut oil and a sweet, chewy date, and you have an amazing meal. Best of all, these guys are so healthy. The chocolate is made from raw cacao and coconut oil, both of which have great health benefits, and when combined with peanut butter (or your choice of nut butter), a healthy oil, these snacks are an incredible healthy pick-me-up.

Level of Difficulty: Possibly the easiest snack you will ever have to make

Average Cost: Depends on the cost of dates – for me, pretty cheap

Main Ingredients: dates

Occasion: Snack, or a super cute dessert

Adapted from: The Wellness Warrior – David Winchester

Makes 4 dates. Nutritional stats per date.

What you need:

4 dates

2 tsp peanut butter

1 tbsp coconut oil

1 tbsp raw cacao powder

1 tbsp raw honey

What to do:

Spray a baking tray with oil and line it with baking paper. Then, to be doubly sure, spray the paper with oil.

Using a sharp knife, split open one side of a date and pull out the seed. Fill the hole in the date with ½ tsp of peanut butter. Repeat for the remaining three dates so all of the peanut butter is used up and the dates are filled.

In a small saucepan over medium heat melt the coconut oil. Once it has melted properly, add the cacao powder and honey and stir until a thin chocolate mixture has formed. If it is too bitter for your taste, add more honey.

Then, cover the dates with the chocolate by dipping them in the mixture or by using a spoon to cover the dates with chocolate.

Place the dates on the tray with the baking paper and freeze. Eat the dates straight from the freezer.