caramel chocolate apple party

these photos are so lame. you can thank the thieves that stole my good camera. i am now reduced to using this little digital point-and-shoot deal. ah well; so it goes - as kurt vonnegut would say. anyway, what MATTERS is the food. this food is rawsome. (then again, you can't go wrong with chocolate and caramel and apples.)

it's all good, dude. 

i've been seeing a lot of raw caramel apple recipes in honour of the season lately and they remind of one i made awhile ago. here's the link. these ones are a bit more simplistic: just dip and enjoy. but you can decorate them the same way as the other ones if you like. you are free to do what you want, after all.

winter is coming! i am quite excited. summer was lovely but i have been too hot for like 6 months now and am welcoming the colder temperatures, winds and rain with open arms. besides, i have wonderful memories of last winter and so psychologically have reason to anticipate it. i want snow! of course, now that i've said this i'm sure i'll be complaining in a month about the weather. dang.

anyways, expect more seasonal recipes. i'm wanting to do some stuff with pumpkins, gourds and what not. get ready, ya'll. gotta take advantage of dat local produce.

please take the time to check out my friends' band. they rock. give a listen and be impressed. here's their sound cloud. if you live in the vancouver area, check them out sometime! they play all over downtown and are far too charming for their years. they also own a hookah, so there's that.

raw caramel chocolate apples: serves 4-6

chocolate sauce:
4 tablespoons cacao
1/4 cup dates
1/2 cup almond milk 
1/4 cup nut butter

caramel:
1/2 cup water
1 cup dates
3 tablespoons nut butter
1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon salt
seeds from 1/2 vanilla bean 

4-6 apples 

to make each sauce, blend the ingredients until smooth in your blender (separately, obviously). scoop each into a bowl for dipping. then uh... dip away.  

chocolate hazelnut spread

like nutella? this is a raw, vegan version. free of dairy, processed sugar, palm oil and artificial flavours. with just a few ingredients - this is way better for you, and incomparable in taste. try it out today! i eat it straight up with a spoon. it's also really easy to add into desserts... including banana ice cream. oh my ice creamy goodness.

chocolate hazelnut spread: makes about 2 cups 

2 cups hazelnuts
1/4 cup cacao
1/4 cup melted cacao butter
1/4 cup honey/agave/maple syrup
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/3 cup or so vegan milk, adding as needed

make the hazelnuts into hazelnut butter in your blender or food processor; it will take a little while. if you want more flavour, toast them first. then add all the other ingredients and blend until smooth. it should be pretty creamy like a spread. see if you like it - add what you want accordingly. put it in a jar and refrigerate. sneak this treat whenever you want to.

guess what - i will be 19 years old in like 3 weeks. i am so ready to hit the clubs and go crazy with my friends. wanna join? here's a diplo's new EP to get you in the mood. you know i like ALL kinds of music, so i will admit this is my guilty pleasure.