Chocolate freezer fudge

This chocolate freezer fudge takes minutes to make, is gluten, dairy and refined sugar free and best of all tastes delicious. I gave these to some of my yoga students and they all asked for the recipe…

I like to make this in bulk and keep it in the freezer for those moments when you fancy a sweet treat. It will keep for a few months, and you can eat it directly from the freezer, so it’s perfect for satisfying that sweet tooth.

Ingredients

200g coconut oil
200g peanut butter (or other nut or seed butter)
80g cocoa powder (I try to use raw cacao)
80ml rice malt syrup or maple / honey. Or to taste. Using more or less of this will alter how sweet the chocolate is. (I use maple syrup)
2 tsp vanilla essence

Method

  1. Put the coconut oil in a saucepan and melt over a medium heat.
  2. Once the oil has started to melt add in the peanut butter and melt together.
  3. Add the rest of the ingredients and mix with a spoon until well combined. Make sure the mixture doesn’t boil as this will impair the flavour.
  4. Line a tray with baking paper and pour the mixture onto the tray. The tray you use will define the size of your chunks, I find a small deep tray works best.
  5. Find a flat space in your freezer and freeze for 15 to 20 minutes.
  6. Once frozen cut into small squares and serve.
  7. Don’t leave this out in a warm room for two long because it will melt.

Yoga Girl

Yoga Girl: Finding Happiness, Cultivating Balance and Living With Your Heart Open Wide by Rachel Brathen

I loved this book. I picked it up shortly before boarding a flight from Canada and by the time I reached the UK I had finished it. I was glued to Rachel’s inspiring story, I could see much of myself in her journey and struggles, as I am sure many of us can, and I couldn’t stop reading.

I also loved the recipes, those I have tried have been delicious, and the loving insights many of which I have revisited during my own practice.

The instructions on asanas were informative but rivalled by the fantastic instructions on how to start meditating – a practice that even advanced yoga practitioners can find intimidating and constantly wonder if they are doing it right.

However while the pictures of Rachel in advanced poses at sunset look great on the pages of a book, for me this isn’t yoga. Yoga is finding equanimity or evenness of mind and opening your heart. These practices shine through in Rachel’s prose but for me in the images the ancient practice of yoga is tuned into a gymnastic display. That said I did wonder more than once about packaging up my life and moving to Aruba to practice yoga on the beach every day!

After reading this book I couldn’t help but be inspired by Rachel’s story and her wonderful lifestyle. Having never heard of her before picking up this book (which I was given as a gift) there is no denying she makes me want to be better. Work harder. Be happy.

Well worth a read.