My heart is feeling a little low on pizzazz today. In fact, if the doctor who analyses my blood test results next week decides to scan for pizzazz levels, she might find it necessary to prescribe three bags of sour cola gummies to cheer me up. You see, it was my grandmother’s funeral yesterday, and I miss her.
Subsequently, I’ve decided to delay the next Moruya trip instalment, as the words aren’t flowing freely today. Instead, I thought I’d tell you about the simple (but delicious) No-Bake Vegan Cherry Date Truffles I made to snack on during that Moruya trip of singing and laughter.
Oh, and I also thought I’d describe to you the latest in my ongoing series of nincompitude. It goes a little something like this:
Several months ago, I bought my first car. I have since been enjoying the luxury of being in complete control of when, where, and how I drive. Recently, I was driving Jenni and our Sydney-based colleague Vicky back from an event at Parliament House when it started raining heavily. Rain while you’re driving can be quite loud, and so I started having difficulty hearing what Vicky, in the back seat, was saying.
As I concentrated on driving while also trying to focus on Vicky’s voice, my brain made a decision that I wasn’t quite aware of. Without thinking through what I was doing, I saw my hand reach over to the dashboard and turn the volume dial up.
Yes, friends, you heard that right.
I tried to increase the volume of my friend’s voice by turning up my car’s volume dial.
It took me several seconds to recognise what I’d tried to do, and then I laughed so hard I almost crashed the car. (Not really. I’m a super safe driver. Promise, Mum.)
Apparently, my subconscious is a shrieking tantrumming child who believes “My car! My car my rules! My car I control all! Power power mine me me my car bow before my needs weakling universe me me! My car!”
It’s moments like these that remind me how happy I am to to have an arsenal of simple no-bake vegan treat recipes on hand, which can be whipped up at a moment’s notice to bring a little sweetness and pizzazz into life.
Wait, what? Did you say something? I can’t seem to hear you. Where’s my computer’s volume dial?
No-Bake Cherry Date Truffles
- 2/3 cup (80g) raw cashews
- 1/2 cup (45g) rolled oats or five-grain mix
- 2/3 cup (100g) Medjool dates (or other fresh dates)
- scant 2/3 cup (80g) dried (tart) cherries
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- pinch salt
- optional, for extra pizzazz: coconut (to mix through or roll in), cinnamon, ground ginger, cacao nibs, cocoa powder… the possibilities are endless.
- In a food processor (or blender like a Vita-Mix), process the cashews and oats to a fine consistency. Remove to a bowl (or don’t bother; your call!).
- Add the dates, cherries, vanilla, and salt, the process until the mixture has come together cohesively and is well-blended.
- Roll into balls (and then roll in coconut, sesame seeds, or anything equally delicious if you have the time) and store in the fridge or freezer for that moment when your soul requires something to help it sing.
I’m submitting this to Lisa’s Allergy Friendly Lunchbox Event and Ricki’s latest Wellness Weekend.
Question Time: Have you done anything a bit silly lately?
{ 59 comments… read them below or add one }
hope the funeral went well! No wonder you are feeling a bit low. Though it is good to see you are still full of laughter. Hope vicki didn’t just think you were trying to drown out her voice because she was talking too much
As for cherry truffles – I love cherry (with plenty of coconut for me) but tried to buy sour dried cherries at the market yesterday – I asked for a taste before buying and they were sweet – when I protested I was told that no these are sour – so please tell me that when you say tart you actually mean that they taste that way rather than just being a label!
Thank you Johanna, it was a lovely service. Full of anecdotes and love, and I managed to make it through my performance of Let It Be without crying (I couldn’t look at anyone, but I made it through)! Teehee, luckily Vicky should’ve been able to see I wasn’t turning the volume down
Hmm, I use the Costco Tart Cherries, which do have some sugar involved but are definitely tangy. I think they must be dried morellos? They definitely have some tang. If I get to Costco again soon, I’ll try to buy you a bag, but I don’t know when I’ll visit next!
Hi Johanna! Just thought I’d pipe in cause I got really tart dried sour cherries (with pips in) at the Vic a few months back. I think they’ve still got them – I can’t remember where the stall was, but I think the cherries were from Iran. Hope that helps!
Yay collaboratoring! Hurrah!
Sour cola gummies or not, I bet you gave your grandmother a terrific farewell, and honored her memory fantasti(cami)cally. And I hope there was loads of love for that lady who lived such a full life:)
Your tale makes me think of the Public Enemy but preferably Public Enemy& Anthrax song Bring the Noise. “Turn it up…… bring the noise [enter: police sirens, sirening]!” I know this isn’t the typical musical route that I discuss here, but I love it nonetheless.
Thank you so much, Emma. You truly are so lovely and wonderful and fantasticamical.
Ah, off to youtube with me! I wonder if I’ll know the song once it starts?
I’m so glad I’m not the only one that’s done that! I also once got on my horse and reached down to turn the radio on – funnily enough, it wasn’t there…
And if the word nincompoop is great, nincompitude is true genius, love it!
Hope you’re ok after yesterday, although funerals are closure, you’re then just left at the simple “I miss her” place… really feel for you and hope you’re ok xx
*laughs and laughs* Oh, I think your Horse Radio might beat my Car-Friend Radio!
Teehee, I’m desperately hoping to get nincompitude into the OED soon, but somehow I don’t think I have quite enough literary clout as yet….
And thank you, Eleanor. The funeral was truly lovely, which helps!
Oh yes, though I can’t think of an example, I know that I do silly things like that all the time. Well, at least your cherry date truffles have enough pizzaz for the both of you.
Thank you, Alayna. Thought not for leaving me on my own in the silly stakes
Sorry your pizzazz levels are low. Lots of hugs your way.
Love the cherry truffles though – they look like perfect “uppers.”
Definitely the only kind of “uppers” I’m into!
And thank you, darling!
I don’t know if you’ve ever watched the TV show Scrubs, but your mention of blood pizzazz levels made me think of the episode where a patient is brokenhearted over the recent passing of one of her loved ones. This leads to a brief fantasy sequence in which our protagonist imagines prescribing a box of kittens, stat. I mean, how can you not smile when faced with a box of kittens? So now, I am prescribing you a box of kittens. And chocolate and peanut butter, but you knew that already.
I. LOVE. SCRUBS. In fact, just before my housemate left and took the TV, I went on a panicked Scrubs binge and watched the entire first season in two nights. I think I’ve only seen up to season 5, though? Must get back into if/when I get another TV…. I’m not sure I remember that episode, but oh! I concur. I concur with its very premise. (Though personally, I’d be more into a box of puppies.)
P.S. Thank you. Your comment is like a bundle of love
Ah Hannah – your blood’s worth bottling. Hope the tests go well for you. Take care.
*giggles* Oh, Mike. I have this creepy image of the nurse making a shrine to me instead of testing the contents now…
These truffles look great, and they are so easy to make!
Absolutely!
These look scrumptious as always! I would love them with some dark choc bits thanks
Ah, would you believe I said cacao nibs and cocoa powder but not dark choc chips?! Silly me; clever you!
Those are looking so simple but sooo yum
If you were here I’d give you some!
Oh poor dear, I hope Friday was ok. Sending you loads of love and pizzazz. Sorry you’re feeling low on the pizzazz right now – totally expected. But you’re right, these babies are loaded with them and are bound to filter some through to you and your lovely heart. Hmmm have I done anything a bit silly lately…I’m sure of it, but can’t really recall off the top of my head. Nope, just stared our the window for a good 30 seconds trying to think of something. And then another 30 looking at my bookcase. Clearly I’m perfect
Or slightly dim. Lots of love.
Heidi xo
Thank you darling, I really appreciate it. And I also appreciate your attempt to find something silly in you to make me feel less alone in my nincompitude, but I think you’re right. You’re too perfect for that
P.S. I love losing myself in my bookcase too
Hi! Has anyone told you that you are the QUEEN of truffles?! Nice one! Haha…
No, no they haven’t, so you go right ahead and keep telling me that
Hannah, where do you get the dried cherries from? The only ones I have found in the ‘berra cost a fortune for a tiny packet. These truffles look delicious and I would love to make them. I imagine the funeral, while very sad, was full of warmth and love. I wear my much loved Nanna’s ring (she was 96 when she died) and so every day I am reminded of her and I feel she is always with me. I seriously laughed at your radio efforts. At first I thought you meant you were turning up the volume to drown your friend out completely until it clicked what you were doing. Very funny. I think we all do whacky things like that – like holding your building access pass up to the button for the lift – which is extremely embarrassing if anyone happens to be watching! I hope your pizzazziness returns quickly. Warm wishes.
Costco! For the most part, Costco’s products don’t interest me, but for bulk dried fruit and nuts, it’s a winner. I recommend tagging along with someone with a membership card, as I do
You could also make these with craisins, of course!
And thank you. The funeral was lovely, and full of warmth as you say. It’s funny you say that about your grandma’s ring, because I actually wear a ring of my aunt’s, who passed away when I was too young to remember her. I like to wear it to our extended family celebrations, so that she’s there, in a way.
Oh yes, perhaps I should have specified that the radio wasn’t on! I’m so glad you got it
Teehee, I’m envious of your lift story because I live on the third floor with no lift!
Oh Hannah…many more hugs over to you and your family :/ I hope the funeral captured your memories and love for her and served as a celebration of the wonderful life I am sure she lived. These balls look like just the sort of food you should be inhaling to get those pizzazz levels back where they should be. I might suggest skipping the sour cola lollies though
(PS. I think I’ve been inadvertently following you around the blogosphere this afternoon
I just commented on Lisa’s BBB and Johanna’s GGG blogs directly after you!)
Thank you Kari, it really did. It was wonderful how similar stories and tales come through in everyone’s anecdotes, which showed what a genuine and lovely woman she was
What, skip the cola gummies? But they taste so good!
(Admittedly, I haven’t eaten them since primary school…)
*laughs* Comment synchronicity! Now can you just follow me to Canberra already?
Now that would be nice
You silly goose.. ahahahahahah.. actually that sounds like something that I may have done myself.. HEE HEE… GO ANGLE BABES!
*laughs and laughs* Yes, but if it were you and I in the car, we’d be belting Disney so loudly we wouldn’t need to turn out volume up
mmm with cacao powder+ nibs it would be like a cherry ripe bar!
wish my car radio volume would turn my partner’s blah blah blahhhhing down sometimes
You make me laugh
Hang in there tiger, your Grandma will be so so proud of you x
Ooooh, you’re right! And with coconut, too! Absolutely a cherry ripe truffle. I’m going to have to try that
*laughs and laughs* Best call of the night!
And thank you! That’s all I could ask for. Thank you.
Oh darling Spay Lady my heart goes out to you -it is such a difficult time
xxx
On the other hand, you remain adorable!
Oh, Lorraine. Thank you. You make my life more sparkly xoxo
You kill me…. hilarious! You’re not alone though. In the world of nincompoops I promise you have an ally in me.
Beautiful recipe, too. Looking for some good vegan treats to share with a colleague – I’m often baking stuff for the office and don’t want to leave her out. Talk about a pizzazz killer.
Thank you, Yasmeen! I think we should have a secret nincompoop handshake. My suggestion is that it will involve reaching for each other’s hands and then tripping and falling over our own feet.
Oh, you’re so right! Nothing more pizzazz-killing in the office than someone being left out of treats. I’d really recommend my mango sunflower no-bake truffles too
To hear your friend better you turned the volume up without connecting Vicky first to your audio system? I guess you just forgot, or you thought Vicky was bluetooth compatible:)
Bahahaha! Brilliant, brilliant. I’m not sure how she’d have felt about me sticking wires into her though
These look awesome and they’re totally the kind of thing I know I’ll make all the time once I try them. Bookmarked to try sometime in the next little while. Thanks!!
I hope you like them, Angela! They’re probably the most simple of my raw/no-bake truffle recipes, but sometimes you just want simple
Oh Hannah, I’m so sorry to hear about your grandmother. My thoughts and love are with you. I hope those yummy no bake treats gave you some joy in a hard hard time xoxo
Thank you Casey, they did. But not as much as the support from you and other readers
xo
You have it my lady
Your volume story is hilarious and yet quite logical. The brain does funny things when driving (well it does to me, I’m a fraidy cat behind the wheel.)
Is there *nothing* that a combination of nuts and dried fruits can’t do? Love this new addition to your truffle portfolio so much that I’m tempted to throw caution to the wind one day, buy up in bulk on the aforementioned ingredients and then make Every. Single. Truffle. Recipe. You’ve. Ever. Blogged. Truffle Party! (note: this may never happen anywhere other than my mind.) Also there’s something about Cherry Date Truffle that makes it sound like the name of a cheeky but well-meaning fictional heroine from an early 50s novel about a girls’ boarding school. (Actually I think it’s just generally a good pseudonym, so if you’re ever checking into a hotel anonymously to hide from the paparazzi, remember this moment).
Hope your pizzazz levels return to normal soon – however a low level is perfectly understandable given the circumstances.
Oh my gosh, if you ever do host an Every. Single. Truffle. Recipe. I’ve. Ever. Blogged. Truffle Party!, can I please come and wear a tiara? Please? And eat all of them with you? Perhaps this could just be a party of you and me. Oh, I like this idea very much indeed.
Miss Cherry Date Truffle? I’m so glad you interpreted that as an early 50s novel name, not a stripper name. *phew* Oh, how I loved those kind of books. I believe I actually tried writing one myself, but one of the main characters died after falling through the ice, and then I think I got bored
Where was I?
Oh, yes. You always make me feel happy, Laura
xo
hmm kinda reminds me how I tried to start my car by pressing the door open buzzer.!!!!
Teehee! That makes perfect sense!
super wow for the truffles.. i think i m gonna like mine with some ginger.. ginger and cinnamon.. theres nuthign that they cant make better!!
of i;ve dont that too.. tried to reduce the volume of a heated argument between hubbs and a friend using the TV remote!:D
Take care and have a good day!
Absolutely! I love using ground ginger and cinnamon in treats like this
*laughs* If only we really could *mute* arguments…
Oh I love little chewy treats like this. These look great. Have to try for sure!
Thank you Ashlea!
Glad to hear you got through the day, m’dear. You’re doing well to post at all, methinks. And sour cherries! YUm.x
You helped me through that day, Lexi. Such perfect timing, in the end. Almost as if the universe planned the postal system that way
xoxoxo
I can always tell when I’m really tired because I get to the front door and try to unlock it with my car beeper. I’ve stood there “beeping” the door for ages before while trying to work out why it isn’t opening. As well as not opening, it of course means I need to go back and check the car to see if I have now inadvertently unlocked it.
Hope your pizazz makes it way back to you soon, but in the meantime tasty treats do help.
These stories are definitely helping me bring back my pizzazz
Love yours! Though really, I don’t know why our stupid front doors can’t just open via us simply standing there and demanding “Open! Open, you dumb door!” 
*drool*
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