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October 2016

    Recipes, Reviews

    Coconut, Pistachio and Matcha Energy Bites Recipe

    I have been interested in trying Matcha Green Tea for a while so was pleased to get the opportunity when Pure Chimp sent me some. I have been enjoying the tea as a hot drink but as it is a fine powder it is also easy to add to a variety of recipes. I created this energy bite recipe including two of my favourite foods, pistachio nuts and coconut! These Matcha Energy Bites are easy to make and so delicious. They are perfect for an afternoon pick me up and provide that much needed energy boost to keep me going until dinner.

    Disclosure: I received the Matcha Green Tea for the purpose of this post. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

    This post contains affiliate links.

    Matcha Green Tea

    Matcha Green Tea leaves are grown in the same way as those used for regular green tea until the last two weeks when they are grown under a protective cover. This is responsible for the extra ‘greenness’ and also the amazing health benefits. The leaves are then dried and slowly ground to a fine powder. The tea has numerous health benefits including boosting metabolism, increasing energy levels and it is full of antioxidants.

    Coconut, Pistachio and Matcha Energy Bites

    I have experienced an increase in energy while drinking Matcha Tea especially when consumed first thing in the morning. It is delicious with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice added to it. If I need an energy boost in the afternoon then these Energy Bites are the perfect snack. They only take about 10 minutes to make. I roll the balls in ground pistachios and coconut but you can skip this step if you want them ready faster and with less mess! This recipe will make about 16 Energy Bites.

    Ingredients

    1 cup of dates
    1/2 cup of pistachio nuts
    1/4 cup of ground almonds
    1/4 cup of desiccated coconut
    2 tbsp of Coconut Oil
    1 tsp of Matcha tea powder

    Directions for Matcha Energy Bites

    Place the pistachios in a food processor and process until finely chopped.

    Take out 3 tbsp and put aside to roll the balls in later. Also save 3 tbsp of the desiccated coconut.

    Chop the dates into small pieces and add to the food processor along with the the rest of the ingredients. Process until all the ingredients are incorporated and the consistency is right for forming balls. If the mixture is too dry add a little more coconut oil, if it is too wet add some more ground almonds.

    Form the mixture into balls, about 2 tsp at a time and roll in either the pistachios or coconut.

    Place on a baking tray and refrigerate for a couple of hours.

    Then transfer to an airtight container and store in the fridge.

    The Matcha Energy Bites will keep for about a week in the fridge or you could make a big batch and freeze.

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    Coconut, Pistachio and Matcha Energy Bites

     

    Reviews

    Classic Nursery Rhymes Review

    Little Miss loves singing and I often hear her singing Twinkle Twinkle, and Baa Baa Black Sheep when she is playing. Another of her favourites is Wheels on the Bus, she often asks me to sing along with her. She enjoys all of the different verses and doing the actions for each one. We were delighted to receive the new Classic Nursery Rhymes album from Nursery Rhymes 123.

    Classic Nursery Rhymes Album

    Classic Nursery Rhymes Album

    Little Miss was familiar with a few of the rhymes on this album but some were new to her. She thoroughly enjoyed listening to it and asks for it to be played several times a day. The album has 12 popular upbeat nursery rhymes including ‘Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes’, ‘If You’re Happy and You Know It’ and ‘Five Little Monkeys’. It’s perfect for a sing-a-long and Little Miss gets her brothers to join in too. She is enjoying learning the actions to each song and the counting rhymes are helping her to learn numbers too. There is also an instrumental version of each rhyme which is great to sing along with or to have on as background music.

    The rhymes are sung by UK based singer-songwriter Martha Bean who also plays a variety of instruments on the tracks including piano, cello, recorder and mandolin. Nursery Rhymes 123 started as a collaboration between Martha and BAFTA award winning director and father-of-two Dan Smith, when they were discouraged by the lack of good quality Nursery Rhymes on YouTube. I have found that myself in the past. I would play rhymes on YouTube for the children but half way through I would be desperate to turn it off. Dan and Martha’s aim was to produce beautiful music that parents could bear to listen to on repeat and they have certainly achieved that! This is an album that I am happy to listen to over and over again.

    The Classic Nursery Rhymes Album is available to buy from the 31st October on iTunes for £7.99. It is also available to stream on Spotify and other major sites.

    Classic Nursery Rhymes Tracks

    The tracks included on the album are:

    1. Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes
    2. Mary Had a Little Lamb
    3. Five Little Speckled Frogs
    4. If You’re Happy and You Know It
    5. Jack and Jill
    6. She’ll Be Coming Round the Mountain
    7. Five Little Monkeys
    8. Three Blind Mice
    9. London Bridge is Falling Down
    10. Pat-a-Cake Pat-a-Cake
    11. Little Miss Muffet
    12. Pop! Goes the Weasel

    What’s your child’s favourite nursery rhyme?

    Discosure: I received a copy of this album for the purpose of this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

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