Steamed Pudding - GF option

2 cups non dairy milk
1/2 cup honey
2 cups mixed dried fruit
1/2 cup oil
3 tablespoons nut or seed spread
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
5 large carob buds - optional, for colour only
1/4 teaspoon cardamom, ground
1 1/2 cups plain flour or GF flour
1/2 cup wholemeal plain flour or GF flour
2 teaspoons aluminium free baking powder

Place first 9 ingredients into large saucepan and simmer for 3 minutes.  Take off heat and cool. Stir in remaining ingredients and pour into greased pudding dish.  Flatten mixture with wet hands. Place dish in large saucepan with water, making sure the water level height is half way up pudding dish.  Place lid on saucepan (no lid to be on pudding dish) and gently simmer for 1 1/2 hours.  Check pudding regularly for the first 10 minutes to make sure water is not splashing onto pudding. Take pudding dish out of large saucepan and let sit for 5 minutes on bench.  Slightly loosen pudding by running knife around edge, give a gentle shake, then turn out on plate. Serves 8-10.

"If God is for us, who can be against us? Things to come...shall not be able to separate us from the love of God." Romans 8:31,38,39.

Truffles GF (nut free option and soy free)

1/4 cup honey & pure maple syrup combined or agave

1/3 cup cashew spread or sunflower seed spread

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 tablespoon carob powder (light)

1 cup puffed brown rice (1 1/3 cups maybe needed for seed spread)

1/3 cup desiccated coconut or puffed millet

(extra coconut to coat balls)

Mix first 4 ingredients together in small bowl, set aside.  In blender, place the puffed rice and blend until powder.  Add rice powder and coconut to truffle mixture, mix well, form into balls and roll in coconut.  Store in fridge.  Makes approximately 20 truffles.

"Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the bones." Proverbs 16:24