My all-time favourite cracker base to date is sunflower seeds. When ground and baked till golden they come up crunchy, filling yet light, and very moreish. Add a little salt, herbs, garlic and sesame and a yummy topping and I have found a way in to my own heart (via my stomach, when snack attack has hit!).

This recipe was developed especially for Plastic Free Pantry - a food delivery company on Waiheke Island that is forging a way for locals to receive goods without any plastic in the supply chain.

These truffles are moist and decadent, have a chocolately texture with the cacao butter base, but still have a lovely strong feijoa flavour.

With feijoa season well and truly upon us in the south pacific, even the most hardened feijoa lovers are starting to wonder what to do with the excess!  I was asked by Plastic Free Pantry to adapt a recipe that used chocolate & wine biscuits to make them with packaging-free ingredients. I was making nut mylk at the time and so it seemed natural to utilise the nut grounds as the base. You can happily halve the recipe if you want a smaller quantity, or you can freeze the extra mixture or the balls until they are needed.

This delicious nut milk is worth every moment of prep time. It's sweet but not overly, the dates making a lovely and elegantly simple addition. I have used beautifully fresh nuts and dates from Plastic Free Pantry here on Waiheke Island. Always try to use fresh nuts. Buy them fresh from a great supplier and ensure you store away from heat & light in airtight containers and use within a few months if possible. This recipe is part 1 of a 2 part creation towards a recipe that will utilise the nut & date grounds.

Perfect for a bit of comfort on a rainy day! I've noticed more & more hot drink formulations cropping up that are mostly cacao, with a few spices added - and are over-priced! My advice: make your own. Blend the dry ingredients in a larger quantity and store in a jar so you can make a hot brew in a flash. Fantastic made with our home-made nut mylk. Cacao is rich in essential magnesium - helpful for enhancing muscle and nervous relaxation, coping with stress, and good sleep. This recipe is similar to traditional hot chocolate, but with the addition of health giving and warming spices.