So, we’ve been home 3 weeks today.
I’ve written this blog post over and over in my mind since the very moment we stepped foot off that plane. But now that I’m finally sitting down to write, I don’t really know where to begin.
So many people have asked us why we moved back to Raglan from Perth after living there for 5 years. It’s most definitely not that we didn’t love living in Perth, cause we did for sure. Leaving our life there was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do, harder in a lot of ways than when we first left NZ. Seeing my babies distraught beyond belief when saying our final goodbyes to family and friends just about killed me and I miss my dear friends each and everyday. But 5 years was always our plan and being the Virgo that I am, I like to stick to plans no matter how hard they may be to pull off. As much as I love Australia and the life it has given me on and off since I was 19 years old, it’s just not my home. Here is.
Driving the road home to Raglan my mind anticipates every bump, my body leans naturally into every corner as it’s done so many thousands of times before. There’s even a certain corner where as a child, we’d go around it and over this one bump which left my stomach in my throat and although the bump has long been smoothed out, my body still prepares for the movement that once came. My heart feels at home in this little house where both our children were born. Set high on the hill with the harbour always in sight and the memories of time spent next door -when my Nana was still with us- fresh in my mind. Now that we’ve brought the gardens and hillside back into some level of control (5 years of having tenants in your house = a whole lotta weeds and overgrowth, let me tell you!), the raised garden beds Si built years ago now sit, and await the new growth and love that we’ve been dreaming of putting into our own little patch for many, many years. Sure, there have been many moments of feeling like a tourist in my own town since our return and I miss my Nana every time I’m in the kitchen looking out the window to her house next door. Yes I worry about the kids starting at a new school, even if it’s at a school I know so well (my old school!). Yes, the family responsibilities weigh heavy on me now that I’m near my own and I worry about us finding enough work to get by, but I am home. We are home.
We’re still waiting on our belongings to arrive from Perth and until then we’re making do with the bare essentials consisting of a few borrowed things, a few things we’d left behind and the little bit we brought with us on the plane over. I’m hanging out for my muffin tins to arrive, or a slice tin so that I can get baking, but until then I’ve got a few recipes to share which I created last year for Food & Wine.
I hope you’ve all had a lovely summer break (or winter break for those of you up North!), I’ve got lots of exciting things coming up this year which I can’t wait to share, one being my NEW BOOK (of course!), which is out April 1st in NZ + Australia (+ hopefully shortly after in the UK with worldwide shipping options of course). Also, this was a lovely thing to see today, thanks Martine for compiling this list once again. As this is my last year to ‘qualify’ as a Perth blogger is was a really lovely surprise. Lastly, a few of my Northern Hemisphere friends have shared recipes from my first book this past week, Molly made my Chai ‘Cheesecake’ w/ Earl Grey Fig Sauce and Laura made my Peanut + Brown Rice Patties (which is a super special recipe, adapted from one that mum used to make us as kids). Go check them out xx
dark chocolate cups
hankering for something sweet and chocolatey without any added gluten, dairy or
refined sugar, these make the perfect treat. They’re easy to whip up, use
everyday ingredients and the best thing is that once made they will happily
store in the freezer for up to 1 month. Which means they’ll always be at hand
when that craving arises… if you don’t eat them all in one go that is! If using frozen raspberries I’d check to see where they’re grown…
extra raspberries, sliced in half
saucepan of boiling water, and stir until melted and smooth. Place 1 tablespoon
of chocolate in the base of 10 (3 tablespoon capacity) silicone muffin
molds or paper cases. Place into the freezer for 10-15 minutes or until set.
Place shredded coconut, raspberries, maple syrup, coconut milk, coconut oil and
a good pinch of sea salt in the bowl of a mini food processor. Pulse until just
combined. Alternatively you could just mix by hand until well combined.
raspberry mixture into the center of each chocolate cup, flatten slightly and
place 1/2 sliced raspberry on top. Repeat with remaining cups. Return to the
freezer for 5 minutes, reheat remaining raw chocolate if it’s started to set.
Pour 1 tablespoon of raw chocolate over the top of each raspberry mound to
cover completely then return to the freezer for 20 minutes to set hard. Eat
straight from the freezer. They will store in a covered container in the
freezer for up to 1 month.
49 Responses
Beautiful recipe, stunning styling, as always!
Thank you! xx
gorgeous recipe!!
wishing you every happiness and continued success as you settle in at 'home' in Raglan 🙂
Thanks so much Sue xx
It's good to be back home, even when it's hard on the beginning. You'll make it! And Raglan is so beautiful. This is the place which will always be in my heart (thanks to you) because I've learned there that I'm pregnant. I also have a scar on my knee as I was climbing the hills and I kicked a broken tree by accident. I still remember how shop of your dad looks and three times I went there to say hi to him (but he was never there). I hope to go back to Raglan with Mia one day. Have a lovely time, relax and enjoy. Hugs from Berlin!
So lovely to hear to speak of Raglan like this Marta. I'm so happy that you made it here and that it left a lasting impression on you. It would be great if you came to visit, especially as we are here now! Much love xx
welcome back to new zealand, there really is no place like home. over this summer I have been putting your cookbook to good use, making numerous recipes from it, all of which have been delicious! to be honest, amoungst my growing stack of cookbooks, yours is the one which gets the most use, as I love your recipes and techniques….so thanks! hope you settle back in easily and enjoy reconnecting with raglan. x
Oh that's so awesome to heat Alice! Much love xx
Emma, it was so lovely to meet up at the picnic before your departure from Perth. I know that a lot of us are looking forward to your new book and finding ways to celebrate. Being back home must be such a good feeling. Wishing you much success as you settle back in Raglan xx
Thanks heaps Ines, it was lovely to meet you and thanks so much for taking the time to come along! Wishing you all the best too xx
Welcome home. I did the same thing you did, except my time away was 15 years, and in Canada. It was hard in those last couple of years anticipating the return home, and hard after we arrived back, leaving people behind! It's been 6 years now, and I don't regret it. There's no place like home, especially when home is New Zealand.
That's so lovely to hear that even though it was hard to leave your adopted homeland, it was worth it. I'm already feeling like it was the best move possible for us and we've only been home less than a month! xx
Oh my goodness, these look absolutely amazing! My usual refined sugar-free treats are getting a little boring, so I'm looking forward to trying these out and (hopefully) adding them to my rotation 🙂
Tessa at Bramble & Thorn
I hope you enjoy them Tessa xx
i want to make these so bad, they look amazing! but don't have a silicone candy mold. is there anything else you can recommend that i could use?
Hi Mardi, paper cases (that you use to line muffin/cupcake tins with) would also work fine xx
great, thank you for the reply! one other quick question. do you think cashew milk would work too? i make it myself.
Can't wait for garden posts!:)glad your all safe and sound
Jacquie! So lovely to see your comment. The garden posts are a wee while off just yet, but so exciting that I might be able to get a few up at some stage in the near future. I don't miss the sandy soils of Western Australia that's for sure 🙂
Welcome home, Emma! I hope you and your family settle in well and and you enjoy your familiar surroundings while making new discoveries and memories. I'm excited for your new book and have cooked quite a bit from your first one. These chocolate cups are simply gorgeous, too!
Thanks Hannah, I'm super excited about this next book too 🙂
Welcome home Emma,to you and your beloved family. Have lots of spare veggies in our garden, do pop around sometime, so we can share them with you until Si's raised beds are producing.
Hey love! Popping over has been on our to-do list for weeks! Now that the kids are back at school we'll have to make it happen xx
How exciting, welcome home! Now you can truly lay down those roots and grow that large fruitful garden. Looking forward to your new book and other ventures 🙂
Thanks Nicola xx
There's nothing quite like coming home, although the adjustment is always hard. Such a spectacular part of the world to call home, and what a beautiful season you have to kick it off. Gorgeous goodies, I wish I had a whole plate of them right now.
Thanks Sophie, we are truly lucky to call this place home xx
Gorgeous recipe. This blog has inspired me to start my own blog. I loved the way you described your experiences throughout.
Catering in campbelltown
How cool! x
I hope you're settling into your new life ok and really looking forwards to your new book. Beautiful recipe, as always 😉 x
Thanks love xx
Am literally counting down the days until your next book! Until then I'll give these a try — they look beautiful (also pretty perfect for Valentine's Day!) I read somewhere once that change brings opportunity — and it sounds like from your post, to be with your family and feel like you're home is one of the best opportunities. All the best!
🙂 You've been such a huge support with my first book and I can't wait for you to see my new one too! Much love xx
Ah welcome home! Moving is always uprooting no matter what, but something tells me it won't belong until you and your family feel right at home where you are. These cups are gorgeous, Emma – I am so excited for you new book – you continue to inspire me x
Thanks so much for your sweet words Jodi! Much love xx
Oh does this resonate with me Emma. I'm so sorry you had to leave Perth, but so happy for you to be home. We left our home almost a year and a half ago and cannot wait to get back. So many happy tears will be shed when we drive back up to our old neighborhood with our belongings. I cannot wait. Your place there in NZ sounds like a dream! Enjoy soaking up every nostalgic moment. I also am so happy your book has arrived in the US, and need to get my hands on it – those peanut patties Laura posted won me over – you are incredible! xo
Thanks Jessie! Those peanut patties are awesome xx
These look so lovely, Emma … I wonder, if you made the chocolate with cacao butter instead of coconut oil, would they stay solid without being frozen?
I'm delighted to have found your blog, through Laura over at The First Mess (p.s., she is NOT from the US, she's Canadian!!). So many yummy things here that I look forward to perusing. Hope you are settling nicely into that space of returning home.
Hi Sherry and welcome! You could definitely add a little cacao butter to firm things up a little, however I'd still add a little coconut oil to keep the texture lovely. They don't have to be stored in the freezer, fridge is fine, I just store them in the freezer so they last longer and I like them snappy-cold. Thanks for pointing out my typo, I totally know Laura is Canadian (!!). I added her link in just right before I posted this as I'd just spotted it and totally missed that line about US friends! I've changed now xx
I love chocolates, This is something special. Chocolate with Raspberry + Coconut. Wow!!!! I need to try it. after that i will let you know my experience with this special item. 🙂
They look to me like massive blocks of chocolate! Lovely.
Wow it sounds just amazing I'm right there with you. I've loved seeing your photos on instagram too. The kids will be fine, sounds like a wonderful place to grow up xx
Hi Emma,
I recently made the peanut brown rice patties and they didn't hold together as well as I think that they should have, since they crumbled a bit in the pan! 🙁 I was wondering if you had any tips so that they hold together better next time.
By the way, your recipe for the banana, date and olive oil bread is amazing (and now the only one I use for banana bread!) Thank you!
Hi Aleisha,
That's a bummer! It might be that your cooked brown rice was on the dry-side? To remedy this I'd add a touch more quinoa flakes/oats and a little more of the miso/water mixture. If you eat eggs, you could also always add one whisked egg to the mixture to help hold it all together a bit better, although I've never had to do this myself. Let me know how you go xx ps stoked you love the banana bread!
I am loving these healthy little chocolate cups! Chocolate cups are so delicious and look great too, but are mostly unhealthy I find. People are crazy about those Reese's peanut butter cups, but I can only assume they're full of hydrogenated fats and plenty of sugar. These, on the other hand, most definitely qualify as health food!
Beautiful! And welcome home!
Tempting recipe,Beautiful photos,i like the way of describing your story,really thanks for sharing us..
I have just stumbled across your blog and want to say thank you for this recipe and thank you for the story. I also have recently moved home (Northern England) after living in Perth for 5 years and am awaiting my cookery books and crockery. Returning to our house which has been rented out and a garden and house which have seen better days, and having to find new routines and favourite parks and coffee shops for my girls.
I look forward to trying out these treats with my girls and reading more.
Thank you so much!