Hasn’t this week been beautiful?
It was 16C on Tuesday, less than a fortnight since it was -16C: mental, but in a very good way 🙂
Something that wasn’t as good this week was the start of Lent.
We were talking about it at work and my colleague said he was giving up alcohol.But as he doesn’t drink at all during the week, I said that wasn’t quite in the spirit, that it should be something you’d really miss. I gave chocolate as an example for me and asked whether he’d give that up. He said no within a nanosecond and we both laughed.
Two minutes later, he said: “Ok, I’ll give up chocolate if you will.”
Balls.
I called his bluff and said he was only saying that because he knew I wouldn’t… but ten minutes later, he said: “Ok, even if you’re not doing it, I am.”
Double balls.
That was the gauntlet well and truly thrown down and he’d outmanoeuvred me a treat 🙂
So no more of these:
Or these:
Or even these:
Balls indeed 🙂
It’s good though, because I’d got to the stage of eating chocolate every single evening, whether I really wanted it or not (although to be fair, I always did) so I think it’ll be good to have some willpower and RESIST THE CALL!
I’ve been making non-chocolatey treats like this lot:
More cookies, cashew and pumpkinseed, Laura’s truly delicious caramel pie (but in squares) and coconut/oat truffles. That lot should see me through.
I also made some more bubble and squeak cakes the other night, using half sweet potato and half white and making mini ones, which went perfectly with a spinach and goats’ cheese omelette:
What I should have given up, of course, is these:
Now why didn’t I think of that?!
Hope you’re having a great weekend 🙂
Eating like a horse 
Still haven’t decided what I’m giving up for Lent yet!
That’s what I did last year, I think it’s a good idea 😉
Oh my word you are brave! Wishing you lots of will power 🙂 I have to say if your going to replace chocolate with anything that caramel pie is pretty good!
It’s so good, thank you for the recipe! I used oats in the crust too, which was delicious 🙂
Bless you for that last picture – I think beetroot would be tough for you to give up for Lent 😉 Perhaps a chocolate beetroot cake or a chocolate beet green smoothie might be an appropriate way to celebrate for Easter…
Your non-chocolate snacks look delicious though: even I would not miss chocolate too badly if I could have some of those.
Long may the warmer weather continue and I hope I haven’t jinxed it by saying that…
xxx
I love the idea of the chocolate beetroot cake; my mum made one once and it was so, so good… thanks for the inspiration! The other snackage has been brilliant and although it wasn’t my intention, it’s got to be healthier than chocolate, which is all good 🙂
I hope it’s been as lovely and springlike for you as it has down here this week, it’s been beautiful!
I don’t know why, but I can comment again! Yay!! Well, we’re Lenten twins because I gave up chocoloate too! I just have to keep remembering it. I was out with friends and one said that was what she was giving up. Since I hadn’t thought of anything and I hadn’t had chocolate since Lent started I said what the heck. Hope we can both be strong!
Good luck! It sounds like your giving it up and mine were similar – and I like the idea of Lenten twins 🙂
I’m glad you can comment again too… thank you!
Good luck going without chocolate!! You can do it! 🙂
Thank you! Never thought I’d see the day – or the 40 days 🙂
Teehee, I could easily give up chocolate *in* other things (like cookies), because I have no interest in that, but anyone who tried to pry my chocolate bars from my hand is going to get bitten. Yes, I bite. 😛
Though – ugh. It’s summer here and only 19C. WTF. 😛
Hee hee, I’d be over the moon with 19C in summer here! Mind you, it was 14-ish the other day, which was lovely 🙂
I think I’d bite too if somone tried to take it away but I agree, it’s the bars that are the hardest *sigh* !
I haven’t given up anything for lent. The caramel pie looks amazing! Yum!
Yum is so right, give it a go!
Good luck, you can do it! 🙂
Especially with those other snacks- I keep meaning to make that caramel pie as it always looks divine.
It’s lovely; you won’t regret it if you do! I used half oats in the crust which was lovely, but I think I’d use a smaller pan next time than I did to get a nice thick slice… 🙂
Yeeshe good luck woman, I don’t think I could do it! haha
Thank you! It’s actually not been bad so far – but there’s a long way to go!
Ahh, luckily there ARE so many good non-chocolate treats out there 🙂 Just means you get to do some experimenting!
That’s so true, I’ve made loads of deliciousness and there are so many non-chocolatey things I’d forgotten about which are so good… the silver lining to the chocolate cloud 🙂
Oh dear! You are right though that they’re lots of other tasty treats out there. When I didn’t eat chocolate, toffee and fudge were my favourites. Imagine how good your Easter eggs with taste this year!
Mmm, toffee and fudge – I’ve got no control when it comes to fudge though! And yes, Easter Saturday night is when it ends, according to my mum so I’ll have a big stash ready for that 🙂
Hi, just found your blog via your comment on Fran’s broken cookie site. You have some amazing recipes…I’m looking forward to passing this info on to a friend of mine who can’t have gluten, and also trying some of the dishes myself. AND…your photos are lovely!!! All the best from Vancouver.
Thank you so much! That’s such a lovely comment, it really made my day 🙂