I remember doing impromptu one pan fry-ups in our pjs and sipping mugs of steaming coffee nestled in between still warm sheets on days when the sun had forgotten to rise and the chill in the air was just right (Quite hard to re-imagine that in the awful hot summer we seem to be having in Australia right now). But then kids happen and you want to set a good example and before long you are lecturing about the demerits of having crumbs in your sheets and the importance of sitting up straight at the table to eat. Boring. Parents make boring adults.
The theme for the food pages of November 2013 issue of ELLE Australia was Breakfast In Bed. And I decided now was as good a time as any to be a little more interesting and recreate some of that lazy bedraggled magic from yesteryears. I had fun setting up the shoot. Some beautiful polka dot linen was sourced from hello milky. Ornate picture frames were repurposed as serving trays. Vintage drawers and fruit crates became breakfast-in-bed trays. And the mood was incredibly moody and peaceful.
Food was simple, fuss free and wholesome. Market Skillet Eggs work on the principle of scouring the markets for fresh produce and using only that produce to throw together a big breakfast one pan fry-up. A Superfoods Smoothie was quickly whipped up after looking at a chart of superfoods and throwing together as many as I could find in a blender. Delicious! And then the fun part. Homemade cereal! Rolling little round chocolate balls to bake for a grown up version of cocoa puffs. And this fun recipe spiked with coffee is what I am sharing today. It first appeared in Issue 2 of ELLE Australia last year. Hope you enjoy all the pictures from the shoot.
When was the last time you had breakfast in bed? Breaking out of the crumb mould and being rebellious in your own bedroom (in the most culinary way of course!) is strangely liberating!
Happy weekend!
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HOMEMADE MOCHA PUFFS
Cocoa Puffs all grown up. A homemade baked cereal for the adult spiked with good old coffee and the tang of yoghurt.
Makes - 40 puffs to serve 2
Ingredients
½ cup plain flour
¾ cup hazelnut meal
¼ cup cocoa powder
¼ cup honey
½ teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon yoghurt
1 teaspoon instant coffee (granulated)
Method
Preheat oven to 180C. Line a baking sheet with baking paper.
Mix all ingredients in a bowl and knead for a few minutes until the mixture forms a firm but pliable dough. Tear off tiny bits of the dough and roll into grape sized balls.
Place dough balls on the prepared sheet and bake in the pre heated oven for approximately 12-15 minutes until cooked through.
Remove from oven. Cool completely. Store in an air tight container or glass jar for upto 4 days (upto a week in the fridge).
Enjoy with cold milk and a dash of maple syrup.
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What an amazing recipe! I've never thought of making homemade cocoa puffs. Oh, I'm so excited to make these.
Hello, I was wondering if there's anything you recommend to substitute the yogurt with a non-dairy alternative? These sound amazing but was hoping to make a vegan rendition if possible.
Apologies, you already answered this question, I didn't see it before, sorry!
These look awesome. Want to make them and feature them in a Valentine's Day post on my blog with my favorite chocolate recipes. I'm dairy-free at the moment, however, so I'm wondering if there is anything that I could substitute for the yogurt. Perhaps cultures almond milk?
Sabrina
Thanks Sabrina. You'd need the viscosity of yoghurt. Maybe a combination of a nut butter and nut milk (this in very small quantities). Green Kitchen stories has a lovely recipe for Cashew Yoghurt that could be used too http://www.greenkitchenstories.com/raw-cashewgurt-bowl-news/
Cheers!
Wow, what a shoot! Fantastic and it all looks so tactile and textured. Homemade cereal? Am so going to try it! Not a cereal person myself (gimme a masala dosa any day...) but I am very tempted with this idea. Super post.
I love chocolatey, sugary cereals that are meant for children. I loved them as a kid, and I still love them today. But I've never, ever thought to try to make my own. Brilliant idea, and gorgeous photos!
These look amazing! But is there anything I can use instead of hazelnut meal? My youngest would love these, but he's allergic to nuts.
the pictures look amazing. What is in those bottles you have in some of the pictures it looks yummy
They sound delicious and look amazing. I'm no longer a fan of chocolate, but still enjoy eating it now and then and will try to make these someday.
I think this recipe is brilliant. It would have never occurred to me to create such a delicious and grown up cereal.
I absolutely adore breakfast in bed. I try to change the sheets once a week on a Sunday afternoon, so Sunday morning becomes my special treat of "breakfast in bed and get as messy as I want"!
i've been seeing your gorgeous photos of the breakfast skillet all over pinterest and i was like "huh?! what about this is a mocha puff??" and then i made my way over here and my mind was just blown. i love the idea of homemade cocoa puffs! they look so cute and delightful and they sound delicious. yum!
Could you use almond meal instead of hazelnut meal?
Abbey, yes you absolutely could!
I think I need to go to bed and wait for someone to bring all this to me.
Love it!
Love this recipe and your styling in these photographs. Gorgeous. My young son will adore these puffs minus the coffe of course. 🙂
Gorgeous clicks and delicious looking mocha puffs.
Cheers,
Rosa
Stunning images Sneh! Everything looks fantastc, and delicious. I think my big kid would love your mocha puffs.
PS. I love the picture frames as breakfast tray idea Sneh! I'm going to have to steal that! 🙂
ha ha wonderful! go for it!
Another inspirational post, thank you so much - wishing it was the weather for snuggling up and enjoying breakfast in bed! Once I can face having the oven on the mocha puffs are a must, off now to check out hello milky - another way to feed my polka dot obsession...
Stunning photographs, that's one great brekkie in bed! Quite tempted to try the recipe, will let you know how I go.
This looks amazing. The shoot would of been so much fun and I like the addition of the do not enter sign a the back. That combination of hazelnuts, cocoa and coffee is definitely a great wake up call.
O my!!! How yummy does this look. Can you tell me what is in the drink also please? Looks like I can't have one without the other. Thanks for all the blogs - love them
Recipe and photos are insanely stunning, lady. Cannot wait to try my hand at homemade mocha puffs.
The last time I had breakfast in bed was also pre-children, those were the days! What a great idea nutritious chocolate cereal balls, I am intrigued. Thanks for sharing 🙂