Chocolate Avocado Truffles | Nut-Free, Egg-Free, Gluten-Free

Don't just a recipe by it's name. Trust me, one bite of these truffles and you won't believe that avocado is in them. The avocado adds a creamy flavor without having to add milk. This recipe also contains no eggs, nuts, flour or gluten, and it is made with whole/real-food ingredients!

What You Need

1 stick (1/2 cup) of real butter (not margarine)

1 large, very ripe avocado

1.5 tsp pure vanilla extract

1+1/4 cups unsweetened cocoa powder

3 cups powdered sugar (here is a great recipe for unrefined powdered sugar)

What You Do

Step 1

Peel avocado and remove pit. Place in blender or food processor.

Step 2

Melt butter. Add to avocado. Puree until no chunks remain.

Step 3

Add pureed avocado/butter mixture to a mixing bowl. Stir in vanilla, cocoa and powdered sugar until thoroughly combined. Let chill in refrigerator until hardens, about 15-20 minutes.

Step 4

Once chocolate has hardened remove from refrigerator. Roll portions of chocolate mixture into 1/2"-to-3/4" balls (a mellon baller works nicely). If chocolate mixture softens place back in refrigerator until hardens again. Place on wax paper or parchment paper-lined cookie sheet. 

Step 5

Place truffle balls into refrigerator until firm. Remove and roll truffles in powdered sugar to lightly coat the outside (optional). Store, refrigerated, in airtight container until ready to serve. Can serve chilled or at room temperature.

No-Sew Painted Curtain Tutorial

I needed some curtains for under our bathroom vanity, but I dreaded having to shop for them. I found an old pair of stained white curtains in our house and breathed new life into them (and I didn't sew a thing!). 

Read on to see how I did it.

Step 1: Gather your materials.

Step 2: Measure the length of curtain you will need. Cut curtain from bottom hem, 4-6" longer than the length you need.

Step 3: Cut curtain. Then go back and mark half of the extra length you cut, measuring from the cut end of the curtain. For me, I cut 4" extra so I marked 2" in from the cut end of the curtain.

Step 4: Fold curtain end over at marked line and glue. Make sure you add a thin line of hot glue just under the portion of the curtain that is cut so that enough space is made to slide the curtain through.

Step 5: Use painter's tape to mark areas of curtain you want to remain the original curtain color. Some people stencil in designs or create a chevron pattern. For these curtains I used a basic stripe pattern. A helpful tip: extend the tape beyond the curtain and onto the work surface to help stabilize the curtain and prevent shifting.

Step 6: Paint the curtain. I used gray acrylic paint, applied with a paint sponge. Make sure you give a healthy coat to avoid streaking. Also make sure you have something placed under the curtain to protect your work surface from paint that make soak through the curtain. For my project I strategically painted over the stained parts of the curtain.

This is what it should look like. Not very pretty yet.

Step 7: Allow curtain to dry. Once the curtain is dry slowly peel tape off the curtain.

Here is the finished product! Because I already had the curtains on-hand, my total cost for this project was a whopping $2 (the cost of a bottle of gray paint).

Honest Thoughts & Opinions on The Ultimate Homemaking Bundle Sale

This week has been unusual in that most of my blog posts, tweets and Facebook posts have been about the Ultimate Homemaking Bundle sale that's been going on. Although I have been marketing this bundle pretty heavily, I want to be honest about my thoughts on this bundle.

SALE ENDS MAY 4 AT 11:59 PM (EST)

I understand that this bundle is not everyone's cup of tea , but I also know that it can be a very helpful and timely resource for many. I don't like to push people to buy things they don’t need, but I do want to make sure that the offer has been made available to as many people as possible. I know I have personally benefited from  several of the books included in this bundle and would hate for someone to miss out because they didn't know about it.

When I first learned that this bundle contained nearly 100 homemaking resources I admit I was a bit overwhelmed and thought, "there is no way I will ever read all of those." It almost felt like someone opened a fire hydrant on me. But the beauty of this bundle is that I can pick-and-choose which books I will actually read. There is no rule that you have to read (or like) all of the books.

Do I love and endorse each and every eBook/eCourse? No. But there are several that I wholeheartedly recommend and they total well over the price of the entire bundle, $29.97. For that reason alone, the bundle was a great purchase for me. These are the books I endorse:
31 Days to Clean ($4.99) 
Pulling Yourself Together: Implementing a Cleaning Routine that Sticks ($10.00) 

One Bite at a Time: 52 Projects for Making Life Simpler ($5.00)
28 Days to Hope for your Home ($5.00)
Organizing Life as Mom ($9.00)
Clean Enough: Simple Solutions for the Overwhelmed ($4.99)
10 Steps to Organized Paper ($5.00)
The Dig for Kids: Luke (Volumes 1 and 2) ($5.98)
Tell Your Time ($2.99)
Real Food, Real Easy ($9.95)
20-Minute Meals ($4.99)
Restocking the Pantry ($9.99)
Money Saving Mom's Guide to Freezer Cooking ($3.99)
Redeeming Childbirth: Growth & Study Guide ($3.99)
Truth in the Tinsel ($7.99)
iPhone Photography: The Visual Guide ($9.97)
When Motherhood Feels Too Hard ($4.97)
Mindset for Moms ($4.99)
42 Days to Fit ($4.99)
Healthy Homemaking ($12.95)
Frumps to Pumps ($4.99)
How to Grow Your Blog and Manage Your Home ($4.99)
Simple Blogging: Less Computer Time, Better Blogging ($8.00)

If This Bundle Doesn't Appeal To You At All

The last thing I want to do is push you into buying you something you don't need or want, but maybe you have a mom-friend (or few) who could benefit from a handful of the eBooks, courses or freebies. You could buy the bundle and give it to someone as a gift. Here are some creative ways to use the Ultimate Homemaking Bundle:

• Split the cost of the bundle with a friend(s) and divide the books between you
• Use some of the eBooks as Mother's Day gifts for your mom friends or your own mother
• If you operate a blog, use some of the books as giveaways
• Purchase the bundle for the freebies and give the books away! I thought to list my favorites from the freebies list but I would list every one of them!

The Ultimate Homemaking eBook Bundle is more than just a library of books about homemaking. It meal plans, beauty tips, chore charts, budgeting tools, homeschool resources, spiritual growth tools, marriage helps, holiday inspirations and more.

Click here to purchase the Ultimate Homemaking eBook Bundle Collection (with free bonuses) today!

Why I Purchased The Ultimate Homemaking Bundle

Reason #1: I have a running book and eBook wish list and several of the books included in this bundle were on my list already. The cost of those books individually cost more than the sale price of this bundle so it was an obvious "win" for me.

Reason #2: I love to shop, but I don't like to buy things for full retail price. I love getting the greatest discount I can. This bundle is a nearly $800 value, with a savings of 97%! Win again.

Reason #3: I love getting free stuff! Need I say more?

Reason #4: I know I don't have all the answers to life. Several of these eBooks and eCourses in this bundle deal with issues I am facing right now. I can learn and grow from reading them.

Like I said at the top of this post, I know this eBook bundle is not for everyone but it can be a help and encouragement to others. If the bundle doesn't interest you and you don't buy it, that is totally fine. But if it does interest you or you know it would make a great gift make sure you purchase it by 11:59 pm EST on May 4 (Saturday). There are no late sales offered in this sale. 

Refer to my previous post listing all of the details of the sale, including FAQs and the fine print.

Click here to purchase the Ultimate Homemaking eBook Bundle Collection (with free bonuses) today!