Accolades

Things that make Megan happy:

1. The sound ice makes when it's dropped in very hot water

2. Bubble wrap

3. That first breath of air after swimming the length of a pool underwater

4. Having people telling her how great her cooking creations are

It seems as though the universe is also a reader of my blog. Obviously it felt bad about wrecking my life last week and decided to be nice to me this week. Ice cubes in my tea? Check. New DVD arriving covered in bubble wrap? Check. Shoulder feeling better enough to swim a little bit? Check. Everyone who tries my snacks loving them? Check and double check.


From my friend Mrs. C (for whom I made Chocolate Macaroons, fruitcake muffins, and an early version of the Almond-Coconut Doilies; layered them with colored wax-paper in fancy gilded and monogrammed boxes; wrapped the whole thing is cellophane and ribbons and called it a Christmas gift):
"Those cookies saved my life on the airplane to California! I had other passengers asking me what smelled so good, but I just couldn't make myself share!"


From Joann (who got Forgotten Cheesecake for Christmas, and for whom I make Not-Peanut Sauce on the regular):
"If there was a way to eat this [Not-Peanut Sauce] for breakfast I would. And anytime you want to make more of those coconut cookies would be ok by me."


From the Doc (who got to be my taste-tester for the doldrum-ending bake-a-thon):
"Huh. This one looks a little brown. And, whoops! This one broke. And I should probably eat one more so you have an even number of cookies..."

From JSK and Jen, my lovely lunch companions in Athens (who were the first recipients of the at-the-time-unnamed raw torte):
"This tastes like magic."


Nothing like **"the stuff that accolades are made of"** to make a girl feel better that's for sure. They were even enough to make me forget that in my excitement to be baking again after my depression, I dropped a spatula into a running blender, necessitating my picking through the torte crust for little plastic pieces.


So here's the recipe for the magic-tasting torte, finally given a name by JSK.


Raw Chocolate-Orange Coma
Note that even though the opiate effects are directly related to the amount of torte you eat, just one bite is magical enough to transport you momentarily. I don't recommend eating this while standing or operating heavy machinery.


3 cups raw cashews, soaked 2-3 hours
3/4 cup agave nectar
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 cup fresh orange juice (about two small oranges)
1 cup raw coconut butter, room temperature or warmer (but not melted)
1 tablespoon grated orange zest
1 cup dates (about 6-7 whole dates), pitted and soaked 1 hour
2 cups chopped walnuts


Blend the cashews, agave, cocoa, vanilla, and zest in a blender, adding the OJ slowly until very smooth, scraping the sides when needed.
Pulse the dates and chopped walnuts in a food processor (or dry-blade blender) until it forms a sticky-chunky paste.
Press the date-walnut crust into a 9-inch springform pan (I used my mom's heart-shaped one).
Pour the cashew ganache mixture over the crust, spreading evenly with an off-set spatula.
Put in the freezer for a few hours to set, then store in the fridge until ready to serve.