COCOA & NUTTY BUSH BALLS

SO GOOD IT’S NUTS!

INGREDIENTS
1 CUP RAW ALMONDS 
2 CUPS DRIED DATES
½ CUP SUNFLOWER SEEDS
2 TBSP COCOA POWDER
1 TBSP GROUND FLAXSEED (IF YOU HAVE IT)
1 TBSP HONEY OR TAHINI PASTE
2 TSP CINNAMON POWDER 
COAT WITH: COCOA POWDER

UTENSILS:
ELECTRIC CHOPPER/BLENDER (OR PESTLE & MORTAR), SMALL BOWL, LARGE MIXING BOWL, PLATE OR TUPPER-WEAR, TEASPOON & TABLESPOON, MEASURING CUP.
 
METHOD:
SOAK THE DATES IN (A CUP FULL OF) BOILING WATER, IN A BOWL, FOR 5 MINUTES, TO SOFTEN.
MEANWHILE, MEASURE OUT THE ALMONDS AND SUNFLOWER SEEDS BEFORE ‘SMASHING’ THEM (USING AN ELECTRIC BLENDER OR MANUALLY) UNTIL THEY ARE A FEW MILLIMETRES IN SIZE. SET ASIDE.
DRAIN THE WATER FROM THE DATES AND SMASH/BLEND THEM TOO, (UNTIL THE MIXTURE IS PASTE-LIKE.)
TRANSFER THE NUTS, SEEDS, DATES AND THE REMAINING INGREDIENTS TO A LARGE MIXING BOWL. 
STIR WELL.
TAKE A TABLESPOON OF THE MIXTURE. MIX AND ROLL INTO A FIRM BALL (ABOUT 3CM DIAMETER)
ROLL IN COCOA POWDER. TAP OFF THE EXCESS AND PLACE ON A PLATE.
REPEAT UNTIL ALL THE MIXTURE HAS BEEN ROLLED INTO BALLS. PLACE IN THE FRIDGE TO FIRM UP. 

STORAGE: STAYS FRESH IN THE FRIDGE IN AN AIRTIGHT CONTAINER FOR SEVERAL WEEKS OR IN THE FREEZER FOR MONTHS!

NUTRITIONAL HACK: COCOA POWDER IS A GREAT SUBSTITUTE FOR CHOCOLATE POWDER, AS IT IS LOWER IN FAT AND SUGAR. IT IS ALSO PACKED WITH HEALTHY ‘CHEMICALS’ WHICH CAN REDUCE INFLAMMATION, PREVENT HEART DISEASE AND CANCER.
COCOA BEANS WERE EVEN USED BY THE AZTECS IN 15TH CENTURY AS A CURRENCY AND ALSO EATEN BY SOLDIERS TO HELP PREPARE THEM FOR WAR!