MATCHA & PISTACHIO BUSH BALLS

THE ULTIMATE POWER-FOOD SNACK!

INGREDIENTS
2 CUPS DRIED DATES
1 CUP UNSALTED CASHEW NUTS
¼ CUP PISTACHIO NUTS
¼ CUP SUNFLOWER SEEDS
1 TSP MATCHA (GREEN TEA) POWDER
1 TBSP GROUND FLAXSEED (IF YOU HAVE IT)
1 TSP VANILLA ESSENCE
1 TBS HONEY OR MAPLE SYRUP
COAT WITH: CRUSHED PISTACHIO NUTS (OPTIONAL)

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 CASHEW, PISTACHIO 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 DATES, NUTS, SEEDS AND ALL THE REMAINING INGREDIENTS TO A LARGE MIXING BOWL. MIX WELL.  
TAKE A TABLESPOON OF THE MIXTURE. ROLL INTO A FIRM BALL (ABOUT 3CM DIAMETER).
ROLL IN DESSICATED COCONUT, PLACE ON A PLATE AND 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: MATCHA IS RICH IN ANTIOXIDANTS. OTHER HEALTH BENEFITS INCLUDE: HEART HEALTH, SUPPORTS WEIGHT MANAGEMENT, BOOSTS BRAIN FUNCTION AND MAY HELP TO PROTECT THE LIVER.