SWEET, SALTY & CRUNCHY- AND FULL OF GOOD FATS & FIBRE.
INGREDIENTS:
1 CUP RAW ALMONDS
1 CUP DRIED DATES
½ CUP PEANUTS
1 TBSP HONEY OR MAPLE SYRUP
1X TBSP TAHINI PASTE (OR ANOTHER SPOON OF PEANUT BETTER!)
1X TBSP PEANUT BUTTER
1X TBSP GROUND FLAXSEED IN 2X TBSP WATER (OPTIONAL)
COAT WITH: CRUSHED PEANUTS (OPTIONAL)
UTENSILS:
ELECTRIC CHOPPER/BLENDER (OR PESTLE & MORTAR), SMALL BOWL, LARGE MIXING BOWL, PLATE OR TUPPER-WEAR, 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 PEANUTS 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.)
ADD THE NUTS, DATES AND ALL 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 CRUSHED PEANUTS IF YOU FANCY 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: PEANUTS ARE VERY RICH HEALTHY FATS, AS WELL AS FIBRE, VITAMIN B AND MINERALS, KEEPING OUR BONES STRONG. THEY ARE ALSO RICH IN ANTIOXIDANTS. PEANUTS ARE HOWEVER CALORIE DENSE, SO NO NEED TO EAT MORE THAN A SMALL HANDFUL/DAY. FORTUNATELY, THE ALMONDS (IN THIS BUSH BALL RECIPE) HELP KEEP WEIGHT STEADY! 🙂