Healthy Energy Balls-Dr. Ben Kim

1 C pecans
1-2 T cocoa powder
6-8 dates

for garnish:cocoa powder,coconut,dried fruit, or your favorite nuts.(calorie count does not include garnish)

Soak dates in water for 1 hour. If you need them faster soak in hot water for a few minutes until soft. Measure out i1cup of pecans into food processorand pulse until finely ground. Be careful not to turn them into pecan butter. Add a heaping T. of cocoa powder.( I like the dark chocolate taste, so I add 2). If you don't like chocolate skip this step. Blend or pulse until mixed well with the nuts. Add six soaked dates to the mix. ( Shake most of the water off of the dates leaving them slightly moist. You need this water to make the paste). Process on low until the mix comes together into a texture that lookes like grainy cookie dough. You want the texture to be so that you can pinch off a teaspoon size chunk and roll it into a ball with your palms. If mixture is not moist enough add additional dates being careful not to get the mix to moist as it is difficult to fix. Roll into balls and enjoy as is or garnish with additional cocoa powder, coconut, dried fruit or nuts. Whatever you like to make it your own. Enjoy.

Number of Servings: 14

Recipe submitted by SparkPeople user DARLING216.