Peanut Butter Power Balls

 

 

 

A friend recently shared a version of this recipe with me in our mutual quest for trying to find the perfect "healthy and filling but oh-so-yummy" afternoon snack.  The original recipe called for honey, but in my attempt to reduce all things "added sweetener", I subbed in dates for an equally sweet flavor that includes the whole of the fiber and plant nutrients....and makes them far less sticky.  The kids went crazy for them!  And, they have been subbed in for a breakfast on the go a time or two! 

 

I have brag for a moment before sharing the recipe (and I already have your attention if you're reading this!) Today was Gracie's first "official" day in the kitchen - complete with her own little apron!!!  In the past two days, she has had a near complete transformation into the interactive, playful, and sense-full land of words. I wouldn't have even considered leaving her out of our baking adventure today, whereas a week ago, I wouldn't have thought twice about it. So, here she is with Bobo and Sissy, getting ready to dive into our project!

Ingredients:

 

2 Cups Natural Peanut Butter (no sugar added)

2 Cups Dates, covered in warm water (keep reserved)

6 Cups Old Fashioned Rolled Oats

1 Cup Flax Meal

1 Cup Walnuts (or combination of favorite nuts and seeds)

1 Cup Dried Cranberries (or dried fruit of choice....OR chocolate chips!

 (*I have a chocolate chip, *issue*, so I can't keep them in the house.  Otherwise, they'd be in these Power Balls!)

 - Soak dates in warm water for a few minutes, then remove pits and stem end (if applicable) and add to your food processor. Add about half the soaking water, and process to create a date paste.

 - Add peanut butter to date mixture. Process until it begins to clump, then add more date water as needed to ensure the peanut butter - date mixture has a smooth consistency.

(*Note: It does not need to be runny.  You just don't want a large ball to form in the food processor.)

 

 Place all dry ingredients into a stand mixer and mix together.

 

Pour the peanut butter / date mixture into the oat mixture, and stir on low speed. You will have to scrape down the bowl a couple of times. 

(* Alternatively, place them in a large bowl to manually mix, but be ready to work those arms!

This makes some pretty thick dough!)

Ultimately, I end up mixing the last portion with my hands anyway. :-)

 

Time for a spoon licking break!  No eggs here, so even Papa would approve. :-)

 

After having the kiddos wash their hands *again*, their favorite part began.....rolling the dough into "Power Balls".  Little G didn't get to participate in the rolling, but she definitely was fed a few scraps by her older sister. :-)

 

The kiddos had a blast.  I would say it was the highlight of their day.

OK. For any type A personalities out there, you may want to stop and take a deep breath.  When rolled by small children, Power Balls are not going to take shape in any sort of uniformity. 

No, they're not.  There will even be "Giant Power Balls" and "Itty Bitty Power Balls", named amidst much giggling.  That's ok. Breathe. These are the memories we'll have years from now, and the size of the Power Balls won't play into that memory. I promise.

 

(*Yes, if you're wondering, I had to talk myself through this as well.  :-)

 

 

Pack away in a container and keep refrigerated.

 

 

 

We hope you enjoy these little "Power Balls" as much as our family has!

(*Note: To make Gluten Free, just switch out the Oats for Gluten Free Oats.)

 

Kids' Kale Pesto

Kale. You've heard the word a million times and have probably noticed it's becoming a buzz word in the world of nutrition for it's "Nutritional Powerhouse" qualities:

.....more iron per calorie than beef
.....filled with cancer fighting antioxidants
.....high in Vitamins C, A, K, and Calcium
.....has anti-inflammatory properties
.....promotes cardiovascular support and liver health
.....full of fiber and very low in calories

AND....it's a dark, green (and rather tough and chewy) leaf with a flavor that resembles, to me at least, a cross between broccoli and cabbage.  

Hmmmmmm. This doesn't exactly evoke the same excitement as when you learned about the benefits of dark chocolate, does it? Yet, I'm guessing I'm not alone in wanting to maximize my family's intake of such beneficial food.....especially in the midst of cold and flu season!

Well, what can you do with this green, leafy veggie besides tossing it in soup?

Enter: Kids' Kale Pesto.  Why do I call it this?  If you are a parent.....you know that oftentimes, kids can be picky eaters.  I typically have 2 of my 4 rebelling against whatever I'm offering for lunch or dinner.  Yet, all 4 of my kids gobbled up the Kale Pesto pasta we made. Hence the name. In fact, my second son proclaimed he likes Kids Kale Pesto better than Macaroni & Cheese!!! (If you know my son at all, you would realize the value of this statement.  Macaroni & Cheese is his all time favorite food.)

There may indeed be some magic in involving your kids in the preparation of meals.  I gave a very short lesson on the health benefits of nutritious foods.....how they are "fuel" for our bodies and "powerful warriors" to fight sickness and disease.  Then, we watched a You Tube video on the benefits of Kale and making Kale Pesto. That was all it took.  They were excited and ready to dive in!

Ingredients: 

1 Medium-Large Bunch of Kale

1/2 Cup Toasted Walnuts

1/4 Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil + 2 Tbsp (reserved to add at end if needed)

3 Large Shallots (or 5-6 small ones)

4 Cloves Garlic

1 Tbsp Fresh Lemon Juice

1 tsp sea salt (or other finishing salt)

1/2 tsp pepper

***

Bring approximately 4-6 quarts of water to a boil.

 Remove skins from garlic and shallots and place into boiling water for about 5 minutes.

Meanwhile, wash Kale thoroughly and trim off tough, fibrous stems, as they have a stronger, bitter flavor to them.

(Note: If you do not own a power blender, such as a Vitamix, you may want to remove the center ribbing of the Kale entirely.)

Lightly toast walnuts in a frying pan over low-medium heat for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Push all of the Kale into the pot of water.

Make sure it is all immersed in the boiling water.

Boil for 15-20 seconds, or until it begins to wilt. 

 Remove Kale, Garlic, and Shallots from water and place into blender.  

(Note: These do not need to be drained or dried. A little extra water is fine.)

Add remaining ingredients (olive oil, lemon juice, walnuts, salt, and pepper).

 Blend until smooth.

 Taste and add additional olive oil, sea salt, and pepper for desired finished consistency and flavor. Toss with your favorite pasta, meat dish, or as a spread for sandwiches or dip for pita and veggies. 

It's also delicious sprinkled with Parmesan cheese for an added dimension of flavor.

Freeze any leftovers in your Flexipan Tray, place in a Glass Lock container, and have perfect pesto portions ready for your next meal!

Enjoy knowing you just fed your family an extremely nutritious and delicious meal!

Inspired by Barbara Mendez at www.rootsandseeds.com 
- a great resource for healthy and delicious recipes!

The Jungle Monkey

Not to be dramatic with the recipe titles here, but when you have 4 small children age 6 and under, creative naming goes a long way in creating recipe favorites (especially when trying to "sneak" in some nutritious elements!)

The Jungle Monkey has become our family's "go to" for a super quick meal replacement or nutritious afternoon snack....and the kiddos love it, because it is a chocolate shake!!!

Ingredients: 3 Bananas, 3-4 Cups Ice,  1 Generous Cup Spinach, 1 Cup Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk, 1/4 Cup Natural Peanut Butter, 1/4 Cup Unsweetened Cocoa Powder, 2 Tbsp Honey, 2 Tbsp Flax Meal

Makes about 8 Cups

I place all ingredients into my Vitamix in the ingredient order listed above.
(The key here is to have the large, soft fruit at the bottom to get the blades engaged and processing. Then the ice and spinach are easily incorporated and completely blended.)

Turn the blender to high, using the tamper as necessary to push the ingredients into the blade while processing.  And, in about 30 seconds......your Jungle Monkey is ready to serve (possibly in the car en route to your destination!)

Note: Spinach is a nutrient dense, antioxidant rich addition to many smoothies.  It has a sweet, mild flavor that can be easily incorporated into the recipe without changing it's flavor.

However, it is key to make sure you don't add more spinach than will be masked by your other fruits or sweeteners.  (Trust me, I have pushed the envelope on this one and lost!)  I suggest you start with the ratios I suggest, then alter the amounts based on your own families' taste.  For instance, increasing the amount of unsweetened cocoa will darken the color of the drink, but will require more honey....but increasing both will further mask any spinach "over dose" errors, whereas adding more peanut butter can end up dominating the flavor balance of the drink.

Also, using local, raw honey has the added benefit of helping to ward off / lessen allergies.

Enjoy...and happy experimenting!