Power Balls

Not lottery tickets…. but these gems are better for your wallet and your waistline!

Family Circle magazine, probably the first “home” magazine I ever read as a young adult, recently posted a recipe for energy bites.  As I’m always looking for delicious recipes for a quick and powerful snack, and ones that my readers will love, I tested this one!  They are powerful!

I adapted Family Circle’s recipe just a little, so try making these one day.  They are easy to make, quickly made, and keep for a few days in a container – so you can grab one or two when you are out the door.  Your family will love them, too!

Power Balls

Mash up 2-3 ripe bananas (about ¾ cup).  Add 1 ½ cup rolled oats; ¼ cup dark chocolate chips (or mix milk and dark chips half and half); 2 tablespoons nut butter; ½ cup raisins, chopped tart cherries, apricots or dates (try to buy organically to ensure proper drying techniques) – or leave out.  I didn’t have any, and my power balls were still scrumptious!

Add 2 tablespoons chia seeds and ¼ cup chopped or slivered nuts (walnuts, pecans, whatever you favorite is).  Mix together and form into balls.  They will be messy and sticky, but they’ll bake nicely.  Place on parchment paper on a cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. You should get about 25 balls.  If you make bigger ones, add to your baking time.  Let cool and store in a glass container. These freeze really well, too!  Put two or three into a Ziploc bag or container and freeze.  Pull them out about ½ hour before you want to eat them (or even the night before) and they’ll be ready to go!

These make a great treat as we move from dreary Winter into bright Spring.  They are light but filling.  If you try them, let me know what you think!

To Your Vitality!

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