Coconut Date Balls (Core Plan)

There are a hand-full of kitchen appliances that I consider a must in a healthy kitchen...even for beginners.  One of the most important is a  food processor.  (The high-powered standing mixer is another, and I want to talk about it too... but it has nothing to do with this particular recipe. So I will hold off for now.)  In this day and age of fast-food and microwaves (both of which I have come to abhor) appliances like a food processor are essential for feeling remotely like you have a life after food.  It will give you the ability to throw a lot of yummy ingredients into one container, push a button and almost magically create a masterpiece that your whole family will enjoy.  Speaking of the whole family, right after you push the button and detach the bowl, kids absolutely love to discover it's new contents.  Recipes like this take 5 minutes and are fool-proof.  And by the way, I am all about recipes that are rolled into a ball and refrigerated for several reasons.  First, kids can take over while the head chef is attending to other important matters.  They tend to always be raw, lending to even more nutrition-dense snacking.  Also,  they store and travel ever-so-easily.

Coconut Date Balls (Core Plan)

Free of:  Sugar, Gluten, Grain

Full of:  Antioxidants, Good fat source, folic acid, and vitamins

1 cup organic dates

3/4 cup organic raw walnuts

1/4 cup + 1/4 cup organic non-sweetened coconut (for rolling in)

2 tsp organic vanilla-not sweetened

1/4 cup organic raisins

2 tablespoons water

1 tbs raw cocoa powder

Put all ingredients in food processor and blend until smooth.  Roll into balls and roll in organic coconut flakes and refrigerate.