Herbal Power Balls

Greetings to Everyone! Most of my summer garden has now finally been put to bed for the winter. New Oriental lily bulbs have been planted and the vegetable and flower seeds have been ordered for next year, too. I still need to trim the balance of my lavender plants, echinacea, and comfrey, though. Gardening is such a delight, but the garden itself requires considerable maintenance so as not to cultivate a crop of weeds!

I hope all of you are preparing for a relaxing, joyful Holiday season ahead! On that note, today I'm going to share with you one of my favorite raw candies that will boost your energy and stimulate circulation in a most nutritious and delicious way. If you love almonds, honey, and warming, crystallized ginger root, then you'll adore this luscious candy! The little candy balls are quite simple to create and make wonderful "dessert finger foods" to take to a Holiday party. They do contain a wee bit of caffeine from the guarana powder and give a hint of an energy kick from the Siberian and panax ginseng powders. Enjoy!

Yummy Herbal Power Balls

Unlike playing a lottery game such as Power Ball, where your odds of winning millions of dollars are slim to none, eating these Yummy Herbal Power Balls on a consistent basis will make you truly feel like a million bucks! These soft, sticky balls are too gooey to make good portable energy snacks to carry around in your purse or briefcase; they are best eaten straight out of the refrigerator while still firm, chilled, and relatively dry.

Ingredients:

- 1 cup raw almonds
- 1/2 cup crystallized gingerroot pieces
- 1/2 cup raw honey
- 2 tablespoons bee pollen
- 2 tablespoons Siberian ginseng root (eleuther0) powder
- 2 teaspoons panax ginseng root powder
- 2 teaspoons guarana powder
- coconut oil, raw and unrefined
- 1/2 cup unsweetened coconut, finely shredded

Method:

1. Grind the almonds to the consistency of a medium to fine meal in a food processor or nut and seed grinder.

2. Dice the crystallized ginger into 1/4-inch cubes, or smaller.

3. Transfer the almond meal and ginger to a medium-size bowl and add the honey, bee pollen, and herb powders. Use your hands to mash all the ingredients together until a cohesive ball is formed. The dough will be very sticky.

4. Wash and dry your hands after mixing and then oil them well with the coconut oil. Pinch off pieces of dough and roll them into marble-size balls about 1 1/4-inches in diameter. Set aside on waxed paper.

5. Put the shredded coconut in a shallow bowl and roll each ball to coat.

6. For the best flavor and consistency, allow the balls to set for 24 hours in the fridge before eating. Store in a tightly-sealed container in the refrigerator and consume within 2 or 3 weeks.

A Good Source Of: calcium, potassium, phosphorus, iron, zinc, manganese, magnesium, healthful fats, natural sugars, protein, vitamins B and E, and fiber

Yield: About 22 balls

Note: This article was adapted from the book, "Raw Energy", by Stephanie Tourles, Storey Publishing, 2009. The information is true and complete to the best of Ms. Tourles' knowledge. All recommendations are made without guarantee on the part of Ms. Tourles. She disclaims any liability with the use of this information. It is for educational purposes only.