Protein, energy balls

Feeling ballsy? Let go of the lie that you need animal protein in your diet to be fit and healthy. You don't. Animal protein is high in sulphur, so your body need's a lower PH to be able to metabolize the acidity...calcium is sucked from the bones to help with this. These little balls of delight are packed with protein, highly alkalising to the body and high in fibre.

Meat has zero fibre so it tends to sit around in your system a long time. There is a direct link between animal protein and cancer, high cholesterol, and heart related disease and is usually eaten at the expense of getting a sufficient vegetable intake. Producing animal protein is also disastrous for the environment. 

These little balls of delight are packed with protein! I made nutty ones, chocolaty ones and fruity ones. They are all based on ground up hemp seeds, nuts, chia seeds, tahini and lots of other goodies. Hemp is a complete protein. Hemp also contains essential fatty acids, chlorophyll, fibre, enzymes, probiotics, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. They are alkalising to the body, free from cholesterol and high in fibre.

Remember, no-one ever died from a lack of protein but millions die every year from trying to get "enough". Even the USDA says most people are intaking around 5 times more protein than they need every day. Yes, protein is a 'building block' to life, but don't get caught up in the craze. If you eat a good mix of fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, wholegrains and legumes, your body will be getting a great "amino soup" from which to make more than enough protein.

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BLISS BALLS

Ingredients:
· Almonds whole raw – 1 cup
· Dried dates pitted – 2 cups
· Dried prunes pitted – 2 cups
· Walnuts whole/halves raw – 1 cup
· Sunflower seeds – ½ cup
· Pepitas (pumpkin seeds) – ½ cup
· Sesame seeds – ¼ cup
· Shredded Coconut ¼ cup + some for decorating
· Carob powder, raw ¼ cup

Extras (optional)
· Cashew nuts (1 cup if instead walnuts or ½ cup with ½ cup of walnuts)
· Hazelnut nuts (as above)
· Raw cacao (instead of carob powder or mixture)
· Recommended Decoration: shredded coconut, cacao, carob, poppy seeds, sesame seeds

Method:
In a food processor start putting the ingredients in the order mentioned above (that’s important to get the right consistency) one by one. Once the almonds are grinded a bit, add dates, then prunes, then the rest of ingredients. Finish with adding carob powder. Mixture should be dark, sticky and easy to work with.

Once the ingredients are blended and mixed, start forming balls into a size of a golf ball. Cover with shredded coconut. Try also with poppy seeds and carob.

Makes 15 regular size bliss balls or 30 small bliss balls.
Time: 5 mins preparation, 5 mins blending, 10 mins assembling balls
Difficulty: easy
Status: vegan, raw, gluten free

Source: http://blissorganiccafe.com.au/recipes/desserts/138-blissballs.html

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Protein Truffle Bombs: makes about 50 small balls

1 cup oats
1 cup mix of brazil nuts, cashews, peanuts or whatever nuts you like
1/4 cup cocoa/cacoa
2-3 scoops of fave protein powder
3 Tb agave
1/2 cup soaked dates
1/4 cup water (or more/less as needed)
1 t vanilla
Pinch of salt
1/8-1/4 cup coconut oil
Cocoa/cacoa for rolling

Process all dry ingredients until they're like a super hefty flour. Add all other ingredients and process/mix by hand until they're like cookie dough. Roll into balls and roll in the cocoa until coated. 
Chill for an hour or so. Or just eat them right away. 

Source: http://www.thisrawsomeveganlife.com/2011/11/chocolate-protein-truffles-green.html#.UpRBYsRmjlN

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Raw Chocolate Bliss Balls

• 1 cup -Raw, unsalted, un-roasted Nuts – I like a mixture (almonds and hazelnuts seem to work really well, if you use macadamia or cashew make sure to also use a less oily nut as well or the balls will be dripping with oil at the end)
  

• 1/2-3/4 cup -Unsweetened, unsulphured Dried Fruit -Again I like a mixture (Dates, prunes, apricots, raisins all work really well but use what you have)
  

• 1/4 cup -Raw cacao powder (of course you can use regular cacao powder too but then the balls are not really going to be raw…but if you don’t care then it doesn’t matter.)
  

• Optional Extras – try coconut flakes, chia seeds, cacao nibs, goji berries or even added sweetener like agave or maple syrup.
  

Step 1- Add the nuts to the food processor and blend well. You will have a mixture that looks like tiny crumbs. Once the nuts are well blended, remove them from the food processor and place in a bowl.

Step 2 – Add the dried fruit mixture to the food processor and blend until you have a thick paste.

Step 3 – Add the nut mixture back into the food processor with the dried fruit paste and re-blend together. This mixture might stick a bit so you may have to scrap the sides a few times during blending.

Step 4 – Once the mixture is well blended together, add the cacao powder slowly while the food processor continues to blend.  If you are adding any optional extra goodies,you can choose to add these just prior to adding the cacao powder, after the nuts and fruits are well mixed OR wait until the very end (see Step 5).  After adding the cacao powder the mixture will start to turn into a big ball (like dough) in the food processor. Once the cacao looks like it is well incorporated, the mixture is finished.

Step 5 – Remove the mixture from the food processor by the spoonful. Take each spoonful and roll into a little ball. If you haven’t already added your “extras” you can roll your little ball in them at this stage. This works really well with shredded coconut, cacao powder or chia seeds. Put the prepared balls onto a plate or tray and refrigerate for a few hours for the best texture.

Step 6 – Remove from refrigerator, eat and enjoy!

Source: http://therenegadekitchen.com/raw-chocolate-bliss-balls/