Snack Bites

Snacks - the essential item for making it through the seemingly huge afternoon gap between lunch and dinner. Also key as an energy booster for hiking, snowshoeing and the like. I love having raw fruit, veggies, or a handful of nuts for a snack but sometimes I want something a little bit more exciting that might almost make me think I'm having a treat (read "dessert"). I found two recipes for snack bites that I made this weekend that were healthy and delicious! And pretty minimal time involved. In fact it could be a fun activity with a small child as you roll the snack bites in various toppings.  The Carrot Date Snack Bites came from Daily Bites and the Almond Butter Oatmeal Bites were adapted from Alida's Kitchen.

Carrot Date Bites

 Carrot Date Snack Bites (yield 18-20 1" sized bites)

• 3/4 c chopped carrot (I probably used closer to 1 c.)
• 3/4 c. pitted dates
• 1/2 c. walnuts
• 1/4 c. sliced almonds (or cashews)
• 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice (or cinnamon)
• 1tsp - 1 Tbs grated ginger (this makes a pretty spicy snack bite at the upper endso you might want to tone it down for kids...)
• Shredded unsweetened coconut 
• Sesame seeds

1. Put the carrot in the food processor and pulse into finely ground. Scoop the carrot out and set outside
2. Place the nuts in the food processor and grind until finely ground (but not to paste or nut butter!).
3. Add in dates to food processor and pulse until combined.
4. Add carrot and spices to mixture, pulse just until combined.
5. Scoop 1/2 - 1 Tbs sized balls out and roll in the coconut or sesame seeds (or a combo of the two). Refrigerate.

Almond Butter Oatmeal Bites (blurry)

Almond Butter Oatmeal Bites (yield 16-18 1" sized bites)

• 3/4 c. almond butter + 1/4 c. peanut butter  (or all almond butter or all peanut butter)
• 1 c. rolled oats (not instant)
• 2- 3 Tbs. wheat germ or ground flax
• 3 Tbs shredded, unsweetened coconut
• 1 1/2 Tbs honey
• Carob powder or cocoa powder + sesame seeds for rolling

1. Mix oats, wheat germ, and coconut in a bowl.
2. Heat nut butters and honey in the microwave about 15-20 seconds in a separate bowl.  Stir until blended.  3. Add nut butter mixture to oat mixture and stir until incorporated.  (I noticed that using almond butter, the mix seemed a bit wet so I added 1 - 2 extra Tbs of soy flour - use wheat germ or more flax as desired).
4. Form rounded tablespoonfuls of the mixture into ~ 1" diam balls and set aside on a plate.
5. Roll each ball in a mixture of carob powder and sesame seeds (or whatever you want) and then chill for at least an hour.