Raw Almond Tahini Date nut balls

With the new year comes a hard look at our health and well being. I have taken our family down many different roads when it comes to diets. Sweet Man and I have been married almost 13 years now, and most of that time, we have eaten vegetarian. Although this is the diet I prefer, I have started incorporating some local meat into our diet, which makes the oldest and the youngest in the family happy. We have tried the "only eat what we an grow diet." We just about starved. We aren't very good farmers. We have (and still do) only shop the perimeter of the store, which means only eating fresh, perishable, non packaged food. Most of the time. (depending on the budget)  We do add packaged stuff here and there, when the mood strikes. With all of these different takes on our diet, my family had every right to get nervous when I came home with a raw food cook book last year. I was so intrigued by this diet. The family was not quite as thrilled about the idea as I was. We voted that we try and add as many raw foods as we could, and not try to only eat that way. Yesterday we made one of our favorites and I thought I would share, just in case you were intrigued by the raw food diet as well. This recipe came from a homeschooling buddy a couple of years ago, and it has been made frequently ever since.

Raw Almond Tahini Date nut balls

2 cups almonds (chopped coarsely before adding to food processor)

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

2 teaspoons Tahini (I use a little more)

18 medium size dried pitted dates

up to 2 teaspoons warm water

Put all of the above ingredients into a food processor. Shape into 1 inch balls and refrigerate.

These make such a yummy snack or breakfast, and if you buy the ingredients in bulk, it's a pretty reasonably priced  snack as well.