Date energy balls

When I first made these and was talking to my housemate about them she thought that I called them "date energy balls" so that I would have something to snack on that would give me the energy to go on a date, which is definitely true; these would give you great pre-date energy and would hold off your hunger for a while too! But really they are just made using dates. These will really kick your hunger and they are a great after-work but before dinner snack or a pre-gym snack.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup pitted whole dates (not the chopped kind that are rolled in flour)

1/2 cup walnuts

1/2 cup any other dried fruit (including more dates) that you like

1/2 cup any other nut that you like (including more walnuts)

1 cup quick oats

2 tablespoons flax seeds

1/4 cup dried coconut (if you like it, see note below)

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Directions:

Throw the nuts in a food processor and roughly chop them. Then add the dried fruit and blend until the fruit starts to break down. Add the oats, flax seeds, coconut (if using)*, and vanilla. Process until it becomes a dough. If it is dry and not turning into a dough, add a little water and try again. Wet your hands and take a small amount (like a good, rounded spoonful) and form it into a ball. Form all of it into balls and then toss in the freezer. You can eat them frozen or thaw them, either way they are delicious!

*You can really flavor these any way you want. You could add cinnamon, or cocoa powder, or actual chocolate, or really anything you want to flavor it up. I just don't really like cinnamon or chocolate so I didn't add it.