Energy balls

[blissful]

I couldn't figure out where this would go. Energy balls and fat bombs.
I don't make fat bombs but I know many people do.

I make energy balls. One kind is the german gingerbread balls that I posted a long time ago and the kind I made today.

About 1/2 cup of date paste
1 and 1/3 cup dehydrated apricots
1/3 cup dried barberries
1 t cinnamon
2/3 cup whole almonds
1 cup thick cut rolled oats

I processed these in the food processor until it made a doughy mixture. Then rolled them into balls about the size of a small walnut. Put them in the fridge. They are sweet and tangy and chewy. We like them.

 

[dragnlaw]

"bump"
Christmas baking ideas?
actually one of the few sweets you don't have to bake! LOL

 

[RobertHolloway]

These energy balls sound amazing love the mix of sweet and tangy flavors with the barberries and apricots! They seem like a perfect snack for a quick energy boost. Have you tried experimenting with other ingredients, like adding some seeds or a bit of cocoa powder?

 

[Kathleen]

You all know that my baking skills are not up to par, but I have a burning desire to make some Christmas cookies. I could take some to neighbors, but it is only the two of us. I was struggling to decide what I should make. Snickerdoodles? Sugar cookies? I might make three or four kinds. What do you suggest? I want them to be pretty enough to put in a cookie box.

 

[bethzaring]

My favorite Christmas cookie goes by many names; Mexican Wedding cakes, Mexican Wedding cookies, snowballs, pecan snowball cookies, melt in your mouth pecan cookies. Once baked, you roll them in powdered sugar.

 

[caseydog]

Are they anything like Shweddy Balls?

One of the funniest SNL sketches ever, IMO. How they kept straight faces amazes me.

CD

 

[bethzaring]

You bet. Classically funny! I replay it every year.

 

[larry_stewart]

Just made these peanut butter Oatmeal balls for my wife
There are many variations ( no cook/ no bake)
I did the one with the chocolate chips.

I also once made a no cook vegan pie crust ( very similar ingredients and technique as blisses power balls ( with dates , oats and other stufff). I emailed the Author to let her know mow much I enjoyed it, and she got back to me and said she makes energy balls with all the left overs. I've been doing that ever since. Simple and quick.

 

[dragnlaw]

I will never hear the term Muffins and Balls the same way ever again.

 

[larry_stewart]

I will never hear the term Muffins and Balls the same way ever again.

Thats Nuts !

 

[Kathleen]

I miss Betty White.

 

[Linda0818]

You all know that my baking skills are not up to par, but I have a burning desire to make some Christmas cookies. I could take some to neighbors, but it is only the two of us. I was struggling to decide what I should make. Snickerdoodles? Sugar cookies? I might make three or four kinds. What do you suggest? I want them to be pretty enough to put in a cookie box.

For gifts, I'm going to make treat boxes and the cookies I've decided on are peppermint-sugar cookies. Just make a standard sugar cookie dough (or even use sugar cookie packaged mix or the refrigerated sugar cookie dough) and, before baking, add crushed candy canes to the tops of the cookies. Super easy, super good.

You can also add extra crushed candy canes to the dough itself.

 

[caseydog]

For gifts, I'm going to make treat boxes and the cookies I've decided on are peppermint-sugar cookies. Just make a standard sugar cookie dough (or even use sugar cookie packaged mix or the refrigerated sugar cookie dough) and, before baking, add crushed candy canes to the tops of the cookies. Super easy, super good.

You can also add extra crushed candy canes to the dough itself.

The last time I made vanilla extract for family and friends for the Hollidays was before Covid. It is way too late to start making it now. It takes a minimum of three months.

CD

 

[Linda0818]

The last time I made vanilla extract for family and friends for the Hollidays was before Covid. It is way too late to start making it now. It takes a minimum of three months.

CD

I've never made vanilla extract, but I love it.

 

[caseydog]

I've never made vanilla extract, but I love it.

It is not difficult to make, or expensive to make, but it requires time and some significant effort. It has to age in a cool, dark place, and needs to be agitated at least a few times a week, preferably daily. The daily agitation becomes routine pretty quickly. You get up, brush your teeth, and agitate your vanilla without thinking about it.

CD

 

[larry_stewart]

It is not difficult to make, or expensive to make, but it requires time and some significant effort. It has to age in a cool, dark place, and needs to be agitated at least a few times a week, preferably daily. The daily agitation becomes routine pretty quickly. You get up, brush your teeth, and agitate your vanilla without thinking about it.

CD

I made it once. I bought vanilla beans from 3 different countries , made the extract separately to see if IU preferred one bean over the other. All tasted the same for me. Now I have enough vanilla for a lifetime .

 

[caseydog]

Now I have enough vanilla for a lifetime .

Oh yes. A little bit of homemade vanilla extract goes a long way.

CD

 

[Silversage]

I keep a quart bottle going at all times. I started it about 15-20 years ago. The alcohol is a preservative, so it doesn't spoil.

I started with a pack of purchased vanilla beans and 100 proof vodka. It took a good 6 months for the burn from the vodka to mellow out in that first batch. Every time I use a vanilla bean, I toss it in the bottle. When I need vanilla, I decant it into a smaller bottle, and top the big bottle off with more 100 proof vodka. By the time I need to refill the small bottle, the fresh vodka has mellowed into the mix, along with all the added beans.

Occasionally I split it into 2 and gift a starter batch to someone. Right now that batch is about 40-50% beans. It's time to split it again.

 

[caseydog]

I keep a quart bottle going at all times. I started it about 15-20 years ago. The alcohol is a preservative, so it doesn't spoil.

I started with a pack of purchased vanilla beans and 100 proof vodka. It took a good 6 months for the burn from the vodka to mellow out in that first batch. Every time I use a vanilla bean, I toss it in the bottle. When I need vanilla, I decant it into a smaller bottle, and top the big bottle off with more 100 proof vodka. By the time I need to refill the small bottle, the fresh vodka has mellowed into the mix, along with all the added beans.

Occasionally I split it into 2 and gift a starter batch to someone. Right now that batch is about 40-50% beans. It's time to split it again.

I use 80-proof vodka, and go for the most neutral vodka I can find. The vodka expert at Total Wine and Spirits helped me with that. It was actually one of the cheaper vodkas. I told him what I was doing, and he immediately knew what I needed.

a little bit goes a long way. The burn never completely goes away. Vanilla extract is not something you want to drink straight. But, a small amount in my chocolate chip pecan cookies (the only thing I bake) is perfect. It will probably take me ten years to use up what I have.

CD

 

[taxlady]

Are they anything like Shweddy Balls?

One of the funniest SNL sketches ever, IMO. How they kept straight faces amazes me.

CD

I'm familiar with that first skit. I had never seen the one with Betty White before. Perfect casting.