No, we’re not talking the lottery today. We’re talking protein balls, or energy balls; whatever you want to call them.

They are little low-calorie, high-protein snacks in ball form. And they are all the rage these days.

When I was a kid, we used to make peanut butter balls as a treat; they were messy and fun and tasty. And mom, if you still have the recipe laying around, I’d love to have it.

Today’s balled-up goodies are a little more sophisticated. With ingredients like protein powder and flax seed, they pack a healthy punch.

I stumbled upon this spherical phenomenon on Pinterest and I have started to experiment. These little bon-bons appeal to me for a variety of reasons: I can pop a few before a run if I’m hungry; I can snack on a few if I have a sweet-tooth without blowing my whole day’s worth of calories; they’re really easy to make.

I read a bunch of recipes before I made this first batch. And this first batch is enough to make me want to experiment more.

Cocoa Pecan Energy Balls

Ingredients:

• 1/4 C. pecans
• 3/4 C. oats
• 3 Tbsp. flax seed
• 3 Tbsp. cocoa powder
• 10 oz. raisins
• 3 Tbsp. coconut oil

Step 1: Pulse the pecans in a food processor until finely chopped.

Step 2: Add the oats, flax seed, and cocoa powder. Pulse a few times to mix everything together.

Step 3: Add the raisins 1/2 at a time, and pulse until thoroughly incorporated.

Step 4: Drizzle in the coconut oil (virgin, expeller pressed, pleased!) and process for a few minutes, until the mixture is crumbly and sticks together when pressed.

Step 5: Roll the mixture into balls and refrigerate in a single layer until firm.

I like this concept, and will definitely be experimenting more with energy balls.

Do you make a qick energy-packed snack at home? What is it?

The Wife