Energy. Even more than balance (that other magical carrot we all desire), I seek out and savor the days when I feel extra sparks of energy. The last few weeks have left me feeling really depleted of energy. Juniper has been sleeping like a champ, but I've been stretching my days as long as my eyes will stay open. Those nighttime hours are mine to do all the things I can't do during the day. And I started adding in more freelance work to my schedule. Last week, I felt a little like I was busting at the seams with everything going on in my life and no energy to handle any of it.
But thankfully this week, I got in some reinforcements. My friend Erin spent her Columbus Day off from work traveling from Connecticut to Brooklyn and back again just to spend the afternoon with Juniper and me (and give me a hand for the day.) I'm so lucky to have the friends I do in my life. While Erin was here giving Juni some love, I tackled a recipe that I've been wanting to try for months. It's funny how a new recipe can mess with my confidence. I'll assume I don't have the mental energy to tackle a recipe, just because it's new to me. Don't wait for months, like I did, to try making this recipe. It literally takes about 15 minutes to pull together. And your reward — sweet, salty, crunchy, chewy, energy-packed balls that give you a boost in the middle of the day. Far superior to any granola bar and will sustain you way longer. I have a little story about this recipe that I want to share, too.
Shortly after I had Juniper, a friend of a friend contacted me for my address. I'd met Freea briefly at my friend Trisha's wedding. Before then, we'd exchanged a few emails about blogging. But for the most part, she was just an acquaintance in my life. Yet somehow, she had the generous spirit to create one amazing care package for me. As a post-partum doula, she also knew exactly the kinds of things that a new mama needs in those weeks following birth, when you're feeling too tired to even know what kind of help to ask for. I was incredibly touched by it all. Her care package was filled with so many treats — including homemade lavender bath salts, natural lip balm, New Mama energizing spray, an adorable hat that she knitted for Juni, and a few recipes. This one recipe has already changed the way I snack. It's a keeper. I recommend eating your energy balls straight from the freezer. My friend Holly sampled my energy balls yesterday, and they were a hit with her and her sweet 15-month-old Sadie (who kept asking for more!).
Tropical Australian energy balls
recipe by Freea Sarti
1/2 cup raw cashews
1/2 cup raw sunflower seeds
2/3 cup Medjool dates
2/3 cup dried mango
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2 - 3 teaspoons water (if needed)
shredded coconut
Pulse first 5 ingredients in food processor. Leave texture if desired by not over processing. Add water only if needed to make cohesive (or add in a little honey or agave nectar to make stick.) Roll in coconut or dip in Nutella. Store in freezer.
**I doubled this recipe which yielded about 20 energy balls. They're going fast so I'm glad I did! Plus, I found that doubling the recipe uses up most of my dry ingredients, so nothing went to waste. I didn't need the water at all. I was out of honey and agave nectar when I made these, and I was worried they wouldn't be sweet enough. But it turns out the dates add so much sweetness — I don't think I'd add in the honey the next time I make these, either.
Some rookie mistakes I made: Be sure to either buy pitted Medjool dates or pit them before you put them in the food processor. I forgot about the pits and they wound up in my energy balls (whole), so I had to watch for them and pull them out. Also, even though you're using a food processor, I'd suggest pre-chopping the mango and dates. In my Cuisinart, the mixture got stuck together fast and then whirred around without hitting the blade. So some of my mango chunks didn't get chopped down as small as I would have liked.
I have to say a big thank you to Freea for giving me a recipe that I will likely be making every couple weeks for a long time (it's that good), because it's given me back some real yummy energy. And also for letting me share the recipe here with you. But mostly, I thank her for reminding me why you do something good for someone else. I live in New York, the fastest-paced city, where it's very easy to get sucked into your own little bubble in the big city. I'm sure most of us find it in ourselves to do or give something special for someone in our lives just because. But I'll be honest in saying that I can't remember the last time I did something big for someone who's not in my life. Not a family member nor a real friend. Just someone in need. And being the recipient of this act of kindness reminded me of how I've fallen short on that aspect of giving back. It's easy to give back to the ones you love. But how incredible to give something really meaningful to someone you don't really know, just because you know they need it? Thank you, Freea. I can guarantee you have some good karma floating back to you in the universe.
ps. Freea is an art marketing consultant for any of you artists looking for some help in how to turn your handmade goods into a successful business. Check out her site! Oh and here's Juniper rocking her handmade hat from Freea. We love it!
