a remedy for sweet teeth

i always crave sweets after dinner... or any meal for that matter. it probably doesn't help that roadie culture revolves around apres coffee and sweets to replenish glycogen and to pat oneself on the back for a steady effort. so while riding great distances last summer i developed quite a sweet tooth, i'm doing my best to keep away from refined sugars and usually opt for dates, figs, nuts and dark, bitter chocolate. luckily, there is a great abundance of wholesome sweetness in this world, so keeping away from the sugar bag isn't hard at all.

here is one little concoction that i put together last night. these are both, healthy and delicious.

1/2 cup raw almonds

1/3 cup dates

2-3T agave nectar

1/2 pear

1T flax seeds

2T coconut flakes (unsweatened)

2t hemp protein (optional)

1/2-1 c rolled oats

2-3T dutch coco or carob

soy milk, water or fruit juice (just a couple of table spoons to get the desired consistency)

soak the almonds and dates for 1/2 hour; drain

in a food processor, blend the almonds, dates and agave nectar until crumbly but still coarse

add the diced pear and flax seeds blend until relatively smooth but some chunks are fine for an interesting texture (add soy milk if necessary); when the mixture is ready, transfer to a mixing bowl, add the oats, hemp protein and mix until all ingredients are incorporated; divide the mixture in 2 parts:

form balls 1 inch in diameter from the first part

add the coco to the remaining mixture - mix to incorporate - form balls

place in a sealable container and freeze.