lemon ginger energy bites

In October, I'm doing a half marathon.  I have never participated in a formal half marathon, and the last time I ran 13 miles continuously was more than 3 years ago.  Since then, I've gotten a desk job and basically stopped running or working out and it's totally depressing.  I typically eat pretty healthy, but that doesn't mean I don't sneak some alfredo, french fries, or greasy Mexican food in here or there.  I also have the biggest sweet tooth.  Ever.  So, I finally signed up for a gym and found a buddy to go with and I've been going consistently for two weeks now.  In the interest of not feeling totally gross when working out, I've tried to eliminate some of the extra sugar and general yuckiness from my diet.  {I tried running 3-hours post gyro on Saturday and basically thought I was going to die.  Die.}  These little bites of wonderfulness are my favorite way to satisfy my sweet tooth, without a bunch of processed junk.  Plus, since they're so satisfying, I only need one or two.

What you need (see notes for precise links if you're interested): 

25 delgatnoor pitted dates (or about 7.5 oz)

¼ cup walnuts, pecans, or almonds
¼ cup cashews
1 Tbs almond butter
1 Tsp coconut oil (if you use medjool dates you can omit this)
Zest of one lemon
Juice of up to one lemon
.75 oz crystallized ginger (I used about 4 medallions)
¼ tsp ginger powder

Add your choice of the following:  (I added it all)
1- 2 Tbs flax meal
¼ cup rolled oats
1 generous scoop unflavored protein powder (vanilla is fine too)
¼ cup unsweetened coconut flakes

For coating:

½ cup flaked or shredded coconut (unsweetened)

1. Place the dates and nuts into the food processor and blend until a coarse meal has formed. Add the almond butter and coconut oil. Continue to mix until a ball forms.
2. Add the zest of one lemon, and the ginger in both forms.  Mix until incorporated.
3. Add the 'mix-ins' of your choice, and pulse until blended.  Add the juice of half the lemon, and mix. If the 'dough' has separated back into a meal vs a dough ball, it needs more liquid. First, add additional lemon juice. Mix well. If the mixture is still not holding together use additional almond butter or coconut oil until it forms a ball.  Do not exceed an additional ½ Tbs of coconut oil or the mixture will get greasy.
4. Using a small cookie scoop, form small balls of the dough and roll in coconut (optional) store in the refrigerator.

Keeps about 1.5 weeks (maybe longer, I've never had any left past that amount of time)

Notes:

• Medjool dates are more readily available, and can be substituted in this recipe with minor adjustments.  Medjool dates are much moister and creamier.  (They also cost around $7/lb vs the $4/lb pricetag of delgatnoor dates at my market.)  To use Medjool dates, omit the coconut oil, and substitute a few drops of lemon extract for the lemon juice.  Depending on the moisture of your dates, you may need a little bit of the lemon juice, but not typically.
• I get my dates at a local market, but Trader Joes, Whole Foods, and sometimes Costco stock them also.  
• I get my coconut oil, unsweetened coconut, crystalized ginger, unflavored protein powder (whey or brown rice), flax meal, and almond butter from VitaCost (favorite.store.ever).  Click here for $10 off your first $30 purchase.  Plus Ebates provides cash back for VitaCost, so you're basically getting paid to eat healthy, or so I convince myself :)

Hope you enjoy!