Date and Nut Balls

I am back in the kitchen! Today I made Date and Nut balls which are a favorite in the house. My mother-in-law makes them every year and I started making them about three years ago.

Ingredients:

2 8-oz boxes chopped dates
1 cup brown sugar
1 stick unsalted butter
4 tablespoons water
1 tsp vanilla
3 cups Rice Krispies
2 cups chopped pecans
powdered sugar


Mix dates, sugar, and water together in saucepan. Cook over medium heat for about 10 minutes.

Remove from heat. Add nuts, vanilla, and Rice Krispies. Stir until mixed well. Let mixture cool because it is hot and you will be forming balls with your hands.

Pour about 1-2 cups of powdered sugar into a bowl. Have some kind of tray or plate close by too.

Once mixture is cool enough to handle, pour olive oil or canola oil on your hands. Grease 'em up real good. Now start making balls. (I can usually make about 48 so not too big, not too small.) You will want to roll the balls in the powdered sugar and place on plate or tray.

I have found that if you are making these alone, it's much quicker to roll the balls, place in bowl and stop after about twelve are waiting in the powdered sugar bowl. Use a spoon to push the balls around and coat well. Place the powdered sugar goodness on the plate and start again. If you have a helper, you can do an assembly line.