Chocolate Earth Balls: Earth Day!

Today is Earth Day! Every day should be Earth Day, and most of the recipes I post are earth- friendly. Here's a simple recipe that's fun to make with the kids. As I've mentioned many times, always check food product, associations and markets for great recipes! This recipe is from Whole Foods Market! What says Earth Day more than Chocolate Earth Balls! These Earth Balls tend to be a bit sticky: just a heads up!

Chocolate Earth Balls

Ingredients
1 cup peanut butter
1/3 cup honey
2 teaspoons carob powder or unsweetened organic cocoa powder
1/2 cup raisins
3/4 cup unsweetened shredded coconut, divided (you can used sweetened, but it is not as healthy... obviously)
1/2 cup semisweet fair-trade organic chocolate, chopped fine (or use chocolate chips)
1/4 cup sesame seeds
1/4 cup finely chopped nuts (walnuts, pecans, etc.)

Directions
Mix the peanut butter, honey and carob or cocoa powder until well combined. Stir in the raisins and 2 tablespoons of the coconut. Stir in the chocolate chips. Refrigerate for 1 to 2 hours.

Place the remaining coconut, sesame seeds and nuts into 3 separate bowls. Using a spoon, scoop small heaps of the peanut mixture from the bowl; roll into 1 1/4-inch balls. Rolling is easier if you form a rough ball, roll in the coconut, and then continue rolling into a more perfect shape. Roll each finished ball in more coconut, sesame seeds and chopped nuts. Arrange the balls on a plate, cover loosely with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.

Photo: Whole Foods Market

Chocolate Humming Bird Nests for Easter & Earth Day

Here's a fun recipe you can make with your children or grandchildren. This is perfect for Easter and Earth Day (except maybe the jellybeans). And, if you omit the jelly bean eggs, it's also perfect for Passover. It's a Trifecta! Recipe adapted from the  Disney Family Fun site: Hummingbird Nests. I use dark chocolate about 60% cacao, but the original recipe calls for milk chocolate which would make the Bird Nests sweeter, since there's no added sugar.

CHOCOLATE HUMMING BIRD NESTS

Ingredients
1 cup chocolate (60%), broken (or chocolate chips)
1 cup shredded coconut (can be toasted coconut for a sharper taste)
Jelly bean eggs

Instructions
1. Melt the chocolate chips, following the directions on the bag. When the chocolate is smooth, stir in the coconut, then drop the mixture by the heaping tablespoon onto waxed-paper-lined cookie sheets.
2.While the nests are still warm, use your thumbs to poke an impression into the middle of each. Cool them, then fill with jelly bean eggs. Makes about a dozen.

If you make fewer of them and make them bigger, you can put Peeps inside. Fun for Easter. Great Kid-Friendly Recipe!

Photo: Disney Family Fun