So… my car broke down a few weeks ago. The reason?

SQUIRRELS ATE IT.

CAN YOU BELIEVE IT?!!?!

FOR REAL.

Squirrels ate through the entire hood, decimated the insulation, and ate through the entire transmission harness and module. Luckily, I was only a mile or so from the dealership and repair center when my car broke down— and they were able to immediately identify the culprit. But sadly, it’s STILL in the shop. (this year keeps surprising us, right?)

I’ve been contemplating my love for squirrels. I wanted to be mad at them. But gosh. I truly do love their tenacity, their careful planning, storage and fleshy prep for the winter, and ruthless adoration for all kinds of nuts, seeds, and fibers.

I ALSO love all these things, and I decided: we can learn from badass squirrels who have the audacity to chomp through and devour my freaking CAR.

So here’s a badass recipe for what my brother affectionately calls SQUIRREL BALLS.

Loaded with nut butters, seeds, protein, raw cashews, and nutrient-dense hemp hearts, chia seeds, and more, these SQUIRREL BALLS make an incredible healthy snack, or a quick breakfast. You could also use sprouted seeds, or swap ANYTHING you don’t love for something you do. Make it YOURS! :)

SQUIRREL BALLS

Recipe by Riana

DRY INGREDIENTS

1 cup gluten free rolled oats

3 tbsp. flax seeds

3 tbsp. chia seeds

3 tbsp. hemp seeds / hearts

1 cup raw cashews, pulverized / blended into a flour

1 packet Four Sigmatic brand powder: Cacao w/ Reishi

pinch sea salt + ground cinnamon (optional)

WET INGREDIENTS

4 raw pitted dates

1/2 cup peanut butter

1/2 cup almond butter

raw local honey (optional)

DIRECTIONS:

Combine all the dry ingredients together in a large bowl. You can also add whatever other nut flours or seeds you love! Make it your own :)

Blend the wet ingredients together with a splash of water until a thin paste consistency, like a slightly thin creamy peanut butter.

Add to the dry ingredients, stir to combine. Don’t over mix. If the consistency is TOO gooey, add more oats. If it’s extremely crumbly and not combining, add a splash of honey, or a few more scoops of peanut butter :) You want your dough to be a sticky consistency.

Use your hands to roll the “dough” into 1/2” - 1” squirrel balls. Place on a baking sheet lined with parchment or wax paper, and place in freezer.

Keep frozen!

Please tag me if you make these little squirrel balls, I’d love to see ;)

ENJOY!!!!!!

Riana / @riananelson