Zesty Dairy Free "Cheese" Ball

I can't take credit for this one! My Mom and Sister came up with it quite a few years ago to take the place of the cream cheesy ball that Mom always made when we were kids that everyone loved.

I made this 5 or 6 years back at Christmas and now my husband asks for it every year. It has become a tradition!

It's very good with veggies or crackers! I love that our family feels like it's a special treat when in reality it is super duper healthy with mainly raw sprouted almonds packed full of whole food nutrition and enzymes that well help you digest those maybe not so much whole food treats! ;)

I love to make this up just before Christmas and have as part of all our fun dips with our finger foods. I make enough that we have some leftover for New Years too.

Zesty Dairy Free "Cheese" Ball

2 cups almonds, soaked for 8 hours

1 cup sunflower seeds, soaked for 4 hours and sprouted for 4 hours (or just add 3 cups of soaked almonds instead of 2)

1/2 cup lemon juice

1/2 cup water

1/2 cups chopped green onions

1/4 to 1/2 cup Tahini

1/4 cup Shoyu

3 slices sweet onion, cut in small chunks

1/2 medium green bell pepper, seeded and chopped

6 Tablespoons fresh chopped parsley

2 to 3 medium cloves garlic, minced

pinch of cayenne pepper

pinch of ginger powder

pinch of cumin

pinch of paprika

1 can crushed pineapple, drained very well

1 cup finely chopped pecans

Place the soaked and drained almonds and/or sunflower seeds, lemon juice and water in a food processor and process until smooth. Scoop into a large bowl. Stir in the chopped green onions, tahini, shoyu, onions, parsley, bell pepper, garlic, cayenne, ginger, cumin, and paprika. Add the crushed, drained pineapple into the mixture till well blended. Shape with dampened hands into a rounded ball shape and place carefully on a plate or dish (approx. eight inch diameter) Press the chopped pecans onto the ball with your hands so that the ball is covered with nuts. Can garnish with a parsley leaf and dried cranberry if desired.