Apricot-Orange Balls - lowfat

Yield: 24 Servings

10 oz Dried apricots; or peaches,7 oz/cup
2/3 c almonds
2/3 c Sugar, powdered
2 ts Grated orange zest
2 tb Orange juice; or rum
3 oz Bittersweet chocolate (optional)

Toast nuts: Preheat oven to 350 F. Spread nuts in shallow pan and bake 5-10 minutes. Pulse apricots and nuts in food processor just until finely chopped. Place mixture in bowl; stir in sugar, orange zest, and orange juice. Roll mixture into 1" balls and arrange close together in shallow pan. Melt chocolate in glass measuring cup in microwave on High for about 1 minute. Drizzle chocolate over tops of candies; or spoon chocolate in plastic sandwich bag, cut tiny hole in one corner, and pipe chocolate over candies. Store in airtight container in refrigerator about 1 week.

Variation: Instead of chocolate, roll candies in granulated sugar.