Raw vegan brownies

This is in no way related to our trip or time in Kuwait, but I want to share this recipe that I just made.
I have always been intrigued with the raw vegan diet, but simply could not manage to make it happen, too much time to prepare all the food! But I came across this recipe and so I gave it a go. Also I took two days off work, and well instead of doing homework, I procrastinated. Here it is:
Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups of hazelnuts, soaked in water overnight, drained and rinsed
8-10 pitted dates
1/2 cup of cacao powder (Dutch-pressed variety cocoa powder works too, although it’s not considered “raw” anymore because it’s roasted at a high temperature)
1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise and scraped, seeds reserved
pinch of salt

Directions:

1) Process the hazelnuts until coarsely ground.

2) Add the dates, vanilla bean, and salt. Process until dates are incorporated but there are still chunks of hazelnuts. Add water if you find it’s too dry or crumbly.

3) Spoon the mixture into a small cake pan and press down.

4) Top with shredded coconut or extra cacao and pop it in the fridge until your ready to serve your raw-some dessert.

I didn't add the vanilla simply because vanilla pods are hard to find in Kuwait, and when you can buy them they are super expensive... more than back home! I also doubled the dates because there seemed to be not enough in comparison to the amount of hazelnuts. I also mixed the coconut throughout... and on top.. I like coconut
I also do not have a blender or mixer here. I chopped and mixed all by hand... don't let that be your excuse :)

SOOO GOOD!!! can't wait for Brad to get home and try them.