Holy Moly! Raw Granola Bars!!

Is it me or does everyone feel let down when it comes to snack time. I know I’m usually starving by that 3:00-4:00 pm hour and always looking for some thing quick but healthy to hold me over till I can get dinner on the table. Every time I go to look for something it’s either got a 20 minute prep time or what we all think is healthy is actually not, once we read the label.

First thing I usually look at is the list of ingredients and then the amount of sugar usually I put most things right back at the store after looking at those 2 things. Granola bars tend to be the worst! We think we’re doing some thing good for our bodies and having a healthy option. Not usually the case! So I started playing this weekend and made some raw ones. Holy Moly! Watch out for these you may not leave them alone! I can’t stay out of the freezer now!

Best thing about these… you can make a large batch and store them in the freezer forever! Well if you can get them to last that long! 😉

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 C gluten free oats (I used Irish oats because that’s all I had)
• 4 dates soaked and pitted
• 1 C almond- sliced or chopped
• 1/4 C dried cherries
• 1/4 C local honey or maple syrup
• 1 C sunflower butter
• 2 Tbsp cacao powder
• 1 Tbsp coconut milk

Directions:

1. In a baking pan-line with wax or parchment paper
2. In a bowl mix oats, almonds, half of the cherries.
3. In a food processor blend dates until it makes a paste. Save some of the soaking water and add a few drops to keep it like a paste if it gets too sticky.
4. Add honey, sunflower butter, and date paste to the bowl and mix well.
5. Pour into the baking pan and smooth out. Place another sheet of parchment/wax paper on top and press down with the bottom of a glass or your palm to make it level.
6. Sprinkle the rest of the cherries on top. Set aside.
7. In a small bowl, add the cacao powder and the coconut milk and whisk until blended. Pour on top of cherries and oat mix in the pan.
8. Place in the freezer for 30 minutes to let it set and harden.
9. When you’re ready pull them out and cut into bars or squares. Enjoy!
10. Place them in an air tight container and store the rest in the freezer until you get that next hankering!

 

 

Advertisement

Farm Foodie Granola Bars

Well summer has blown by and fall is here, my favorite time of year! My newest adventure this summer took off a lot faster than I expected and my poor blog got left in the dust for the past couple weeks, but I’m hoping this new recipe will jump-start the writing, cooking, and getting back on schedule again! In the middle of all the fun and busy schedule of teaching Pilates 65 hours a week and running a business, some days I barely got a break to shovel down a pint of cherry tomatoes or a handful of berries, only to be starving by 6 or 7 pm and then I’d reach for the chocolate chip cookies as I ran through Harris Teeter grabbing things for dinner. Honestly, I even ate a doughnut this summer! I haven’t eaten a doughnut in 6 years since I was pregnant with my daughter yikes! Sounds pretty sad now that I write this out! We should all have a doughnut more often and live a little! LOL!

Anyway, I let the gluten and junk take over the last couple weeks of summer so I’m on my own detox for 14 days, and it’s not been the easiest as it usually is for me this time around. So with no dairy, gluten, processed sugar or ingredients, caffeine, or alcohol, the 3-5 o’clock witching hour where we all start to crash is where I struggle the most. So I’m putting a spin on my sweet friend Amanda’s recipe for her “No Bake Magic Mix.” Don’t feel like running around to grab all these ingredients, make sure to grab one of their packages and make your own from 2 Chix and a Mix. But these are soooo good!

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup of raw rolled oats
• 1/4 cup of shredded coconut
• 1 Tablespoon of chia seeds
• 2 Tablespoons cacao nibs
• 2 Tablespoons Gogi Berries (Can’t find-replace with cranberries, fire raisins, etc)
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/4 cup organic sunflower or almond butter
• 1/4 cup honeyIn a bowl, mix all ingredients well. Add to pan or container and smooth out. Place in refrigerator for 1/2 hour or more. Cut and enjoy!