Recipe: Power Bars

These are delicious!  Be prepared to hide some from your hubby and kids as these go quick! I’ve seen versions all over Pinterest and have made many variations.  This one is simple, quick, and so good for you.  Loaded with Omega 3’s in the flax, antimicrobial qualities of raw honey, all the wonderful benefits of MCFA’s from the coconut oil, added protein from the hemp seed, and the heart health boost from the raw almond butter or peanut butter.

Phew, that is a POWER bar!

And the fun part is, you can add things like dried fruits, nuts and seeds for added bulk and benefit.

INGREDIENTS:

3 cups oats (just your regular cooking oatmeal is fine)

1 cup raw almond butter OR peanut butter

1/2 cup coconut oil

1/4 cup flaxseed meal (ground flaxseeds…grind your own)

1/4 cup hemp seeds

1/4 cup raw honey

1/4 cup dark chocolate chips

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/4 teaspoon salt

TECHNIQUE:

Mix oatmeal, flaxseed meal, hemp seeds, salt and choc chips in a large bowl.

In a small sauce pan, add coconut oil and heat on low until melted.  Leave on burner but turn heat off.  Stir in all remaining ingredients and stir until well combined, but do not over heat!  You don’t want to lose all the health benefits of the raw honey!  We’re just warming ingredients enough to stir easily.  Plus, if you heat it up too much, your chocolate chips will all melt and you won’t get those wonderful bursts of chocolate.

Add all melted ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir well.  If you’re feeling ambitious you can roll mixture into little bite sized balls, place on a sheet of wax paper and place in fridge.  OR you can do the quick and easy version and line baking sheet with wax paper, dump mixture in and spread with spatula, then place in fridge to stiffen up.  Cut into little squares, or for quick and easy breakfasts, cut into larger bar shaped portions.  You can wrap and freeze the individual bars and grab one for breakfast on your way out the door.  Perfect for the non-eater picky teen too.