Need to Power Up?
Hitting the gym or trying to be more active in the new year? Many people (including us) love to munch on all-natural food bars to get a little boost of energy before and after exercising. Did you know that these sweet little bars, which are usually made from a combination of dates, nuts and a little salt, are simple to make at home? We like to use cashews to make our homemade food bars rich and delicious!
Start by placing 1/2 cup of pitted dates in a food processor. Process the dates until they’re smooth and have a pastelike consistency, then transfer them to a bowl. Pour 1/2 cup of raw cashews, along with 1 tbsp. of cashew butter, 1/2 tsp of ground cinnamon and 1/2 tbsp. of sea salt, to the food processor. Process the nuts until they’re chopped rather finely, then add the cashew mixture to the dates. Mix the ingredients until they’re thoroughly combined, then press the mixture into a 9″ x 9″ square baking dish that has been lined with wax paper. Refrigerate the bars until they’re hard, then flip the bars out of the dish and cut them into granola-bar-sized rectangles or bite-sized cubes. Wrap the bars individually in plastic wrap and store them in the refrigerator or in an airtight
container in the pantry. They will keep for several days.
The best part about this recipe is that you can add the ingredients that appeal to you. If cashews aren’t your nut of choice, try the recipe with peanuts, pecans or macadamia nuts. (Or a combination of nuts.) Substitute some or all of the dates for another dried fruit, such as dried cherries or dried blueberries. Add 2 to 4 tbsp. of baking chips to give them a candy bar-like flavor. The sky’s the limit!
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