Homemade Health Bars

When you mention health bars, people usually wrinkle their nose and make a horrible face. They think that healthy food bars have to taste like hay or grass. This is not the case. You can make tasty, fun and healthy snacks that, when stored properly, can be made well ahead of time and always be ready for a trip, a snack or eaten when you awaken too late for breakfast. Keep one or two in your bag for munching any time.

Things You'll Need

• 1 cup oats
• Baking tray
• Baking paper
• Non-stick spray
• 1/2 cup sesame seeds
• 1/2 cup apricots
• 1/2 cup raisins
• 1 cup coconut
• 1 cup almonds
• 1/2 cup dried milk powder
• 1/2 cup wheat germ
• Baking pan
• 1 cup corn syrup or honey
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup peanut butter
• 1 tsp. orange or lemon extract
• Wooden spoon
• Sharp knife
• Storage containers

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 300 degrees F. Place 1 cup of oats on a baking tray covered with baking paper and non-stick spray. Bake for 25 minutes stirring every 3 to 4 minutes.

2. Mix together 1/2 cup each of the sesame seeds, apricots and raisins. Chop them together well in a large bowl.

3. Add to the mixture 1 cup of the coconut, 1 cup of the almonds, 1/2 cup of the dried milk powder, 1/2 cup of wheat germ. Stir the mixture very well. Put the warm oats into the mixture and stir again. Spoon the mixture onto a baking pan covered with baking paper and non-stick spray.

4. Mix together 1 cup of corn syrup or honey, 3/4 cup of sugar and heat over medium heat until it comes to a boil. Add in 1/4 cup of peanut butter and 1 tsp. of orange or lemon extract and remove from the heat. Stir the mixture.

5. Pour the mixture from the saucepan over the oatmeal mixture on the baking pan. Spread the liquid mixture over the contents on the baking pan with the back of a wooden spoon.

6. Cover the entire pan and place in the refrigerator overnight. Cut into bars and place in storage containers. Keep in the refrigerator.

Tips & Warnings

• Substitute honey for sugar and corn syrup, and these will be even healthier.

• If you are giving these as gifts, make labels that list the ingredients.

References

• Recumbent Bikes Truth for You: Great Recipes to Make Awesome, Homemade, Incredible, Edible Energy Bars