Energy Bar Recipe

A friend passed this recipe to me for her scrummy energy bars. She packs these in her childrens lunch boxes and a couple in her tennis bag. Keep them in the freezer or store in the refrigerator for up to 4 weeks. [If they last that long!]

Energy Bar Ingredients

1 1/2 cup rolled oats

1 cup rice cereal

1/2 C. granulated sugar

1/2 cup peanut butter

1/4 cup sesame seeds

1 1/2 cup dried apricots

1 1/2 cup raisins or currants

1/2 cup nonfat protein powder

1/2 cup toasted wheat germ

1 cup brown rice syrup or light corn syrup

1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Cooking Instructions

Toast oats, cereal and sesame seeds in oven at 180°C/350° F. for around 12-15 minutes, or until oats are golden. Stir occassionally.

Process or chop apricots. Add to raisins, protein powder and wheat germ.

Lightly grease swiss roll cake pan.

In heavy saucepan combine syrup and sugar. Bring to boil over medium-high heat.

Reduce heat to low. Stir in peanut butter, vanilla and cinnamon.

Quickly pour syrup over oatmeal mixture and stir well.

Spread warm mixture into pan, pressing into a thin, even layer using wet hands or spatula. Work quickly before mixture hardens.

Chill until firm. [4-5 hours]

Cut into bars. Wrap individually in wax paper or foil, or store in an airtight container with waxed paper between layers.

Store refrigerated up to four weeks or freeze.

Preheat oven to 350° F.

Makes 30 bars.

Nutrition Data Per Bar

Calories 146

Fat 2.7 g (sat .4 g, mono 1.1 g, poly 1 g);

Protein 4 g;

Carbohydrates 29 g;

Fiber 2.08 g;

Cholesterol 0 mg;

Sodium 59 mg;

Calcium 41 mg.