Who is Bia?

My name is Brenda. I am a wife and an aunt-turned-mom of an amazing 13 year old. My passion for cooking and recipe creating developed as an adventure in finding healthy alternatives to the foods I don't want to live without! I am an advocate for local farming and my recipes are inspired by what is in season. I strive for my ingredients to be from a mother or from the ground and minimally processed. Please try my recipes, critique them, and share them! Just stay home and cook tonight!

Monday, August 10, 2009

Cranberry-Raisin-Walnut Energy Bars

I found a recipe for some Fig and Walnut Energy bars. First of all I don't like figs. I do, however LOVE dried cranberries so I used them instead. The recipe also called for bran flakes. Well, the granola bars that I love the most have raisins in them so I used Raisin Bran. Here is the recipe! It is sooooo easy!

Ingredients:
• 1 cup quick-cooking oats
• 1 cup raisin bran cereal
• 1/4 cup whole-wheat flour
• 1 cup walnut pieces
• 1 1/2 cups dried cranberries
• 1/2 cup nonfat dry milk
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/4 cup honey
• 2 large eggs

Directions
Preheat the oven to 350. Coat a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with wax paper.
Place the oats, cereal, flour, walnuts, cranberries, dry milk, cinnamon and ginger in a food processor; coarsely chop.

Add the honey and eggs; pulse until well combined.

Transfer the mixture to the pan; spread evenly with your fingers. Bake until lightly browned around the edges, about 20 minutes. Cool in the pan for 15 minutes, then cut into 16 bars. Store in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 3 days, or wrap individually and freeze for up to 3 months.



Per bar: Calories 149; Fat 6 g (Saturated 1 g); Cholesterol 27 mg; Sodium 31 mg; Carbohydrate 22 g; Fiber 4 g; Protein 5 g