22 March 2007
Baking is like edible crafting, right? Let's say yes, and then take a look at these:
As I mentioned in the last post, I've been feeling pretty lousy for not posting more about crafty endeavors. I've even been putting off writing anything, because I really wanted to be able to share something to do with fabric and bits of string. But I've failed you! Recent projects have either not got far enough to be of interest or have gone pear-shaped and therefore are of no interest to me. I even thought I'd write about the poster I ordered after seeing Fiona's, but when it arrived, the poster tube had been knocked about, and the poster itself now has a tattered side. Sigh.
Oh, but the food -- darn near perfect every time! It's a sign. I made a smallish batch of these bars earlier (I hesitate to call them oat bars, as they aren't really predominantly oat-y, but I don't like the name 'Energy Bar' either), and I'm pretty pleased with them. No flour, no butter, no granulated sugar (white or brown). Made from things that were just sitting in my cupboards (which is a pretty revealing look at what I keep stocked in my cupboards!).
3/4 cup Quick Oats
1/4 cup Almonds
1/4 cup Peanuts
1/4 cup raisins
1/3 cup dried cranberries
1/4 cup dates
1/4 cup Honey-Nut Wheat Germ (I actually used 40g)
1/4 cup Milled Flax Seed
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 Tbsp Honey
1 Tbsp Molasses
1 Egg
1/4 cup Ovaltine powder
Put the first six ingredients (from Oats to Dates) in a blender, and use a chop setting (or similar -- or use a food processor) until everything is chopped down pretty finely and evenly. Set that aside and stir together the remaining ingredients in a bowl. Add the oat-and-fruit mixture and stir until combined. Grease an 8"x8" pan, pat down the mixture to fit, and bake at 350F for 20 minutes. Remove from oven, allow to cool in the pan for five minutes, and then tip it out and cut into bars. Cool completely and then wrap them up and store in the fridge or freezer (or belly).
Easy peasy, lemon-squeezy! It's particularly satisfying to chop all those things up in the blender. I've never owned a food processor, so I'm not used to that feeling of power, but I really enjoyed watching everything get minced together. If more men used blenders, I should think there would be far fewer wars.
They're rather similar to flapjacks, except without all the fat and golden syrup (so they can't actually be THAT similar, I suppose!). I've only recently started using milled flax seed, and it really lends a fantastic texture to food. Makes things very silky and, well, fatty -- but good fatty. I would have rather used sunflower seeds than peanuts (or just double the almonds), but like I said, I used what I had on hand. Adding Ovaltine was a particular stroke of genius, I thought; it's fortified with various vitamins, not too bad for you -- and it's chocolatey! Perfect.
Those look REALLY good. I wonder if they might taste better dipped in chocolate.....
posted by Momma at March 22, 2007 04:52 PM
Oh my goodness, those sound -- and look -- wonderful. I am making them today!
I hope you don't mind -- I saved the recipe on my computer as Bloggie Bars by twelve22.
Thanks for sharing the recipe. I'm always on the lookout for yummy things that I can eat without guilt. These fit the bill.
posted by anne at March 22, 2007 05:07 PM
Can they be called Fruity Oaty Bars please? (I will leave it to any movie buffs to figure out why that name would appeal to me.)
posted by Rob at March 22, 2007 09:37 PM
What a memory Rob has. I think River would go crazy over Fruity Oaty Bars.
.d
posted by .d at March 23, 2007 09:56 PM
these look great! gonna try it this weekend!
posted by rani Shah at March 24, 2007 05:53 AM
Baking is *so* an edible craft. The only problem with posts like these is my diet, which gets thrown enthusiastically out of the window.
posted by Megan at March 24, 2007 06:22 AM
I think your bar recipe sounds great. I may have to toss in some cocoa next time I make mine!
posted by Ali at March 24, 2007 10:02 PM