I'm sure you have all been twiddling your thumbs and tapping your toes waiting for another blog post. February left five of the six of us ill and with 3 birthdays to celebrate too! I feel like I'm just catching up around the home front. I have blog post ideas just sitting here piling up. So it's time for a recipe!
I do have a disclaimer when it comes to my recipes though. I have a hard time writing(and also following) recipes. Be prepared for a lot of words like "smidge", "dash" and "to taste". Because that's what happens around here...a lot. Usually I get lucky and it turns out okay. My hubby keeps lovingly reminding me though that people are wanting actual recipes. -The kind with numbers and measurements.- I will try harder! While I'm on the subject of confessing my kitchen secrets I should also mention that I'm probably the messiest cook ever. No really...
I do have a disclaimer when it comes to my recipes though. I have a hard time writing(and also following) recipes. Be prepared for a lot of words like "smidge", "dash" and "to taste". Because that's what happens around here...a lot. Usually I get lucky and it turns out okay. My hubby keeps lovingly reminding me though that people are wanting actual recipes. -The kind with numbers and measurements.- I will try harder! While I'm on the subject of confessing my kitchen secrets I should also mention that I'm probably the messiest cook ever. No really...
Let's go back to that whole not writing down recipes thing for a minute. I made some homemade Larabars( I'll call them Larrybars) a week and a half ago. I was so proud of myself for writing it down and even pulling out the good camera to take pictures.
YUM!
(Almonds, Dates, Cranberries, Coconut, Pumpkin Seeds, Chia Seeds)
I go to find the recipe and I couldn't find it anywhere! Ugh! It is slightly different than actual Larabars because of the seeds, but I like the texture. I do know what ingredients I used in it so I'm sure I'll be able to work on the amounts and get the recipe again. I did however make a whole different flavor yesterday!
Meet my Chocolate Raspberry Larrybars
Not as pretty with my the phone on my camera. But equally as delicious! Plus this one comes with a recipe. Score!
Chocolate Raspberry Larrybars
10-12oz Raw Almonds
15 Medjool dates (pitted)
1/4 C. Freeze Dried Raspberries
2 T. Flax Seeds
1-1 1/2 T. Coconut Oil
1/4 C. Chocolate Chips
2-3 t. Cocoa
Add the almonds into a food processor and grind into a small pieces. Secondly add in the dates and mix them until they're in little pieces. Then add in the raspberries, flax seeds, coconut oil and cocoa. Mix them together. Next add the chocolate chips and only process until the chips are chopped. -Try and say that five times fast!- Line a square dish(I used an 8x8 pyrex and had some extra) with wax paper and press the mixture into it. I like to fold the extra wax paper on the sides into the middle to help squeeze it together. I made mine about 1/2 in. thick. I like to store mine in the refrigerator also. This recipe made 14 bars.
They're so good you'll want 2!
These are the "yummy little gems" I used in my recipe. I would have liked to have used more but I used all that was left. I'm just lucky there was some!
Some tips:
Too dry- add another date or two
Too moist- add some more nuts
You can mix and match different types of fruit and nuts with the dates for a ton of different combinations. I love using Trader Joe's Smooshed Banana and coconut. Or cranberries and peanuts for a PB&J treat.
Camilla over at Power Hungry has a great list of a few varieties you can try out. As well as a great post on Homemade Larabars. I've used both her technique and what I mentioned above - they both work. Her's may stick together a little better than mine though. I also own her 150 Best Vegan Muffin recipe book which has the Banana Split Muffins I've raved about before.
What would your favorite combination be? Let me know in the comments.
