Chocolate Energy Bars
I have just finished my first ever boot camp and the instructor, Jen, rewarded our efforts at the last class with a tasting of these bars. She provides them for her marathon runners and, I have to say, they beat a package of Gu any day.
However, they really do give you energy and should come with a warning that they'll keep you up if you have them at night.

1 1/4 Cup natural *creamy peanut butter (or more, can also use almond butter)
¾ Cup honey
¾ Cup brown sugar
½ Cup cocoa
1 1/4 Cups Oatmeal (more for more density in the bars)
1 1/2 Cups Rice Krispies (more to make the bars lighter)
1 Cup dried fruit (i.e. Craisons)
1 Cup crushed peanuts (or almonds)

If mixture seems dry or crumbly, add more peanut butter, less oats/ krispies.

How to prepare:
In a pot, combine peanut butter, honey, brown sugar, cocoa and cook until smooth. Add the rest of the ingredients and mix well.
Spray a 9 X 13 inch pan with oil and firmly press batter in pan.

Cut into small squares, cover, place in fridge to set and cool. Can then remove them from pan, wrap in plastic and freeze for snacks when needed.

*peanut butter needs to be creamy as you need the moisture to hold the bar together.

Homemade Granola Bars
This was in the paper yesterday so I thought I'd try them out. They are pretty good, a bit dry but that's probably due to the altitude here. Plus I made them without the chocolate chips and I think they would make a good addition.

Heat oven to 400F, line a 9x13 inch baking pan with parchment paper
1 1/3 cups whole wheat flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 cup wheat bran
1 tsp cinnamon, allspice
1/2 tsp ginger, salt (opt)
1 1/2 cups rolled oats
1 cup dried apricots, chopped finely
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
1/4 cup coconut or chocolate chips
3/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/2 cup apple juice
1/3 cup honey
3 eggs
2 tsp canola oil
1. Mix dry ingredients in one bowl.
2. Mix wet ingrediants in another bowl.
3. Combine and spread out evenly in lined pan.
4. Bake 20 minutes or until lightly browned.
5. Cool and cut into 16 bars.

Making granola bars
I have been making a pan of these every couple of weeks so Ben can take granola bars to work. They are very yummy and full of goodness. The recipe hails from Aunty Amandy.


Morning Sunshine Bars
1.5 cups of whole wheat flour
1.5 cups of AP flour
2 tsp BP, cinnamon
1 tsp BS
1/2 tsp ginger
1/4 tsp salt
2 eggs
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 cup fruit (mashed banana, applesauce, pumpkin, something liquidy)
2/3 cup plain yogurt
1/3 cup oil
2 cups grated carrot
1 cup chopped dried fruit (dates, raisins, apricots)
1/2 cup nuts

1. Mix dry ingredients (up to eggs)
2. Mix remaining "wet" ingredients (up to dried fruit)
3. Add dry to wet in batches and stir well
4. Mix in last two ingredients (will be quite stiff)
5. Bake 375 F for 30 minutes in a 13 x 9 pan that is lined with parchment paper. Cool and cut into long, thin bars. Makes about 32 bars.