DIVINE POWER BARS

DIVINE POWER BARS

Ingredients

Makes 20 bars

Butter or olive oil cooking spray

1 Cup quick-cooking rolled oats

1/2 Cup raw unsalted sunflower seeds

1/2 cup toasted wheat germ

1/4 cup whole wheat pastry flower

1/2 cup dried apricots

1/2 cup raisins

1/2 cup raw almonds

1 small, ripe banana

1 cup non-fat vanilla yogurt or 8 oz. soft, silken tofu

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp ground nutmeg

1/3 cup pure maple syrup or agave syrup

1 tsp vanilla

2 large eggs

Directions

Preheat oven to 350F. Coat a 9x13 inch baking pan with cooking spray or line with wax paper.

Place the oats, sunflower seeds, wheat germ, flour, apricots, almonds & raisins in a food processor and pulse til the mixture is coarsely chopped. Add banana, yogurt or tofu, cinnamon, nutmeg, syrup, eggs & vanilla, pulse 6-8 times until mixture is well combined. Mixture will be sticky.

Transfer mixture to baking pan and spread out evenly using the back of a spatula sprayed w/cooking oil spray, or by running your hands under cold water and using them to press the mixture evenly into the pan.

Bake until just done, about 15-18 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool and firm up - 5 minutes. Cut into 20 squares and package into individual portions by wrapping in wax paper, plastic wrap or small, re-sealable bags.

Variation - You can exchange the suggested ingredients for your favoirite dried fruit or nuts. Dates or prunes can be used instead of dried apricots, dried cherries or dried cranberries can be substituted for the raisins; walnuts or pecans instead of almonds. Tofu is an excellent way to add protein and is less expensive than protein powder.