The Farmer’s Market Bars

Take all my favorite foods and put them into a bar and is it any surprise that my new favorite food is this Lara Bar look-a-like? I have not ever actually tasted a Lara Bar since I refuse to buy a purchased granola bars but I did taste a wonderful granola bar at a farmer’s market in a rural mountain community in Oregon. They told me it was like a Lara Bar, so I think my bars must be like one too. Anyhow, they were so wonderful that I memorized the ingredient list (not very difficult since it included all my favorite foods) and made it as soon as I flew the 1000 miles to my little kitchen where it took me about 10 minutes to make a super-fabulous bar from super fabulous ingredients.

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All those super-fabulous ingredients go straight into my food processor for about 30 seconds.

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I cooked the mixture for a couple of minutes and spread it out on parchment paper and formed a big rectangle so bars were super quick to cut.

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All the chewy goodness of macadamia nuts, coconut and dried fruit make these waaay better than any of those granola bars that I never buy. And that is exactly why I never buy them.

The Farmer’s Market Bars

1 cup dates
1/2 cup dried mango or apricots
1/2 cup whole almonds, macadamia nuts or pepitas
1/2 cup flaked coconut
2 tablespoons ground flax
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 tablespoons honey
2 egg whites
2 tablespoons minced crystallized ginger
Optional ingredients:
1/2 cup dried aronia berries, dried cranberries or dried cherries

Combine all ingredients except  crystallized ginger and dried berries in a food processor. Process about 30 seconds or until chopped and well mixed. Microwave on High for 3 to 3 1/2 minutes or until hot and steamy, stirring twice. Stir in ginger and dried berries. Spoon onto parchment paper and shape into a square. Cool a minute or two and cut into bars. Let cool completely before wrapping.

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