Larabars

So week I have been doing some research into healthier eating....gonna grab the bull by the horns on Monday with this whole no carb thing....thank you Meagan for all your help and advice!!!

But last week i came across Larabars....and found recipes that we could just make at home...and they are way healthier and cheaper in the long run.....just had to upfront the cost for the food processor....but that baby is gonna come in handy in the coming days, weeks, months!!!....

We made a total of three kinds.....Cranberry Pie Bars, Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Bars, Peanut Butter Cookie Dough....here are the links for all of them and recipes:

Living Crunchy for the Cranberry (aka Cherry) Pie Bars and Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Bars

Cherry Pie Bars

1 cup died unsweetened cherries (we had to use cranberries since there were no cherries in stock)
1/4 cup dried unsweetened dates
1/3 cup warm water for dried fruit
1 cup almonds (we used cashews since I forgot to buy almonds)
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp vanilla
salt to taste

Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Bars

1 cup Raisins
1/4 cup warm water for dried fruit
3/4 cup oatmeal (not instant)
3/4 cashews

1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp vanilla
salt to taste

Directions for Both:
take the water and combine with the dried fruit to and soak while combining the rest of the ingredients in the food processor and pulse for 30-60 secs then drain fruit (I misread this step) with nut mixture and pulse until sticks together.  I put the mixture in a bar pan lined with parchment paper for 30 minutes and then I cut into bars.  You can leave them in your fridge for up two weeks

Cholocate-Covered Katie for the Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Cookies

Peanut Butter Cookie Dough Cookies

1/4 cup Peanut Butter
1/4 cup plus 3 tbsp Raisins
salt to taste
2 tbsp of roasted unsalted peanuts
1/8 tsp vanilla

Directions:
Combine everything in the food processor until smooth.  I put these in a bar pan lined parchment paper to firm up which took about an hour or so.  I then rolled them into balls to store in the fridge.

So far we have liked them all and they fill you up!  So once those are gone we will try another round!

Elisa