Power Bars

Sorry, no photos today!

But here is our delicious POWER BAR recipe:

1 cup pecans
1 cup sliced almonds
1 cup dried blueberries (or cranberries, or raisins, or chopped apricots)
1/4 cup flax seed
1/3 cup sesame seeds
2/3 cup shredded coconut (unsweetened)
1 & 1/4 cup rolled oats
1 & 1/2 cups rice crispy cereal
1 cup brown rice syrup (or honey)
1/4 cup natural cane sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp pure vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease a baking sheet or 9 x 13 inch pan.

In a large bowl, mix the fruit, flax seeds, oats, rice crispies, and cinnamon.

On a rimmed baking sheet , toast pecans, almonds, and coconut in the oven for about 7 minutes.  Give it a stir once during that time.

Using a small skillet, heat the sesame seeds over medium heat for 3-5 minutes.  Stir constantly so the seeds do not burn.  Remove from heat when they become golden in color.

Combine the rice syrup (or honey), sugar, salt and vanilla in a small saucepan over medium heat and stir constantly as it comes to a boil and thickens  -  about 4 minutes.

Pour syrup over the dry mixture and stir until evenly incorporated.

Spread into the prepared pan.  With buttered hands, pat the mixture into place in the pan.  Cool to room temperature before slicing.