Ellie's Energy Bars

Ellie's Energy Bars
From The Food You Crave

Hands-on time: 5 minutes
Baking time: 20 minutes (or until the toothpick comes out clean)
Cooling time: 15 minutes

Makes 24 bars

Ingredients:
1 cup quick cooking rolled oats
½ cup shelled unsalted raw sunflower seeds
½ cup toasted wheat germ
¼ cup whole wheat flour or whole grain pastry flour
½ cup dried apricots, roughly chopped
½ cup raisins
½ cup pitted dates
½ cup non-fat dry milk
1/3 cup maple syrup
2 large eggs

Directions:
1. Pre heat the oven to 350°F/170°C and prepare 9x13 inch baking pan (The author uses cooking spray, I used parchment paper).

2. Place all the ingredients except the maple syrup and eggs in a food processor and pulse until everything is finely chopped. Add the syrup and the eggs and pulse until the mixture is well combined. It will resemble a coarse paste.

3. Transfer to the baking pan and spread evenly to cover the bottom. Bake until lightly browned (about 20 minutes). Allow to cool for 15 minutes before cutting into 24 bars.

Store in an airtight container at room temperature for about 3 days or wrap individually and freeze for up to 3 months.

Copyright (c) 2008 by Ellie Krieger. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission of Random House.