Magical Energy Bars!

I first made these last week, after talking to one of my friends about the shop bought energy bars you can buy to help restore your energy and repair your muscles after a workout. All the ones I have tried make me gag, they are so thick and stodgy and bloody revolting, they stick to your teeth and literally stay with you all afternoon, not in a nice way!

She pointed me to a page on Facebook called The Nut who had some brilliant ideas and recipes and LOADS of inspiration.

So I took one of her recipes for Energy Bars and adapted it a little to my taste, plus she is American so not all ingrediants available!! The result is my magical energy bars. They are AMAZING!! Even my husband takes one to work in his lunchbox for an afternoon 'perk me up'.

I don't really do measurements, so pretty much guess work.

So, take a couple of handfuls of almonds (skin on) and whizz them up in a food processor, for about 15 minuts or so to form nut butter!

Should look something like this for what you need. (If you keep whizzing it will release more oils and resemble peanut butter spread, you can store it in the fridge and use as you would peanut butter!)

Then put this in a saucepan, add two mashed up bananas and a dessert spoon of normal peanut butter and gently warm through until all melted into each other. Remove from heat.

Blitz up another handful of almonds in the food processor along with a handful of dried apricots and about 4 dates, to small rough chunks.

In a mixing bowl, place a couple fo handfuls of porridge oats and about 2 dessert spoons of mixed seeds, Add the nuts, dates and apricots, the banana and nut mix, 2 teaspoons of honey and a teaspoon of cinnamon and stir it all together until all combined.

Spray a small square or rectangle baking tin with spray light and then spoon mixture in. Flatten it down so its tight and then place in a preheated oven (I have a fan oven and usually do it about 160oc). Let this gently cook for about 20-25 minutes or so. Let it cool a little then turn out on a wire rack to cool completely.

When cool, cut into slices (whatever size you want), store them in an airtight container in the fridge. They last me a week!

Those counting calories or whatever will probably shriek at thought of these, but they are full of natural healthy goodness providing full on energy to renourish your body after a hard workout. Obviously, they still need to be eaten in moderation. I usually cut a bar in half and eat one half before my workout and the other half after.

Enjoy your new found energy!!