PP Fruity ALA* Granola Bars
Chef: Cathy Katin-Grazzini, Cathy’s Kitchen Prescription LLC
Makes: 12-14 bars
Prep Time: 20 min
Cook Time: 55 min
Total Time: 1 hr 15 min
INGREDIENTS
1 ½ c old-fashioned gluten free oat flakes
¾ c popped whole grain, gluten-free puffed unsweetened cereal (brown rice, amaranth, millet or mixed)
2 bananas
2 t vanilla extract
¼ c whole golden flaxseed
¼ c white or black chia seeds (white seeds are marginally higher in ALA Omega-3s)
1 t freshly ground Ceylon cinnamon
2 c mix of dried dates, figs, apricots, various raisin varieties
DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F/160 degrees C
Grind flax and chia to meal. Set aside.
To rehydrate the fruit, combine them, cover with water, microwave for 90 seconds, cool.
Alternately, simmer for a couple of minutes on a stovetop, cool. Drain. Transfer to a food processor and pulse to create small uniform pieces. Set aside.
In a bowl, mash bananas with a fork or potato masher until smooth. Set aside.
In a mixing bowl combine all ingredients, mixing well. Mound on a cookie sheet lined with parchment, and with two straight edge rulers or icing spatulas shape into a roughly 7 ½” by 7 1/2” by 1“thick square.
Bake for 15 min and remove. Gently in half lengthwise and width-wise slice into 1” wide strips and with a sharp or serrated knife, carefully separate the pieces from one anther to ensure even baking on all surfaces.
Return to the oven for another 35-40 min or until fragrant, firm, and golden.
Remove from the oven and transfer to a cooking rack. Cool and enjoy!
TIP
ALA* bars will keep for 2 weeks in the refrigerator (If they last that long!) and will freeze beautifully.
*ALA refers to alpha-linolenic acid, the omega-3 in the flax and chia which are main components of the recipe.
Cathy Katin-Grazzini, a seasoned plant-based nutritional coach and chef, teaches the profound health benefits of plant-based nutrition, without oil, by working with patients to prevent, treat and often reverse their chronic disease conditions through lifestyle counseling, group immersion programs and her empowering cooking classes. Visit Cathy at her website, Facebook, YouTube,and Instagram. Watch for Cathy’s cookbook, coming in Spring 2022; Love the Foods That Love You Back.