Larabar

Today I successfully attempted to make homemade larabars. If you haven't had one - they are pretty awesome, but also pretty expensive. They are found in the energy bar section of most health food stores - and at about 2$ a bar, they consist of nothing more then blended up raw dates and nuts- and they come in amazing flavours.

I need a sweet treat post dinner (and at most points in the day) and these totally do the trick.

There are a ton of recipes found online, and once you get all set up with your ingredients and a food processor, it's easy to make a big selection. I picked up a raw almonds, pecans and cashews as well as a slab of pre-made date paste ($4.99) at Sharaz on Sumerset which made the process way easier and their prices on nuts are excellent.

Today I made: Cherry pie, Key Lime pie*, Macaroon, & Chocolate Peanut butter cup

First you blend all the nuts until they are pretty fine, then add the date paste, and then the flavours. If the mixture is too dry add a drop or two of oil until the mixture sticks together on it's own. It's good to blend the nuts first because sometimes (not always) the date paste can slow down the processor and make a ball, and your nuts won't blend. *This was the case with the key lime pie recipe above - it's also a big batch compared to others so I would recommend halving the recipe (that is if you know how to divide 3/4 cup in half - cause I don't)

Everyone had a different techniques for molding the bars - I liked mine - I just lined a little rectangular ceramic dish with a piece of clingfilm , pressed the batter in and then wrapped it up and pulled it out. I put the slab in the freezer to really get it molded to that shape and then I transferred them to the fridge.

Then you can just cut off slices when you want some. And oh yes, you will want some, because they are DIVINE.