When I visit your blogs and see all your healthy recipes with fresh, low fat ingredients, I think I must do better.Inspired by Finsmom at Latest Addictions, I went out and to see if I could buy hemp seed, not expecting to find it in our little city. However, I was proven wrong because in our downtown health food store, it was there ~ $10.00 for a little bag. I hemmed and hawed over the purchase and finally just went with it.
I knew how I wanted to use the hemp seed as I had found these Apricot Power Bars a while back and had dismissed them; they were just a little too earthy crunchy for this sugar and carb girl. Little did I know I would be revisiting them, preparing them, and liking them a lot!
I wouldn't say these bars have a big flavor; I think the recipe, for my taste, needs more cinnamon. However, that hasn't stopped me from snitching off pieces as I walk by them. The bars are chewy, nutty, and not too sweet. They are quite satisfying, and surprise, they are filling. They probably won't replace my favorite cookies, but I am very happy to be able to balance my sweets with a treat that has some true food value.
Apricot Power Bars
1 cup dried apricots
1 cup pecans (I used 1/2 cup pecans and 1/2 cup hemp seed)
1/2 cup walnuts
1/2 cup honey
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup rolled oats
2/3 cup flour (I used 1/3 cup all purpose white flour and 1/3 cup organic whole wheat)
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
apricot nectar (or apple juice)
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
Chop apricots and nuts. Add remaining ingredients except the apricot nectar. Stir to combine and then add enough juice (2 to 4 tablespoons) to form thick batter.
Press firmly into an 8x8-inch square greased pan. Bake 30 minutes or until firm.
Cut into 12 bars and let cool in the pan. Prepared bars can be stored in the refrigerator for 2 weeks or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
I may as well confide to you. While I was out buying hemp seed, I also bought an herbal face cream, guaranteed to plump out even my deepest wrinkles. I figure if I'm eating healthier for my insides, I may as well go for that youthful glowing skin for my outside. Ole Sweetie-Pi is still laughing.
They look delicious! I'll have to remember these when I need power. Hmmmm....I'm feeling tired right now-maybe I should make some!
ReplyDeleteI love the apricot in these! If only those face creams would work as well as they claim! :0)
ReplyDeleteSounds healthy and delicious! How did that face cream work?
ReplyDeleteHeidi, LOL about the face cream. So far, no difference.
ReplyDeleteOh Katy...these sound so great! I'm seriously going to have to go out and find hemp seeds again. I need a good snack food around here.
ReplyDeleteThese healthy treats look great! They have all my favorite goodies in them. What a nice snack they make. I am an avid user of face creams!
ReplyDeleteI'm going to be showing my ex-hippie age here, but aren't hemp seeds basically marijuana seeds?
ReplyDeleteColeen, good question. According to Wikipedia, it is a variant of the cannibus plant but this is strain is for industrial use, the other that you are referring too is the psychoagent. Like hemp rope is not marijuana. Or hemp paper.
ReplyDeleteKaty, they look great. I don't know if I make anything healthy, but I can say for sure what I make is fattening!!!! I am just a sucker for cakes and cookies! Just read Coleen's comment and I am cracking up here!
ReplyDeleteDebbie, I just LOVE your recipes. I'm always over at your site oogling your goodies (how can I rephrase that so it doesn't sound so NAUGHTY, geesh, blush!). I love your food!
ReplyDeleteI just love Coleen and her recipes, too. She is so dear and so sincere. I'm making her sourdough waffles for breakfast this morning...
Sigh, I wish I could be inspired to make healthy food. I eat fairly healthy on a regular basis, but when I cook for others or for a special meal it is always stuff that is 'bad' for you. I'm always in search of a good face cream -- I wish they worked as well as advertised myself!
ReplyDeleteOh this so looks like something I would like...even my guys! What a great recipe. I love apricot in anything and combined with pecans...a sure bet! Yum. Let me see...do I have those ingredients? I am on my way out to get groceries and I must add the walnuts and I am set. Thanks...I'll let you know how they turn out!
ReplyDeleteTrish, as you and I love cinnamon, I suggest a LITTLE more cinnamon.
ReplyDeleteWhat great looking bars. I love it when things that are good for you are also nice to look at.
ReplyDeleteHee hee,.....love it Katy. I am making a 'scone like' cookie right now which calls for cinnamon. Of course I gave it an extra one or two tsps. grin.... Say...I reread your post and I must say that if that cream does the trick...let me know. I am alllll for a few less wrinkles. Some give character...too many....well...you know! HA!
ReplyDeleteKatypi, love the comments from your responders! I make a bar that is almost identical except I use flax seed. Looked for hemp seed for something a couple of years ago and it wasn't available around here. :(. Also love the latest article on your other blog! Kathye
ReplyDeleteKathye, I was VERY surprised to find the hemp seed here in our little city. I thought for sure we wouldn't see it for a long while yet. It's definitely not main stream here; I found it in the health food store with the brown rice and organic flours. I was actually looking for brown rice as well, but I couldn't find it. I assume it's there, I just didn't see it. I can remember the first time my mother saw that SOY SAUCE was on the grocery shelf here. I think she was the only Asian in this county, if not one of a small handful in the entire state. Well, that's a story for another day.
ReplyDeleteI always appreciate your kind comments and thoughts, Kathye!
LOL, Trish, I am convinced I look younger and dewier than ever since using that cream. What's it called, Garnier or something like that. They also sell natural hair care products.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if they sell it by the tubful?
I've never used hemp seed before - don't you just love it when you find new ingredients that you end up liking a lot? Great photos :)
ReplyDeleteI'm proud of you for going the healthy route! I don't think I do often enough! :) Your pictures look great!
ReplyDeleteHmmm. I could definitely use some power. lol. These look yummy! I bet my kiddos...at least one of them would eat em' too.
ReplyDeleteI love that I inspired you to give hemp seeds a try! They can be used in so many great ways!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for mentioning me! You Rock!
I will be trying your bars soon! :)
Those really do look yummy and healthy! I'm not too great and eating right myself. Those foods just usually aren't quite as fun.
ReplyDeleteApricots are just about my favorite food in the world, but i gte tired of straight dried apricots (though right now it IS apricot season!!). I think I'd love these! Good for the body, good for the soul :)
ReplyDeleteI'm another cinnamon lover..I always add more than the recipe says. Wow Katy..these apricot power bars are chock full of deliciousness..I'm going to be making them. I have bought hemp seed in our local health store, I used it in a bread recipe. Here's hoping they still have it although it isn't cheap..I might go with seame seeds instead.
ReplyDeleteAbout that face cream..if it performs well and plumps out the wrinkles..well then I'd like to know about it!! sigh
Vibrant I love these Apricots! Great snacks for my daughters softball camp!
ReplyDeleteThanks Katy! for sharing your recipe~
Have a Great Day!
I too need to do better! These bars look like a great start!
ReplyDeleteNice pics! I love fruit bars. A apricot bar sounds amazing!
ReplyDeleteThese look absolutely incredible and pretty simple to make. You did a terrific job!
ReplyDeleteI don't need to need power to enjoy these bars! They sound and look amazing!
ReplyDeleteI love oatmeal bars and this homemade one with apricots sound excellent! I will definitely have to try it!
ReplyDeleteThey looks great!!!Ah bars... such a comfort food :)
ReplyDeleteApricot sounds just perfect in these. LOVE it!
ReplyDeleteLove apricots, this bar looks super delish...will make a healthy breakfast!!
ReplyDeleteMy husband is always asking me to pick up granola bars or something of the like, whenever I go to the grocery store, so I'm going to have to give these a try! I love that they can keep up to 2 wks in the refrigerator and up to 3 months in the freezer!
ReplyDeleteI made a granola bar recipe once that turned out to be a cereal instead of a bar. These look great. And too funny about the face cream. I love impulse buys!
ReplyDeleteWe could use some healthier snack around my house, this looks absolutely perfect!
ReplyDeleteSounds Delicious..Will surely give a try!!!
ReplyDeleteKaty, these look delicious! I would love to have you send me a week supply please. ;-)
ReplyDeleteLove love love that you used hemp in this recipe!! And I am crazy about apricots. I'll be trying these for sure. So much better than those store bought ones!
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