Start your morning right with this easy to make homemade breakfast bar recipe infused with goji berries. This recipe was created by Camilla V. Saulsbury, author of “Power Hungry: Easy, Delicious, Empowering Eats.”

Those who know and love me will tell you I am very frugal (except they would likely select a less flattering adjective). I prefer to say that I am careful with my spending, especially when it comes to food shopping. I tell you this because I am not the person at the health food store throwing every new superfood into my hand-basket with nary a thought of price; rather, I’m the woman making a beeline to the bulk goods and comparing the price per ounce on every item.

So when I do recommend a particular superfood-splurge, it’s because I think it’s truly worth it. Case in point, this homemade breakfast bar recipe featuring goji berries. If you’ve never encountered them before, goji berries are bright orange-red berries that come from a shrub that’s native to China and they have a unique taste akin to dried cherries and cranberries. A lot of nutrition gets packed into a single berry, including powerful antioxidants, 18 different amino acids, and up to 21 trace minerals, including zinc, iron, copper, and calcium.

Want to start your day off right? Make this easy homemade breakfast bar recipe the night before.

Homemade Breakfast Bar Recipe: Get Up And Goji Bars

MAKES 16 BARS

1 cup packed pitted, soft dates

1 cup warm water

1/3 cup natural, unsweetened raw nut or seed butter (e.g., peanut, cashew, or sunflower)

1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom

1 2/3 cups old-fashioned or quick-cooking rolled oats

2/3 cup dried goji berries, dried cherries, or dried cranberries, finely chopped

1/2 cup raw cashews, chopped

1/2 cup unsweetened flake or shredded coconut

1/3 cup chia seeds or poppy seeds

2 tablespoons flaxseed meal

Instructions

1. Line an 8-inch square baking pan with foil or parchment paper and grease the pan with coconut oil or vegetable oil.

2. Combine the dates and warm water in a small bowl. Let stand for 5 to 10 minutes until fruit is soft (time will vary according to the dryness of the dates). Drain and pat dry with paper towels.

3. Place the dates, nut or seed butter, and cardamom in a food processor and process until the mixture forms a thick paste; transfer to a large mixing bowl.

4. To the date mixture, add the oats, goji berries, cashews, coconut, chia seeds, and flaxseed meal; stir until well mixed (mixture will be very sti.).

5. Transfer the mixture to the prepared pan. Place a large piece of parchment paper, wax paper, or plastic wrap (lightly greased with coconut or vegetable oil) atop the bar mixture and use it to spread and flatten the mixture evenly in the pan; leave the paper or plastic wrap to cover. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour.

6. Using the liner, lift the mixture from the pan and transfer to a cutting board.

7. Uncover and cut into 16 bars.

Tips for Making The Perfect Get Up And Goji Bar

—Use raw, dehydrated coconut if following a strictly raw diet; if not, feel free to use regular unsweetened flake or shredded coconut and any variety—including roasted—of natural, unsweetened nut or seed butter.

—Cardamom adds an exotic flavor to these bars, but you can skip it if it’s not already in your pantry. Consider adding an equal amount of ground ginger in its place.

How To Keep Your Get Up and Goji Bars Fresh

Tightly wrap the bars individually in plastic wrap.

ROOM TEMP: 2 days

REFRIGERATOR: 1 week

FREEZER: 3 months in airtight container; thaw 1 hour

Delicious Variations on the Get Up and Goji Bar

RAW MANGO MOJO BARS

–Replace the goji berries with an equal amount of chopped, dried unsweetened mango and replace the cardamom with 3/4 teaspoon ground ginger.

–Add 2 teaspoons finely grated lime zest and 2 teaspoons fresh lime juice along with the dates.

Related on EcoSalon:

5 Easy Organic Breakfast Ideas for Mornings On The Go

5 Ways To Embrace The Breakfast For Dinner Food Trend

Image via Camilla Salsbury, author of Power Hungry.

The post Easy Homemade Breakfast Bar Recipe Featuring Goji Berries appeared first on EcoSalon.

A peanut butter and chocolate combination is probably what springs to mind when you think of protein bars. And if you glance at the shelves of protein bars at the supermarket, health food, and athletic stores, you might think it is the only flavor combination (chocolate-peanut butter, peanut butter-chocolate, double peanut butter chocolate fudge, fudgy chocolate peanut butter blast…you get the idea). Infractions abound—notably those sporting choco- (make that chalkoh) flavor coatings and gum-enhanced fillings—but a fantastic peanut butter chocolate protein bar is worth pursuing. Lucky you, the pursuit is over. Whenever you want a trustworthy, taste-worthy peanut butter and chocolate bar, this is it.

Makes 12 Protein Bars

Ingredients

Peanut Butter Protein Bars

1/2 cup roasted, lightly salted peanuts
1/2 cup natural, unsweetened peanut butter
1/2 cup plain nondairy milk or low-fat dairy milk
1/4 cup virgin coconut oil, warmed until melted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 2/3 cup lightly packed all-natural, sweetened chocolate vegan protein powder
1/4 cup unsweetened, natural cocoa powder

Peanut Butter Icing

1/4 cup natural, unsweetened peanut butter
2 tablespoons plain nondairy milk or
low-fat dairy milk
1 tablespoon virgin coconut oil
1/4 teaspoon liquid stevia
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/8 teaspoon fine sea salt

 Directions

1. Line an 8-inch square baking pan with foil or parchment paper and spray with nonstick cooking spray.

2. Place the peanuts in a food processor and process into a fine powder (not a paste). Add the peanut butter, milk, oil, and vanilla. Process, using on/o. pulses, until the mixture is blended, stopping to scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl several times with a rubber spatula.

3. Add the protein powder and cocoa powder to bowl; process using on/o. pulses until all of the protein powder is incorporated, stopping to scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl once or twice with a rubber spatula.

4. Transfer the mixture to the prepared pan. Place a large piece of parchment paper, wax paper, or plastic wrap (coated with nonstick cooking spray) atop the bar mixture and use it to spread and flatten the mixture evenly in the pan.

5. To prepare the icing: In a small saucepan, combine the peanut butter, milk, and coconut oil. Heat over medium-low, stirring, for 1 to 2 minutes until mixture is melted and smooth. Remove from heat and stir in the stevia, vanilla, and salt; immediately pour and spread over the bar mixture. Cover and refrigerate overnight until very firm.

6. Using the liner, lift the mixture from the pan and transfer to a cutting board. Uncover and cut into 12 bars. Store in the refrigerator or freezer.

Nutrients per bar: Calories 271, Fat 21.2 g, (Saturated 10.2 g), Cholesterol 30 mg, Sodium 101 mg, Carbs 7.2 g (Fiber 2.8 g, Sugars 2.5 g), Protein 16 g

Power Hungry, The Ultimate Energy Bar Cookbook, by Camilla V. Saulsbury,(Lake Isle Press, 2013)

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The post Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Bars Recipe appeared first on EcoSalon.