Urban Cave Girl

I've bought a total of 5 Larabars in my entire lifetime.  It wasn't until recently, in like the last 3 weeks or so that we decided to give them a try.  Mainly it was an on the go snack alternative that was good and easy.
The only downside was the price tag.  However not extremely spendy...still a 1.29 more than I wanted to spend.  I know, call me cheap.  But I don't work remember.

So after reading the ingredients on the back, like 5 times, cause there was no way that's ALL that is in those things, I thought "Shit, I can make this"  which is something I say to myself all too often.

After a pitstop at Trader Joe's for some dates we were on our way.  Everything else I was going to use I already had on hand and chances are you do too.

I threw the baby up on the counter and we went to work.  She ate berries while I tossed things into the food processor.

These bars didn't really have one specific ingredient and therefore a name was eluding me.
I just went with:

Larabar Try #1 (it was appropriate)

Also, I didn't measure anything.  I've said several times, I'm not a measuring kind of cook.  And, I'm sorry for that if you're trying to follow the recipes I post to a "t".  It's an inherited trait cause my mom is the same way.  I'm a pretty good eye baller though so even though measurements aren't exact...I guess-ti-mate them to be damn close.

1.5 cup of dates.  Let me start here by saying this was my first real time using dates.  I didn't know they had seeds.  It wasn't until after putting them in my food processor and hearing a terrible noise did it dawn on me.  Going back through the mutilated dates and pulling out seeds by hand was not only incredibly MESSY it was really time consuming.  So, note to self, take out the seeds FIRST!

1/4 cup of slivered almonds
1/2 cup of golden raisins
handful of dried cranberries
1/4 cup of sunflower seeds (out of the shells.  I know, DUH!  but hey, I didn't seed my dates sooooo just covering bases here)

Everything goes in the food processor and eventually comes out looking something like this:



Basically a big glob of goo that smelled really good.
I scooped it all into a glass baking dish (which I actually greased a little with some coconut oil) and then patted it all out flat.


I covered it and stuck it into the fridge overnight.  The next morning took it out and cut it into small bars and then wrapped each one in some parchment paper.  I put them all into a plastic ziplock and back into the fridge they went, ready to be grabbed for a quick snack.


Then entire family LOVED THESE!!!
They were really good and so easy to make.  I think you could use just about anything to make them.  Next up I'm trying a cherry concoction.

Enjoy!!