Banana-Honey Granola Bars

Banana-Honey Granola Bars

From the book

  

http://www.amazon.com/Raw-Energy-Recipes-Smoothies-Supercharge/dp/1603424679

I love these little bars; they are a perfectly healthy tasty snack and yes there are a few new ingredients in this recipe that most of us will not have in our cabinets as ready ingredients, but fear not they are not hard to find.  (More information on these ingredients on the bottom)

Banana-Honey Granola Bars

1 medium, very ripe banana, peeled

2 cups raw oat flakes

1 cup raw almond butter or natural roasted peanut butter

¼ cup raw honey

2 tablespoons bee pollen

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Coconut oil, raw and unrefined

1 - Put the banana, oats, nut butter, honey, pollen, vanilla and cinnamon in a food processor or large bowl and blend or stir manually until you have a stiff, cohesive dough ball. *note, this method will result in a more fudge-like square. Mix it all by hand if you want to preserve the large flakes of oatmeal and maintain that granola-bar like texture and look.

2 - Coat a 9-inch square pan with coconut oil and oil your hands as well. Pat the dough evenly into the bottom of the pan. Cover and place in the freezer for 24 hours so that the flavors can meld; the texture will become quite firm and chewy. Alternatively you can roll the dough into bite-size balls if you wish, and store in the freezer as instructed below.

3 - Cut into three 3-inch squares in each direction, then cut each square in half as well so that you have a total of 36 squares (6 x 6).

4 - Store the squares/balls in a tightly sealed container in the freezer and consume within 2 weeks for the best flavor and texture.

ENJOY!!!

 

Ok, so what are Raw Almond butter, Bee Pollen and Raw Coconut oil?

Raw Almond Butter - Raw almond butter is simply a paste made from uncooked almonds.  This method keeps the nutrients that normally would be lost during the heating process.

Bee Pollen* – This ingredient does not have to be added, it is added more for the nutritional value than the added flavor benefit.  Bee Pollen is often sold in health food stores like Outpost or even at drugstores like Walgreens. According to www.livestrong.com, bee pollen is

1)       Anti-Inflammatory

Bee pollen has potent anti-inflammatory properties, according to BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine. The researchers believe that this may be due to some of the flavonoids present in the pollen, though evidence suggests that other unknown substances may also be involved. In the conclusion of the study, bee pollen was recommended as a dietary supplement and as a functional food.

2)       Immunity Booster

Bee pollen contains many nutrients that are key to strengthening the immune system, including vitamins B, C,D, E and beta-carotene, calcium, magnesium, selenium, nucleic acids, lecithin, cysteine, proteins and beneficial fats. The antioxidants in bee pollen fight free radicals, which damage DNA. Researchers found that bee pollen has anti-viral and anti-bacterial properties and that it strengthens the immune systems of mice, even to the point of preventing cancerous tumors.

3)       Anti-Allergic Effect

Bee pollen should not be mistaken for the pollen that tends to contribute to allergies during springtime. Bee pollen is too heavy to float in the air and is collected directly from the legs of the bees. It is reported to have anti-allergic effects. Researchers found that bee pollen inhibits several factors that set-off the allergic response and even helps to prevent anaphylactic shock. It is also believed that the quercetin in bee pollen inhibits the release of histamine, which is a major factor in allergic reactions.

*Warning

If you're allergic to bees, consult a physician before taking bee pollen. A few people have had moderate to severe allergic reactions to bee pollen. Eating bee pollen that's locally cultivated may confer greater benefit than bee pollen from other locations.

(Read entire article at http://www.livestrong.com/article/97342-benefits-taking-bee-pollen-granules/)

Raw and unrefined coconut oil – Can be purchased at large supermarkets, I found mine at Pick n Save near the other oils.  Because this is unrefined it has of course more of its original health properties but for this recipe it is used for coating the pan and is not part of the bar itself.