Grok Bars

So…as usual, I am hooked on the latest and greatest! I have been researching The Paleo Diet and the Primal Blueprint for a few weeks now. I have been dairy/grain/suagr free for about 2 months now, but am trying to figure out how to fuel my body best. So far, I am loving the energy that comes from the Paleo diet! At first, I noticed more of a difference in my waist size. But now, I find that it’s creeping up a little bit. Not to be discouraged, I started food logging on Livestrong.com again to find out where I was ending up each day.

One of the struggles I come up against is snacks. Now, I am all for veggies, nuts and some fruit, but I miss my bars! I used to eat all kinds of bars! I have a few recipes that I like (Oh My Blueberry Bars are my favorites), but I was looking for something different.

So, today, I found a great recipe on a fellow Crossfit/Paleo pals blog that I thought I would give a whirl. Here it is, courtesy of Crossfit Fenrir)

Grok Bars (“Grok” is the Caveman name described in the diets,fyi)

Ingredients:

1 Cup Mixed Nuts + Seeds (I used pumpkin seed, almonds and
walnuts)

1/4 cup unsweetened shredded coconut

1/4 cup crunchy almond butter (I made walnut butter instead)

1/4 cup coconut oil (I used Earth Balance)

1/4 cup almond meal ( or alternatively simply pulse approximately
1/4 cup of almonds until it creates a coarse flour)

1 1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract

1/2 tsp of raw organic honey (I used 1 tablespoon Organic Apple Butter)

*3/4 cup whey protein powder (I used 1 scoop)

1 large egg

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

1/2 cup dried goji berries

*(I may or may not have added some unsweetened chocolate chunks- 3
tablespoons)

*1/4 cup unsweetened coconut to sprinkle on top

*= Optional

Directions:

• On a cookie sheet, toast nuts+seeds and shredded coconut until golden  brown.

• Once toasted, pour mixture into a food processor and pulse  until nuts+seeds are chopped and the mixture becomes coarsely ground  (sort of the consistency of bread crumbs).
• In a mixing bowl, melt coconut oil and almond butter (about 30 seconds). Remove from microwave and stir until smooth.
• Add vanilla extract, honey and sea salt. Mix thoroughly.
• Fold in nut mixture, almond meal and protein powder until mixed thoroughly.
• Add whole egg and mix thoroughly.

• Fold in goji berries.
• Press mixture into an 8 by 8 loaf pan (a modification that we  made to keep everything crisper and help the bars to hold  together).
• Cook in a preheated oven at 325 degrees for 10 minutes.
• Remove from oven, sprinkle a ¼ cup of shredded coconut on top and place under broiler until top begins to brown.
• Let cool for 10-15 minutes. Cut into 12 pieces/bars.
• Enjoy or stack on wax paper/parchment and store in an airtight container.

These are by far one of my favorite bar recipes! Not too sweet, not too salty- perfecto! Next time, I am adding in dried apricot and carob chips!! Sorry for the lame pics, had to snap some of the last ones before the disappeared!