Most everyone who knows me knows how much I like oatmeal. It’s my ultimate comfort food. People often ask for my recipe probably because I make it sound so good. The preparation is really very simple– I just chop up an apple, throw in a handful of raisins, sprinkle lots of cinnamon and add a little coconut or hemp milk for a creamier consistency. Sometimes I add blueberries or other seasonal fruit. Generally I mix in a few tablespoons of chia or ground flax seeds. I guess I should mention that one of the things I like best about oats is they’re good for me!
I also like a little something sweet once in a while but I’m pretty diligent about not putting anything artificial or loaded with added sugar into my body (I wasn’t always that way though!). So I’m on a constant hunt for dessert recipes that aren’t complicated, don’t involve dairy and, of course, taste good.
My daughter Emma follows lots of food blogs. In fact she and her friend Elise started their own before I did. It’s called Healthygirlshappyhour and is full of ideas for healthful eating and fitness! Anyway, Emma told me about ChocolateCoveredKatie. Most of her recipes are way too sweet for my taste and have too much chocolate, but I liked her idea for Larabars. I used her basic recipe but added a few other ingredients. The result is more like a brownie and is very tasty:
1 cup oats
3/4 cup walnuts + 1/4 cup almonds mixed
1 cup raisins
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
2 Tablespoons chia seeds
1/4 cup dark chocolate chips (at least 70% cacao)
To make the brownie bars, first pulverize the oats in a food processor. Then gradually add the remaining ingredients and process until well combined and smooth. Place mixture in a large ziplock baggie and shape into a rectangle. Refrigerate until cool, about 30 minutes. Cut into small squares and enjoy your delicious dessert without added sugar. Careful, they’re very rich!
