Quinoa Snack Bars!

An effort to for-go the processed aisle, and create those snack bars at home…

Recipe adapted from the Quinoa Cookbook:  http://quinoacookbook.org/toasted_quinoa_granola_bars.html

• 1 ½ c. Oats (not the quick cooking kind)
• ½ c. Uncooked Alter Eco quinoa
• 1/3 c. Flax seeds
• ½ tsp. Salt
• 1 ½ c. Dried Fruit
• 1/2c. Crushed Walnuts
• ¼ c. Alter Eco Mascobado Sugar
• 1/8 c. Agave Nectar
• ¼ c. honey
• 1 tsp. Cinnamon
• 1 Alter Eco chocolate bar, chopped (optional)

To Make:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees and generously grease a 9”x9”glass baking pan or pie plate.
• Wash quinoa.
• In a medium bowl combine oats, flax seeds, and crushed walnuts.
• Pour mixture into a baking sheet and bake in the oven for 15 minutes stirring occasionally.
• Heat a medium dry frying pan over medium heat. Toast the quinoa in the pan until golden brown or until it just starts popping.
• In a medium bowl add dried fruit, brown sugar, and cinnamon.
• Once the oat mixture and quinoa have been toasted add them to the dried fruit mixture.
• Add agave nectar, honey and salt.
• Mix until everything is coated with the honey and agave.
• Spread mixture evenly in the baking dish, press down firmly and bake in the oven for about 25-30 minutes.
• Remove from the oven and cool completely before cutting into squares.
• Seal bars in an airtight container.