Raisin Pecan Bars (Vegan)

This recipe is an adaptation of one of my favorites. The Original is completely different, but if you want it for reference you will find it in the book Set For Life "Alan's Cookies".

We have recently decided to go "Vegan". I know what you're thinking, really?! Will she ever make up her mind on what to eat? The answer is probably no. The more I study the more I learn and I am just trying to find the "right" thing for me. The funny thing is, if you read over this blog, you will find I started by eating low carb. I have decided that is definitely not for me. It is not a way of eating that can be maintained long term. Also, in light of several documentaries and several books I've read, I have learned that eating that way is a sure way to develop cancer. I would like to live a long time and so I have decided to cut out all meat and dairy products. Let me just say that, for me, this works. I have battled anxiety and weight problems for quite a long time and I have been doing this for two months and I am finding many symptoms I've experienced starting to disappear! I feel so much better!

In an effort to feed my family and to find variety, I have been recipe hunting like crazy! I am not a professional chef nor do I claim to even be that great of a cook, but I am a Mom and when I find something my kids will eat and that I like, I will continue to post it! Hope you enjoy these bars. They were gone in 10 minutes. They were so incredibly nummy!

Raisin Pecan Bars (Vegan)

1 C Coconut Oil

1 C Agave

1 C. turbinado sugar or any unrefined sugar

4 T. Ground golden Flax

1/2 C. Water

2 t. Vanilla

3 C. Spelt flour

1 C. ground Oat flour

2 C. Rolled Oats

1/2 C. Ground almonds

1 t. Salt

1 1/2 t. Soda

1 t. Baking Powder

1 C Raisins

1/2 C Coconut

1/2 C. Pecans

Cream oil, agave, and sugar. Add flax, water and vanilla. Mix well. Add all the flour, one cup at a time until well mixed. Add rolled oats, ground almonds, salt, soda, baking powder and mix only until combined. Add raisins, coconut and pecans, mix in. Bake on a large cookie sheet in bar form for 15 minutes.

Enjoy!

Oatmeal Bars

Okay, so I love, love, love cookies! Actually I love anything that has even a remote amount of sugar in it. I'm not kidding you at all. I would eat sugar for every meal if my body would let me but unfortunately, I'm still trying to achieve that "perfect" size and it will never be achieved by eating this way. So, here I am trying to make my sweets a little more rational. I'm big on taking a recipe and substituting anything I can that will make it more healthy. I often do go too far to where the food I'm trying to make more healthy tastes nothing like the real thing. I'm trying to learn that balance! I love Oatmeal Raisin Cookies or Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies, so I thought I'd try substituting in some of those grains that are so packed with nutrition and see if anyone would notice. To my great surprise no one noticed and the family ate the whole pan! Wahoo! Here's the recipe. I wish I had a picture to go with it, but they were eaten too fast, hehe.

Oatmeal Bars

3/4 cup Canola Oil
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 Xagave Syrup
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup spelt flour
3/4 cup white flour
1 cup rolled oats
1 cup 9 grain cereal, cooked
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup raisins or chocolate chips
1/2 cup nuts (optional)

Cream oil, sugars, eggs, and vanilla. Add remaining ingredients, except baking powder and mix well. Add baking powder last and stir ingredients only a few times until baking powder is mixed in. Spread batter in a 10 x 15-inch lightly sprayed baking sheet. Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes. Check the center to make sure it has baked through. It will be lightly browned on top.