DuBetter: Homemade Energy Bars

J- Boogie (the hubby) and I have been psyching ourselves up for another P90X stint.

Our buddy, Tony Horton

For those of you that were around for the last one, brace yourself. We eat, sleep, breath P90X when we are "doing the program." So, due to the fact that we have both completely fallen off the workout wagon, we are gearing back up. This is quite a process. A lot of talking about it. A lot of guilt for ever stopping. A lot of, "Ah... won't it be nice to be all cut and tan again...."
When we are on a fitness kick of any kind the 2nd most important thing, next to getting off our butts, is having the right food available. So, without further ado, I bring you the first RECIPE!!
These make a fantastic post workout snack, mid morning or afternoon snack. They are too easy not to make. I will admit that they are a bit of an acquired taste, but you can make a substitution that makes them a little less "different." If you follow the recipe exactly these puppies are packed with protein! If you make the substitution they are still really high in protein, just not "packed."

HOMEMADE ENERGY BARS

1 cup quick cook rolled oats

1/2 cup unsalted sunflower seeds

1/2 cup toasted wheat germ (this can subbed for with more oats)

1/4 cup of whole wheat flour

1/2 cup dried apricots

1/2 cup almonds

1/2 cup of dried cranberries

1/2 cup of raisins

1/2 cup of powdered non fat dry milk

1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/2 cup sugar free maple syrup

2 large eggs

Preheat oven to 350. Coat a 9x13 pan with cooking spray. Place all ingredients except for syrup and eggs in food processor and pulse until finely chopped. Add syrup and eggs and pulse until well combined- coarse paste. Transfer to pan and spread evenly. Bake about 20 minutes. Allow to cool and cut into about 20 squares.