Quinoa Amaranth Fruit and Nut Bars

 love sharing this recipe. This fruit and nut bar would make a great holiday treat!

The original recipe found at http://southamericanfood.about.com/od/healthyeating/r/Quinoa-Amaranth-Fruit-And-Nut-Bars.htm Recipe Posted By Marian Blazes South American Food Expert.

Toasting the high protein grains quinoa and amaranth in a hot skillet causes them to “pop”. It’s quick and easy to pop these healthy grains, and they add pleasing crunch and flavor to fruit and nut bars. Mix your favorite dried fruits, nuts and seeds with a bit of sweetener, bake them briefly, and you have a great, nutritious snack. An optional idea would be to drizzle these bars with melted dark chocolate for an extra special treat, or stir dark chocolate chips into the fruit and nut mixture before baking.

Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 15 minutes Total Time: 25 minutes

Yield: About 9-12 fruit and nut bars.

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup pre-washed raw quinoa

• 1/4 cup raw amaranth

• 2 1/2 cup mixed dried fruit and nuts of your choice (almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, cashews, sunflower seeds, pumpkins seeds, raisins, cranberries, dried apricots, dried cherries, etc)

• 1 tablespoon each of chia seeds and shelled hemp seeds

• 1/2 cup shredded, unsweetened coconut

• 1/4 cup agave nectar

• 2 tablespoons maple syrup

• 1 tablespoon coconut oil or oil of your choice

• 1/2 teaspoon salt

• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla Preparation:

1. Line a 9-inch square pan with aluminum foil. Lightly grease the foil with coconut oil. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

2. Pop the quinoa and amaranth grains in a large skillet. Set aside to cool.

3. Add the mixed fruit and nuts to a food processor. Process the mixture in very short spurts, until coarsely chopped.

4. Add quinoa, amaranth, and chopped fruit and nuts to a medium bowl. Add coconut.

5. Place agave nectar, coconut oil, maple syrup, and salt in a microwave-proof bowl or measuring cup. Microwave very briefly, until just heated. Stir mixture and then add it to the bowl with the nuts and fruit. Use a spatula to toss fruit and nuts with the agave nectar until everything is well mixed.

6. Press fruit and nut mixture into the foil-lined pan. Use a piece of wax paper to press mixture firmly into the pan (the wax paper will keep the mixture from sticking to your fingers), making sure that there is an even layer over the whole bottom of the pan.

7. Bake mixture in the oven for about 15 minutes, or until it starts to turn golden brown. Remove from the oven and let cool. Use the foil to lift the fruit and nut bars from the pan. Make sure mixture is completely cool before trying to cut the bars to prevent crumbling. Use a sharp knife to cut the bars into desired size. Store bars in an airtight container, between layers of wax paper, for up to one week.