Low-fat Fitness Energy Bars

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups rolled oats
• 1 cup crispy brown rice cereal
• 1/4 cup sesame seeds
• 1 1/2 cups dried unsulfured apricots
• 1 1/2 cups raisins or 1 1/2 cups currants
• 1/2 cup nonfat protein powder
• 1/2 cup toasted wheat germ
• 1 cup brown rice syrup or 1 cup light corn syrup
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup reduced-fat peanut butter
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Recipe

• 1 preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• 2 spread oats, cereal and sesame seeds in a 13" x 9" nonstick jelly roll pan.
• 3 bake, stirring occasionally, until oats are toasted, about 15 minutes.
• 4 meanwhile, chop apricots (use the food processor); transfer to a large bowl.
• 5 add raisins, protein powder and wheat germ; toss with hands to mix.
• 6 lightly coat jelly roll pan with cooking spray.
• 7 in a heavy saucepan over medium-high heat, combine rice syrup and sugar; bring to a boil.
• 8 reduce heat to low, stir in peanut butter, vanilla and cinnamon.
• 9 quickly pour syrup over oatmeal mixture and stir well.
• 10 with wet hands or spatula, immediately spread warm mixture into the jelly roll pan, pressing into a thin, even layer.
• 11 (caution, if you work too slowly, the mixture will harden and be difficult to spread). chill until firm, at least four hours.
• 12 cut into 2" x 3" bars.
• 13 bars can be wrapped individu ally in wax paper or foil, or stored in an airtight container with waxed paper between layers.
• 14 they can be refrigerated for up to four weeks, or frozen for longer storage.