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Monday, October 21, 2019

October 21: Autumn Fruit and Nut Bites


Today I’ve got a great option for lunchboxes, pre- or post- workouts, or just when you’re hungry and want a snack but know you shouldn’t eat a candy bar. This is, like, nature’s candy bar! Plus, the dried fruits and nuts and maple syrup make this feel, I don’t know, distinctly autumnal to me. (I know, I know…maybe you think my bar is set too low for what constitutes “fall,” but, for me, it’s a vibe, and I’m at peace with the sweeping range of my 31 Day countdown entries.)

These Easy Fruit and Nut Bites from My Food and Family Magazine are the best answer to “what can I have for a snack?”

I made them a couple weeks ago and enjoy stealing them out of the fridge when I feel hanger pains coming on. 

Fruit and Nut Bites
Makes about 24

Ingredients:

1 ¼ cups old fashioned or quick cooking oats
1 cup cashews
1 cup thin pretzel sticks (I didn't have sticks so I used thin mini pretzels)
1 cup dried apricots
¾ cup milk chocolate chunks (I used chocolate chips)
½ cup dried cranberries
2 Tablespoons chia seed
2 Tablespoons flax seed
3 Tablespoons real maple syrup
3 Tablespoons milk


Directions:

In food processor, pulse oats, cashews, and pretzel sticks until finely ground. 

Add apricots, chocolate chunks/chips, cranberries, chia seed, and flax seed, processing until blended.


Add milk and maple syrup, pulsing just until blended.



Use a medium OXO scoop (about 1.5 Tablespoons of mixture) to scoop out the mix, then squeeze it gently so it holds together. NOTE: moisten your hands so the mix doesn’t stick to you.
It should hold together if you give it a slight squeeze


Refrigerate to fully set, and store in refrigerator.

I really enjoy these. I like the chewy fruits and the creamy chocolate and cashews (yes, I think cashews have a sort of creamy taste to them) and the salty pretzels. What I am NOT as much a fan of, however, is the gelatinous quality of chia seeds. I find them in my teeth and they have that weird slimy texture and I just don’t enjoy them. When I saw them in the recipe I considered leaving them out, but I left them in for their nutritional benefits, but I do feel compelled to warn you about their general weirdness.  

Now go out there and have a ball! Nom nom nommmmmmm!

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