BoBo Bars, OMG!

I am a granola bar junkie. Of course most of them are actually sugar laden and not at all healthy, so you might as well eat a brownie (and sometimes I do!) But this bar - BoBo's Oat Bar -  is nurtitionally sound and is the best tasting healthy bar I've ever come across. It's gluten free if that important to you. The sweetness comes from brown rice syrup which does not spike blood sugar and tastes molasses-like. Have you tried them? REI carries the whole line, the maple pecan and coconut flavors are my favorite. I will be taking these bars in my day pack on my annual National Park hike in July (hello Olympic National Park and Mt Rainier!)

I have been eating so many of these bars that Rick came up with a recipe that I have to tell you is as good as the BoBo Bar, I am so hooked. I want to share that recipe with you.

Rick's BoBo Knock-Off

1/4 cup canola oil
1/3 cup brown rice syrup
1/8 tsp. sea salt
1/2 tsp. vanilla paste (tastes like the extract x10)
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1 cup oatmeal, uncooked
1 cup total of dried fruits/berries and nuts. I love blueberries, cherries, coconut flakes, pecans and walnuts

Heat the oil, rice syrup and vanilla until its bubbly and comes together - it will turn a dark golden color and become caramel-like in texture. Remove from heat and stir in all of the other ingredients. Stir every 2 minutes for 10 minutes. Spread the mixture onto parchment paper with a spatula and form it into a square. Refrigerate for about a half hour and then cut into bars. Leave the bars out at room temperature for a more taffy-like texture (yay) or keep the bars refrigerated for a firm texture.

Enjoy! XO
Lisa