Bummer

When she isn't appearing in awesome blockbuster movies like the Ironman series, Gwyneth Paltrow is grooving in the kitchen.  I recently purchased her latest cookbook, It's All Good.  The concept for the book is making nutritious food that is both delicious and easy.  Once I got the book home I did what every normal person in possession of a new cookbook does, I read it cover to cover.  Seriously.  It's interesting and many of the recipes appealed to me, particularly because everything is made from scratch using wholesome ingredients.

Today was a busy day and included a run in the heat and humidity that drained my energy.  Even though I recharged with a healthy lunch, an afternoon snack was in order so I decided to try out the recipe for Bummer Bars from the new cookbook.  This tasty snack is anything but a bummer!   These bars are loaded with healthy ingredients such as quinoa flakes, ground flaxseed, maple syrup, dried apricots and walnuts.  I decided they needed almonds too.  (Maybe next time I'll also add in some dried blueberries or cranberries.)  The bars are baked in the oven and easily pop out of the pan that is cleverly lined with parchment paper.  Cutting the large bar into rectangles is no trouble at all.  I will be sad when I finally get down to the last Bummer Bar because they are really good, much better than any packaged granola bar I've ever reached for.  Perhaps that is where the name comes from?

A Bummer contains a base of dry ingredients: quinoa flakes and ground flaxseed (if you cannot find quinoa flakes, substitute rolled oats).  Then some spices are added for flavor: cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger (you can put in any spices that you like however!).  The wet ingredients that bind everything together are: olive oil, maple syrup and brown rice syrup.  Then the fun additions come in: nuts and dried fruit (use any combination that makes your mouth happy).