Dried Fruit & Nut Health Bars

This is a great health food, for all the health food folks, and also great for the kids to have at school for their treats!!

• Ready In: 25 mins
• Yields: 8 bars

Ingredients

• 1  cup pitted dates
•  vegetable oil cooking spray
• 1 1⁄2 cups old fashioned oats, finely ground or 1  cup quinoa
• 1  cup pecans, toasted, 1/2 cup finely ground, 1/2 cup coarsely chopped
• 1⁄2  unsalted macadamia nuts, toasted, 1/4 cup finely ground, and 1/4 cup coarsely chopped
• 1⁄3 cup dried papaya, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
• 1⁄3 cup dried cherries, chopped
• 1⁄3 cup  dried blueberries
• 2  tablespoons  oat bran
• 3  tablespoons ground flax seeds
• 2  tablespoons wheat germ
• 1⁄2 teaspoon coarse salt
• 1⁄2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 3  tablespoons  brown rice syrup or 3  tablespoons honey

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 400°F Place dates in a small saucepan, cover with cold water, and bring to a simmer. Drain. Purée in a food processor until smooth.
2. Coat an 8-inch square baking pan with cooking spray. Mix oats or quinoa flakes, nuts, papaya, cherries, blueberries, bran, flaxseed, wheat germ, salt and cinnamon in a large bowl. Mix in purée dates, and brown-rice syrup or honey. Press mixture in pan.
3. Bake until center is firm and edges are golden, about 25 minutes. Let cool in pan on a wire rack. Cut into 8 bars.