This weekend is a long bank holiday weekend in Germany and despite the grey weather we tended on using these days to the max, which in our household means how can we get our dog Sherlock exhausted. One thing that I have truly started to love are long hikes we do just the three of us. Before we had our dog there would not be any convincing large enough to make me want to go any hikes when I could be sitting in a nice restaurant with a lovely glass of wine and watch the people walk by without a care in a world. No, now my life is backpack full of pre-made sandwiches and snacks for us humans, a dog blanket and water, loads of treats, toys and food for the four-legged monster who has consumed our lives. Regardless of the change in lifestyle, I have to say I would not change it for the world, and I myself have learned to enjoy these hike days. Especially when there is that rewarding cold beer at the end of your trail.
I am a huge over-doer when it comes to food. My worst nightmare is people do not have enough to eat when I am hosting an event, I mean my wedding was surrounded by food, every so often another food event would emerge from the corner. Hence when we go on these trails, I always tend to overpack, but I as I always say, “better overpack than under pack”. However, one of the downsides of overpacking on such days is the weight. That is why I decided to make some granola bars this time. They would keep us full on our hike and maybe even add some energy to our step.
Granola bars tend to be bland, too sugary or taste a bit, well… processed. Why spend money on something that you really can make at home a couple hours before your walk or even the night before? Not only will it be more affordable, but it will use up those last bits of ingredients you have in your pantry you do not know what to do with. You can make these granola bars as healthy as you please, I decided to add some chocolate to give it a bit more sweetness as I had already pre-made savoury sandwiches. However, be as creative as you like, there are no mistakes with this recipe.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Granola Bars
2 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup raisins
1/3 cup flax seeds
1/3 cup chia seeds
1 cup raw cashews, finely chopped
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
1 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup dark chocolate
Salt
In a large bowl add oats, raisins, flax seeds, chia seeds, raw cashews, sunflowers seeds and mix. In a small pot add peanut butter, half of the honey and salt and melt. Once melted add to the oat mixture and mix until combined.
Rinse your pot and use again to melt the chocolate. Add your dark chocolate and half of the honey to the pot and melt. Once melted add to the peanut butter oat mixture and combine.
You do not want the mixture to be too sticky or too watery, your oats should be able to be packed firm without too much of the mixture sticking to your hands.
In a medium baking sheet, line with parchment paper and press tightly your oat mixture.
Place into freezer for 1 hour, remove and cut, or place into refrigerator until you are ready to cut your granola bars.
