Nutty Energy Bars

I’m a bully against bullies.

I’m the shyest kind of girl. In real life I am an itty-bitty chit of a girl. Very tiny! On the outside anyway. I have the heart of a lion, foolishly some might say, since I clearly look like I cannot harm anything or anyone. 🙂

When someone  starts a fight without reason, I have that Popeye kind of transformation, where I turn into an eight foot tall, muscle bulging guy, with fire coming out of his nose. Then I’ll chase you and well since I may not have the physical strength to beat you up, I WILL give you a solid, caustic piece of my mind. The kind that will burn you into a cinder. Whoever said sticks and stones can hurt you but words don’t make a dent, didn’t know what they were talking about.

Phew! I guess I needed to get that out of my system. 🙂 I rarely have such energy nowadays. The truth also is that when I perceive having done something wrong myself, I start sweating profusely and look guilty as hell! Like yesterday when I was on the train and when the ticket conductor came to check my ticket, I realised I was not carrying my discount card. Traveling on a discount ticket but nothing to prove I was entitled is a sure shot way to make me go tomato red in the face. At a moment like that yesterday I could’ve done with an energy bar for instant energy and courage!!! Lucky for me the guy was a sweetheart.

These are extremely easy to make and open to much interpretation. I have used three kinds of nuts. But you can just about use any kind of combination to tickle your fancy… So get your own Popeye moment with these crunchy, extremely delicious nutty bars!

1/2 cup almonds
1/2 cup walnuts
1/2 cup hazelnuts
2 tbsps hazelnut (finely ground)
3 cups puffed rice
3 tbsps sugar
1 cup grated unsweetened coconut
1/2 cup creamed honey
1/4 cup water
a generous pinch of salt

to prepare
Preheat oven to 320°F/160°C.

Heat the honey with the water and salt on medium high till it boils. Leave on the fire for another 15 minutes. Stir regularly.

In the meantime toast the dry ingredients till the coconut is slightly light brown and fragrant. Transfer to a big mixing bowl and mix in the puffed rice.

Once the honey mixture is off the gas, immediately mix in with the dry ingredients. It will seem a little dry but that’s okay.

In a rectangular baking pan, lined with parchment paper, pour in the prepared nut mixture. Level evenly throughout pan. With another piece of parchment on top press down the mixture so it becomes somewhat of a solid mass. Remove the parchment from on top and bake in oven for around 20 minutes or till the top is nicely browned.

Replace the parchment on top and press down again with something heavy till it cools down.

Leave to cool for around 15 minutes and then cut in bars.

note: you can replace the puffed rice with rolled oats. You can add all sorts of berries or dates etc.