Louise's Healthy Power Bars

Instead of spending $$$ on expensive granola and/or power bars in the questionable section of your local supermarket . . . Try making these yourself.  Change up ingredients (like different kinds of fruit, nuts, flavored whey powders, add coconut, etc.).  The following is my favorite recipe:

Ingredients:

1/3 C unsweetened applesauce
1/4 C almond butter
2 T peanut oil
10 packets of splenda (or 3 T sugar or other sweetener)
1/4 C agave nectar
3 large eggs
1/2 t vanilla
3/4 C whole wheat flour (feel free to experiment with some of the newer flours on the market, like almond, coconut, or soy)
1/2 t baking soda
1 t nutmeg
1/2 t salt
1/4 t ginger
1/2 C vanilla whey powder
2 C oats
1 C dried apricots (snipped into quarters with kitchen shears)
1/2 C sliced almonds (or similar nuts)
Nonstick cooking spray

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Beat together first seven ingredients.
3. Add dry ingredients and mix well.
4. Fold in dry fruit and nuts.
5. Thoroughly spray a 9 X 13 glass baking dish with nonstick spray.
6. Spread batter evenly in sprayed pan.
7. Bake 30 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.
8. Cut into 24 bars.
9. Store in a covered container or glass cookie jar. 

Note: each cookie contains approximately 128 calories and packs a powerful protein punch!