Super Fruit Bars

Spurred on by the rejuvenating affect Chris/Jenni's homemade energy bars had on a flagging DDave last Sept I decided that perhaps we ought to give the WhatMTB recipe a try. My resident chef-ess reviewed the article, nodded approvingly and promptly set to with her spatula.

After thoroughly testing the first couple of batches :p we're converted :thumbu They're a doddle to make (Chipmunk is available at favorable rates!), taste great, are easy to chew ;) don't leave you thirsty like High5 bars sometimes can, are easy to digest and seem to give you a steady release of much needed oomph.

Best of all, they cost much less (approx 1/3rd?) than a a £20 box of bars. Thanks to Chipmunk for helping fuel Uphilla and I around Wales and for writing up the "how to".

So come on peeps, don an apron and get busy...

Ingredients;

• 250g chopped dates
• 75g brown sugar
• 50g plain flour
• 50g porridge oats
• 4 tablespoon olive or rape seed oil
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon mixed spice
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 large eggs
• 175g chopped pecan nuts

Put all the ingredients listed into a bowl in the order shown, mix with a wooden spoon. Once thoroughly mixed, grease a tin and line with greaseproof paper before pouring in the mixture.

Cook for around 30 minutes at 180 degrees centigrade, just until the top goes a lovely chocolate brown colour.

Leave to cool and set for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a cooling rack to cool completely before cutting into snack-sized slabs.

Can be frozen and they keep very well in an air tight box.