Springtime in Paris, well Almost... {Recipe: Homemade Larabars}

We have not posted for a few weeks because Lili and I were on a mother/daughter trip to Missouri. We loved being surrounded by all the greenery, it is always a welcome break from the from the brown desert. We do have flowers and greenery here in the desert, it is just more difficult to find.

Lili wanted to experience travel with just us girls, so we left her father and brother behind. Her grand plan is to get comfortable with just us two traveling so we can go to Paris together when she is 18. But 1st we will try traveling to the "Paris of the Midwest," Kansas City, MO. We chose Kansas City because we have family there. Also, we love Kansas City!

We had a lot of excitement while there. It started with my niece giving birth to her son the day after our arrival. Lili will never forget getting to hold her cousin-once-removed when he was only a few hours old! We were also there for my other niece's daughter's 1st birthday. Lili had loads of fun helping with preparing the food for a 1st birthday party. 

I am sure Lili will want to post about some of the food she prepared, but 1st up we have to fulfill the new mama's request for the recipe for homemade Larabars and chicken pot pie. Today I am posting the recipe for the Larabars, next post will be the chicken pot pie.

Homemade Larabars

9 ounce container of organic Medjool Dates, pitted (this should equal about 1 1/2-2 cups of dates)

3/4 cup raw almonds

3/4 cup rolled oats 

4 tablespoons cocoa powder

1/2 tablespoon coconut oil-in solid state

1/4 cup unsweetened coconut, shredded

2 teaspoons vanilla

1/8 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons espresso powder (optional)

2 tablespoons chocolate chips (optional)

Place all of the ingredients, except the 2 tablespoons of chocolate chips, into a food processor and process until all of the ingredients come together to form a ball or several large clumps. Press into a 9.25 x 5.25 x 2.75 loaf pan lined with parchment paper or wax paper (leave enough overhang to lift out bars from pan). If desired, sprinkle with 2 tablespoons of chocolate chips and press them into the bars (tip-make sure to press the "pointed" side of the chocolate chips get pressed down into the bars, this makes for easier wrapping and stacking). Refrigerate for several hours until firm. Lift the bars out of the pan and cut into bars. The bars are a bit sticky, so it is best to wrap a strip of parchment or wax paper around each bar. Makes 12 bars. 

Lili's favorite are the ones without the espresso power, she says they taste like "really fudgy brownies." My favorite are the ones with the espresso powder, they have a mocha brownie taste. Either way, they are both delicious!

Happy snacking!