Alomnd Power Bars

Gluten Free Almond Power Bars
2 cups almonds (raw)
½ cup flax meal (flax seeds ground)
½ cup unsweetened shredded coconut
½ cup creamy roasted almond butter
½ teaspoon celtic sea salt
½ cup coconut oil
4 drops stevia
1 tablespoon agave nectar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 cup dark chocolate chips 73% cacao (optional)
Place almonds, flax meal, shredded coconut, almond butter and salt in a food processor
Pulse briefly, about 10 seconds
In a small sauce pan, melt coconut oil over very low heat
Remove coconut oil from stove, stir stevia, agave and vanilla into oil
Add coconut oil mixture to food processor and pulse until ingredients form a coarse paste
Press mixture into an 8 x 8 glass baking dish
Chill in refrigerator for 1 hour, until mixture hardens
In a small saucepan, melt chocolate over very low heat, stirring continuously
Spread melted chocolate over bars; return to refrigerator for 30 minutes, until chocolate hardens
Remove from refrigerator, cut into bars and serve
Makes 20 bars

These no bake, high-protein, high-fiber bars are based upon Melissa Diane Smith's recipe for Amaretto Protein Bars in her book Going Against the Grain (from the site www.elanaspantry.com) and don't forget our local and always creative Stephania Moffatt posts some great recipes at her site: http://ingredientsforlife.ca/.