Paleo Bars

One thing that you need to do when changing your diet is change what you eat for snacks.  Traveling takes more preparation because you can't just grab something wherever you are.
  
Anyway, our local Coles supermarket has just started stocking a range of Paleo friendly fruit and nut bars.  Fantastic if you're traveling, have hungry kids or just want a change.  
My daughter, Daisy, came home with a variety of these bars the other day and of course I thought, 
'I wonder if I could make those...?'  :)  So I'm giving some of them a try.

Aussies, have you heard about the online store, www.mypaleo.com.au?  I ordered some of their coconut, cacao butter and dried fruit recently (no preservatives) and they put a flier for 'Paleo Bars' in with my order. 

Now, I haven't tried these Paleo Bars, but since they listed the ingredients I thought I'd give them a whirl.

After a couple of tries, this is what I came up with.  
Hope you love them, I think they're awesome! :)

Paleo Bars.
Ingredients:
2 cups mixed nuts (eg. cashews, macadamias, walnuts, almonds, brazil nuts)
1 cup dates (medjool or dried)
1/4 cup cacao powder
2 Tablespoons coconut oil

Instructions:

• Process nuts in food processor until very fine.

• Into the processor, put the dates, either option 1 or 2 below: 

1. If using dried dates, put them in a microwave bowl with 1/2 cup hot water and microwave for 3 minutes.  Drain off the excess water before adding to the nuts.  
2. If using medjool dates, take out the pits
   
   and add them to the processor.

• Also add the cacao powder and coconut oil.
• Process until it forms a sticky, fudgey dough. (If using medjool dates, add a Tablespoon of water if needed.
•  Line a square 20cm (8 inch) pan with baking paper.Spread mixture evenly into the pan and place into the fridge to set.  (Put in the freezer if in a hurry.)
• When set, cut into pieces and enjoy.
• Store in the fridge. 

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