Quinoa Granola Bars

• Granola
• 1/2 cup soaked quinoa (1/4 cup dry)
• 2 cups rolled oats
• 1/4 cup wheat germ
• 1/4 cup slivered almonds (optional)
• 1/4 cup sunflower seeds
• 1/4 cup sesame seeds
• 1/4 cup coconut
• 1/4 cup cooking oil
• 1/4 cup honey
• Granola Bars
• 2 cups cooked quinoa (3/4 cup dry)
• 1/2 cup mixed dried fruit (I used apricot, pear, apple, and cranberry)
• 1/2 cup raisins
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/2 - 1 banana
• granola cereal
• 1/2 cup chopped dates or 1/2 cup other dried fruit
• 1/2 cup raisins

1. Soak dry quinoa in 1/2 cup of water for two hours.
2. To make the granola, mix all dry granola ingredients, including the soaked quinoa, in a bowl.
3. Preheat oven to 250 degrees.
4. Heat oil and honey in a small saucepan until thin; stir into dry ingredients until mixed.
5. Pour the granola mixture into a jelly roll pan and toast for 1 hour at 250 degrees, stirring occasionally.
6. Store in a plastic bag until ready to use.
7. Cook mixed dried fruit with 2 cups water at a simmer half the water has evaporated (about 45 minutes).
8. Add 3/4 cup dry quinoa and enough water to cover plus a quarter inche and cook over medium heat 20 minutes, adding more water as needed.
9. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
10. Set aside 1 cup cooked quinoa; pour the rest of the quinoa with cooking liquid and fruit pieces into a blender.
11. Blend until large fruit pieces are chopped up.
12. Add 1/2 cup raisins, the salt, lemon juice, vanilla, and banana.
13. Blend.
14. (Mixture will be thick; stop the blender and push with spoon if you have to, adding water if needed) Spoon blender mixture into a bowl, stirring in granola, 1/2 cup dried fruit, and 1/2 cup raisins.
15. Press into a greased and floured glass baking dish and bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes.
16. Cool.
17. Cut into desired number of bars.

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Taken from www.food.com/recipe/quinoa-granola-bars-46203 (may not work)