Coconut oatmeal bars

UPDATE
***This recipe has been updated and posted on my new site http://www.ronilynnfitness.com/blog/recipe-homemade-coconut-bobos-bars****

As I promised, I have an awesome recipe finally!
For the past couple weeks, I have been experimenting with a particular oatmeal bar recipe; I've been trying to imitate Bobo's Oat Bars. 
If you've never tried these puppies, go get some NOW! They are by far my favorite oatmeal bar and they are made right next to my hometown in Boulder, CO! It can't get much better than that!
The bars are thick and chewy and incredibly satisfying. They also have a ridiculous amount of flavors, so you can choose the right one for your mood. From lemon poppy-seed, to strawberry, to chocolate!

The problem is, Bobo's Bars are kind of expensive for a girl on a tight budget, so I've been trying to make my own!
And I think I've done a pretty good job at creating something similar.

So without further adieu, here are my Imitation Coconut Bobo Bars.

Here's what you need (makes 6 bars):
2 cups rolled oats
1/3 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
scant 1/2 tsp salt
1/2 scoop (12oz) vanilla protein powder (optional)
scant 2/3 cup brown rice syrup
1/4 cup coconut oil
3 Tbsp water (reduce to 2 Tbsp if not using protein)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 
Mix all the ingredients together, starting with the dry and then adding the wet. Line an 8x8 baking dish with parchment paper (or oil VERY well) and press the mixture into the pan. Press it down very firmly! Bake for 25-30 minutes, but don't let the edges brown too much. Remove from the oven and let cool for about 10 minutes, then take another sheet of parchment paper and press the mixture down again.
It's important to press the bars so that they stick together better.
Let the bars cool and harden COMPLETELY before cutting and removing. Otherwise, you will have a crumbly, sticky mess. Then wrap each bar individually and store in the fridge for best results.

Notes:
The signature taste of the Bobo Bars comes from the brown rice syrup, but if you prefer honey or agave, I'm sure either would work fine. With agave, you may need to reduce the amount because of the thinner texture.
Also, I choose to use coconut oil because I prefer it, but I'm sure any oil type would work, although they may contribute a different flavor.

These bars are really close to the real thing, although not quite as thick and there's maybe a little something missing, they are still very good and satisfying!

Enjoy!

Monday oatmeal!

Ever since I watched that 60 minutes segment about the dangers of sugar (I wrote about here), I have been trying to be conscious about my sugar intake, especially in the morning. Since I workout in the morning, many days I have the attitude that I can eat as much sugar as I want in the AM. NOT true! Although it is better to eat sweets and heavy carbs earlier in the day, so you can use those extra calories during your day, it's not an excuse to go crazy....which I have been known to do.

Two important things I've changed in the past week are my oatmeal and coffee. Usually I add some type of sugar/sweetener to both and I've changed that habit. For the oats, it's really not so hard, now I'm just cooking the banana in the oatmeal, so the natural sugars release and I can still have sweet oats. :)
The coffee doesn't have much of a substitute that I know of, but then again, I'm not sure why I added sugar to my coffee in the first place because I love the taste of coffee.

Today, I did add something a little sweet to my morning oats...but I consider it a stroke of genius more than anything!
Introducing trail mix oatmeal!!

See! You think I'm a genius too! What could be better than oatmeal and trail mix?! I love both of those things and they go so well together!

Here's what you need:

1/3 cup uncooked oatmeal (I use thick rolled oats)
3/4 cup water (or milk)
1 medium banana
a handful of trail mix (I didn't measure)
2 Tbsp peanut butter or PB2 for topping!

Cook the oatmeal, with the banana, according to the instructions or how you prefer (I personally like to cook my oats in water and then add a dash of milk afterwards). You may need to mash up the banana a bit during cooking, depending on if you want chunks, but it also helps the natural sugars break down. When the oatmeal is done cooking, add the trail mix just before you transfer to a bowl (or just out of the microwave if that's how you cooked it), if you add the trail mix while the oats are cooking, not only will the colored candies bleed their colors, but the nuts will get a little soft...and that's no good.
Then smother the top with peanut butter of your choice and devour!

I just got done eating this and trust me, it's good!


Do you watch how much sugar you eat? What's your favorite type of trail mix?