Pistachio Granola Bars

Those granola bars you buy in a box simply cannot hold a candle to what you can create for yourself in your own kitchen. I know there a lot of granola bar recipes out there, and it really is hard to make a "bad" granola bar, flavor wise. Sometimes I'm in the mood for the no-bake variety, but I really like the way these baked granola bars hold together and keep an ooey-gooey texture. 

Granola bars: 

1.5 C. Rolled oats

1 C. chopped medjool or deglet noor dates (if your dates are hard, soak them in warm water for 20 minutes or so before blending)

1 C. chopped nuts of choice (I like to us a mix of unsalted pistachios, raw cashews and raw walnuts)

1/2 C. honey or maple syrup

 1 T. chia seeds

1 T. ground flax

1 C. raisins

1/3 C. chocolate chips, cacoa nibs or carob chips. 

Blend the dates, honey or maple surup, chia and flax in a food processor or Vitamix until creamy and sticky. Pour into a large bowl and add everything else, mix to incoroprate. Spead with a spatula into a non-stick 9x9 (or use parchment paper on the bottom). Bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes. Allow to cool 10 minutes before scoring, and another 5-10 minutes before cutting.