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Guest Post: VeganLisa’s Sweet Lemon Fig Poppyseed Bars

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In just a couple of weeks we will be welcoming summer. It is a short-lived season in Toronto, so I do all that I can to savour every second. Over the next three months, I have local farmers markets to visit, picnics to plan, and patios to patron.

With the change of seasons most people find their appetites turn away from the hearty, warming meals of winter to lighter, fresher fare. I consume a high-raw, vegan diet throughout the year but the bounty of local produce during the summer makes eating raw easy and incredibly delicious. Nothing saves a sweltering afternoon like a big juicy slice of watermelon. Salads, smoothies, and fruit slushies, sure say summer to me.

When the sun is shining I want nothing more than to be outdoors. Eating raw foods, means there is no need to heat up your house by turning on the oven. Putting together a salad, or blending up a smoothie takes a couple of minutes, leaving you more time to spend strolling through the city. Plus, raw foods are easier for our bodies to digest and provide plenty of energy to fuel a fantastic summer full of dancing at outdoor festivals, bike riding by the water and swimming at sunset.

Here’s a great recipe for an energy-packed snack bar to keep you full and satisfied as you tackle your 2011 Summer to-do list.

Sweet Lemon Fig Poppyseed Bars

  • 1 cup of rolled oats (the old fashioned not the instant kind)*
  • 1/2 cup raw cashews
  • pinch of sea salt
  • 1 cup Medjool dates, pitted (approximately 10)
  • 2 TBSP lemon juice
  • zest of 1 lemon
  • 3 dried Turkish figs
  • 1 TBSP poppyseeds

In a food processor, pulse the oats, cashews and salt until finely chopped. Add the remaining ingredients and process until well combined. Press into a parchment-lined 8X8 pan. Cut into 12 bars. Store in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer.

Thank you to Lindsay for inviting me to share a recipe with all of you. I hope your summers are full of fun and fantastic food. Well, if you’re a regular reader of Lindsay’s blog I have not doubt you’re already eating very well! If you’d like more raw food inspiration I’d love for you to stop by my blog veganculinarycrusade.com.

xo VeganLisa

*It can be hard to find raw rolled oats. They are usually steamed during processing. If you’d prefer to consume only raw ingredients replace the oats with 3/4 cup of almonds.

Review: Nature's Path Foods

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Click to View Nature's Path Website

 

Nature Path has provided me with samples of a few of their products which included Shredded Oaty Bites, Optimum Bars and Pomegranate Plus Granola.  My husband and I both loved these products.  I used the Shredded Oaty Bites to make my own snack mix for a holiday party and they were a huge hit. I love that these Oaty Bites are sweet and were great in my snack mix combining the sweet and salty.  

Shortly after I received these samples we went to Disney World so we brought the Optiumum Blueberry Flax & Soy Bars which were delicious.  They were filling and great when we were on the run in the morning and didn’t have time to sit down and have breakfast or as a snack in the afternoon.  

Lastly we have the granola and it was my husbands favorite.  My husband eats cereal or granola every morning and he quickly ate this up.  Nature Path has tons of other great products and flavors of cereal and granola.  Since trying these products we have also tried the Pumpkin Flax Plus Granola which we loved as well. 

Blogger Disclaimer: Nature’s Path Foods provided me with a free sample of this product to review, and I was under no obligation to review it if I so chose.  Nor was I under any obligation to write a positive review in return for the free product.