Date and Almond chewy squares

Date and Almond chewy squares

• 4oz plain flour 
• 2 oz self raising flour
• 3 oz ground almonds / dessicated coconut
• 6oz stoned dates, chopped (or if you have not got enough sultanas to make up the difference)
• 6oz sugar – I used dark muscovada 
• 3oz butter 
• 1 tablespoon golden syrup
• 1 egg, beaten

Melt the butter, sugar and golden syrup. Stir the dry ingredients together then add the hot butter mixture and the egg. Mix everything well and then spread out in a lined 9″x11″ (23cmx28cm) tin. Bake for 15-20 minutes at 180ºC (Gas 4, Fan 170ºC). I baked it in a 10" square tin

When cooled a little, cut into slices / squares.

charlie

Muesli Bars

Apparently (as not tested yet) makes 20, preparation time 20 mins, cooking 30 mins. 257 cals per serve, 15g fat.

You'll need:
100g self raise flour
300g rolled oats
50g desiccated coconut
50g sesame seeds
100g pumkin or sunflower seeds
125g dried cranberries
200g soft brown sugar
200g unsalted butter
125ml golden syrup

1. Heat oven 170 deg (gas 3), grease 20x30cm shallow tin and line with baking parchment
2. Sift flour and pinch of salt into large mixing bowl. Stir in oats, coconut, seeds and cranberries. Mix through the sugar.
3. Melt the butter and golden syrup in a small saucepan over low heat. Remove from heat and cool for 5 mins and then pour butter mixture into the bowl of dry ingredients and mix with large metal spoon.
4. Pres the mixture into the tin and bake for 25-30 mins or until golden brown (it will still be a bit soft).
5. Allow to cool in the tin, then turn out and cut into squares.

Eat, store and enjoy.

Post comments when you try these?

January 2011 - The 'Charlie' version of special flapjack

80g Butter
80g Honey
40g Pear and Apple spread
80g dark brown sugar
120g oats
30g walnuts or pecan pieces
30g sultanas
30g dried apricots
30g pumpkin seeds
30g sunflower seeds
30g linseeds

Put butter, honey, fruit spread and sugar in a pan, melt until sugar dissolved and stirring all the time. Then bring to boil and cook for about 2 minutes until sugar caramelises making it sticky. Take off the heat and add in all the other ingredients give it a good mix and then put in a greased and lined tin (7x11 inches)
Cook for 15 – 20 mins at 170 until set and you can see that it is just going darker

I never follow recipes and I normally double these quantities so that they will fit in a big tray that I have (15x10 inches).
I basically used half a tub of the spread and enough honey to make up the difference – you could use golden syrup as a cheaper option. I did not have linseeds so put in sesame seeds, I sometimes use dates instead of one of the dried fruit. The last batch did not have any walnuts or pecans and I saved about a third of the sesame seeds to sprinkle on top

I then cut it up into about 30 pieces and then wrap them in cling film and stick them in a platic bag in the freezer (last night I had cut the bars in half). You can then pull out a bar or two at a time – cost per bar = about 20p. So even with labour + electricity that is a massive saving on the average energy bar at a £1 a pop.

Cheers

Charlie

Scones or Scones?

One for the garden party or BBQ, maybe next summer...?

Ginger/Choc' biscuits

Just need to check your oven temperature and the time.

Bread..!

Might try this in the bread maker?

Pancakes

Might have to try this on the Scottish weekend or Camping.