Sunday, January 25, 2015

Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Bars from the Living Luxe Gluten-free Cookbook

When you go looking for recipes, it's not very different from shopping for clothes. When you look in a magazine and see a shirt you like, you'll probably want to buy it. So, when you look through a cookbook and see a recipe you like, more often than not the food will be laid out in an enticing way.
I love browsing books and magazines that contain beautiful foods. Yes, I just called food beautiful! When I looked through the Living Luxe Gluten-free Cookbook this afternoon, what really drew my attention was the pictures. Honestly, gluten-free has never looked better :). Today, I am sharing a recipe with you with the permission from the author of  Living Luxe Gluten-free Cookbook Michelle Lee (She has over 110 recipes that are both gluten and lactose-free!).

These chocolate chip oatmeal bars are easy to make as well as delicious to eat!

Ingredients
1 tbsp. softened butter (lactose-free if needed)
2 tbsp. brown sugar
1 lightly beaten egg
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup gluten-free rolled oats
1/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
8 medjool dates without pits that are finely chopped
Optional: gf vanilla protein mix (I didn't use it.)

Procedure
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking sheet with foil and set aside.

2. Mix butter and sugar together in a large bowl. Stir in egg, vanilla extract, and salt. Slowly stir in oats, chocolate chips, dates, and protein mix (if using).

3. Lightly grease foil with a touch of butter. Spread oat mixture evenly on foil, creating a 1/2-inch deep rectangle measuring about 4-by-8-inches. Bake until edges are browned, about 10 minutes.

4. Remove fro oven and allow mixture to cool for 5 to 10 minutes. Slice into four snack bars, each measuring about 4-by-2-inches. Serve immediately or store in a sealed container in a cool, dry place.

Voila! You have homemade chocolate chip oatmeal bars! Click here to buy Living Luxe Gluten-free on Amazon. Michelle has done a wonderful job in the layout of the book and on her choices of recipes.
Enjoy!
-Sema