Homeade Energy Bars

These are like cookies...but healthy and delicious. I make these for my triathlete roommate and his other triathlete friends, and they can't get enough of them. Yes..it is a lot of ingredients and work...but the final product is WELL worth it!

1 cup quick-cooking oats
1/2 cup sliced almonds
1/2 cup dark raisins
1/2 cup golden raisins
1/2 cup dried apricots
1/3 cup Earth Balance or other soy margarine, room temperature
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup golden molasses
Egg substitute for 1 egg (I used Energ-E)
1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
1/4 cup whole-wheat flour
1/2 cup soy drink powder (found in bulk bin at Whole Foods or other similar store)
1/4 cup toasted wheat germ
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
Pinch gray salt
1/2 cup soy milk
1 TBSP Earth Balance or other soy margarine to grease pan

Directions
Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.

Place oats and sliced almonds on a baking sheet. Toast in oven for 10 minutes. Set aside. Turn the oven to 325 degrees F. Place raisins, apricots, oats, and almonds in a food processor. Pulse about 10 times until coarsely chopped. Set aside.

Mix the egg substitute and set aside.

In the bowl of a heavy-duty mixer fitted with a paddle, beat the soy margarine, brown sugar, molasses and egg substitute until light and fluffy.

In a separate bowl, combine both flours, dry milk, wheat germ, baking powder, baking soda, vanilla, and salt. Add to the creamed mixture. Add the soy milk and mix thoroughly. Add dried fruit mixture.

Grease a 13 by 9 by 2-inch baking pan. Pour in the batter and spread evenly. Bake for about 30 minutes, until set. Cool in the pan. Cut into 18 (1 by 4-inch) bars.

To store, wrap bars individually in plastic wrap. Will keep for about 1 week. For longer storage, freeze for up to 3 months.