CRANBERRY/WALNUT/ALMOND BUTTER PROTEIN BARS

Happy Monday Everyone! I did a Team CrossFit competition yesterday. It was so much fun. Knowing it was going to be a very loooong day (too long..lol) I created this recipe the day before the competition so I could have a healthy snack to nibble on in between WOD'S. Boy, are they delicious and each square provided enough protein, fat and carbohydrates to give me the energy and strength for each workout(4 in total...yikes). My stomach is sensitive especially when I am competing so I really have to be careful not to under or overeat while I am waiting to perform the WOD. Here is what I ate before, during and after the competition:

4:30-5:00 a.m: 2 cups of coffee with cream and stevia in it.
6:00 a.m: 2 over easy eggs with 1medium sweet potato.
8:30 a.m: 1 banana, tons of water (that is a given in my book).
9:40 a.m: WOD #1
more water
10:15 a.m: 2 slices of rolled up turkey, 1 square of the cranberry/walnut/almond butter protein bar.
11:30 a.m: WOD #2
12:30 p.m: 1 orange, 1 small square of the cranberry/walnut/almond butter protein bar.
1:15 p.m: WOD #3
2:45 p.m: WOD #4
3:45 p.m: 1 small primal muffin that my friend/partner in the competition made. I have to get that recipe!
6:00 p.m: salad with chicken
7:30 p.m: BED! Exhausted. ha..ha

**stay tuned on what we did for workout's in the competition and a video!

INGREDIENTS:

1/2 cup raw walnuts
1/2 cup raw almonds
1/4 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
1/4 cup raw creamy unsalted almond butter or cashew butter
1/4 cup coconut oil (measured as a liquid..pop in microwave for 20-30 seconds to melt)
1/4 cup almond meal
1.5 tsp vanilla extract
1 tablespoon raw honey
2-3 stevia
1/2 cup vanilla protein powder
1 large organic egg
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 cup dried unsweetened cranberries or blueberries
1/2 cup enjoy life chocolate chips or 85% dark cacao chocolate (optional)

STEPS:

1. Set your oven to 325 degrees and toast your nuts and shredded coconut on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Be careful not to let the coconut burn. Let cool.
2. Chop nuts in a food processor, add coconut, pulse mixture together until coarsely ground. If you like it a little chunky chop it for less time.
3. Stir melted coconut oil and almond butter together in a separate bowl. Make sure you use creamy almond butter that is at room temp. If it has been in the refrigerator, melt it in the microwave for 20 seconds.
4. Add the honey, vanilla, sea salt and 2 stevia to the coconut oil/nut mixture. Mix well.
5. In separate dish whisk egg.
6. Add in vanilla protein powder, nut mixture, egg and almond meal. Mix well.
7. Fold in enjoy life chocolate chips and cranberries.
8. press batter into a pan lined with parchment paper.
9. sprinkle more coconut on top, a few cranberries, chocolate chips and 1/2 stevia.
10. Bake in a pre-heated oven at 325 degrees for 10-12 minutes. 
11. Let cool, then cut into 12-15 squares.

**Store in refrigerator in an airtight container.