Quinoa Granola Bars - quinoa

Method

• Soak dry quinoa in 1/2 cup of water for two hours.
• To make the granola, mix all dry granola ingredients, including the soaked quinoa, in a bowl.
• Preheat oven to 250 degrees.
• Heat oil and honey in a small saucepan until thin; stir into dry ingredients until mixed.
• Pour the granola mixture into a jelly roll pan and toast for 1 hour at 250 degrees, stirring occasionally.
• Store in a plastic bag until ready to use.
• Cook mixed dried fruit with 2 cups water at a simmer half the water has evaporated (about 45 minutes).
• Add 3/4 cup dry quinoa and enough water to cover plus a quarter inche and cook over medium heat 20 minutes, adding more water as needed.
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• Set aside 1 cup cooked quinoa; pour the rest of the quinoa with cooking liquid and fruit pieces into a blender.
• Blend until large fruit pieces are chopped up.
• Add 1/2 cup raisins, the salt, lemon juice, vanilla, and banana.
• Blend.
• (Mixture will be thick; stop the blender and push with spoon if you have to, adding water if needed) Spoon blender mixture into a bowl, stirring in granola, 1/2 cup dried fruit, and 1/2 cup raisins.
• Press into a greased and floured glass baking dish and bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes.
• Cool.
• Cut into desired number of bars.