Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Soak dry quinoa in 1/2 cup of water for two hours.
  2. To make the granola, mix all dry granola ingredients, including the soaked quinoa, in a bowl.
  3. Preheat oven to 250 degrees.
  4. Heat oil and honey in a small saucepan until thin; stir into dry ingredients until mixed.
  5. Pour the granola mixture into a jelly roll pan and toast for 1 hour at 250 degrees, stirring occasionally.
  6. Store in a plastic bag until ready to use.
  7. Cook mixed dried fruit with 2 cups water at a simmer half the water has evaporated (about 45 minutes).
  8. 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.
  9. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  10. Set aside 1 cup cooked quinoa; pour the rest of the quinoa with cooking liquid and fruit pieces into a blender.
  11. Blend until large fruit pieces are chopped up.
  12. Add 1/2 cup raisins, the salt, lemon juice, vanilla, and banana.
  13. Blend.
  14. (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.
  15. Press into a greased and floured glass baking dish and bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes.
  16. Cool.
  17. Cut into desired number of bars.