THE BENJAMIN FRANKLIN DIET RECIPES |
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN MEAL-REPLACEMENT ENERGY BARS In 1784, Benjamin Franklin wrote a letter to his friend David LeRoy concerning improvements for traveling by ship. In the letter he provided a list of recommended food items that passengers should carry with them, including almonds, chocolate, eggs, sugar, raisins, rum, and oat bread. I have taken the liberty of turning Franklin’s list of rations into succulent wholegrain bars that are perfect for a meal replacement or an energy-packed snack bar. Each bar has 240 calories, 40 grams of carbohydrates, and a full 15 grams of protein. The Benjamin Franklin Meal-Replacement Energy Bars were designed to provide all the whole grain and daily nutrition the body needs. You will lose weight if you eat four to six of these per day instead of meals and snacks. These bars are great if you’re on the go and need to have a meal on hand without thinking about it. (Two bars make a pint-sized meal replacement.) Ingredients: 2 ½ cups rolled oats 1½ cups whole wheat flour 1 cup whole milk* ¾ cup raw sugar ½ cup semi-sweet chocolate chips ½ cup dried cranberries 2 eggs ¼ cup honey ¼ cup raisins ¼ cup almonds or walnuts, chopped 2 tablespoons unsweetened applesauce 1 tablespoon dark rum (or substitute 1 teaspoon vanilla extract) 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon Instructions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, combine milk, eggs, honey, applesauce, vanilla, and sugar. Stir until blended. In a separate bowl, combine flour, cinnamon, and baking soda. Stir until mixed. Add the flour mixture to the milk mixture and stir until blended. Add the oats, chocolate chips, cranberries, almonds, and raisins and stir until blended. Spoon mixture into a greased 9 x 13 pan and smooth out evenly in pan. Bake for 28–30 minutes. Let cool completely and cut into twelve bars. Wrap individual bars in plastic wrap or store in a sealed container Portion size: 12 four-oz. servings. Note: *For a delightful treat that’s good for you, try one of these bars warmed up with a pat of butter on top. Recipe excerpted from The Benjamin Franklin Diet. |