Homemade Energy Bars (with Dates, Cherries, and Almonds)

Ingredients

• 2 cups dried pitted dates
• 2 cups dried Bing cherries
• 1 cup raw almonds, (toasted if desired)
• 1 cup rolled oats
• 2 tablespoons orange juice
• 1/4 cup dried orange slices, chopped (you can substitute a teaspoon or two of grated orange zest)
• 3/4 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 3/4 teaspoon groung cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon fresh grated nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon coarse salt

Directions

1. If desired, toast almonds in 400 degree F oven for about 5 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool for a few minutes.
2. In the bowl of a food processor, combine cooled almonds, rolled oats, dried orange, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, vanilla, and a half cup of dates. Pulse a few times until contents are well broken and mixed. Add in dates a half cup at a time, pulsing a few times after each addition. Next add cherries in the same fashion. If the mixture seems too dry to stick together, add in orange juice, 1 tablespoon at a time, until mixture is wet enough to hold together.
3. Pour "dough" into a parchment lined 9"x13" pan and spread and press with a rubber spatula as evenly as possible, attempting to fill the whole pan and reach the edges. Lay a piece of parchment or wax paper over fruit bar mixture, and over the top of the wax paper, use a flat bottomed cup (I used my measuring cup), to flatten the bars evenly and smooth the mixture to the edges.
4. Refrigerate for about a half hour, then cut into desired portions.
5. Store in the fridge for several days.