Goji berries are one of the new superfoods on the market. They contain the highest antioxidant level of any food, which means they can destroy free radicals, thereby protecting the body and helping to fight diseases like heart disease and cancer. They can be eaten whole like raisins (it is best to soak them first for at least 15 minutes), or added to smoothies, fruit salads, mueslies  or baked goods.

Here is a recipe for delicious raw health bars:

Ingredients

350 ml peanut butter (unsalted, sugar free and without hydrogenated fats added!)

or 350 ml of any other nut butter (eg: almond, macademia, cashew etc – ring the changes!)2. 250 ml raw, unheated, untreated honey

750 ml wheat free, sugar free muesli – can be home made

(or cereal flakes of your choice)250 ml puffed rice cereal (look for brown rice cereal) – if you are not sensitive to wheat, you can choose cereals containing wheat. If you are gluten intolerant, choose gluten free cereal.

120 ml cranberries (or raisins)

30 ml linseeds – it is best to crush them

250 ml goji berries

100 g organic, dark chocolate (minimum 75 % cocoa content)

or 1/2 chocolate & 1/2 carob

Method

1. Gently heat the nut butter and honey over law heat until just melted

(don’t allow to boil – you should be able to stick a finger in the mixture at all times without burning yourself)

2. Remove from heat and quickly stir in remaining ingredients, except chocolate.

3. Press into a lined baking tin & leave to cool completely (can be placed in fridge)

4. Melt chocolate over double boiler, add a little water and a knob of butter and stir well until glossy in appearance

5. Spread over top of cereal mixture and let set completely before cutting into bars or squares.

6. Freezes well.

 

(adapted from a recipe in IDEAS magazine January 2011).