Well, I am super-dooper proud to announce that Eat This My friend is 1 year old today!
I have been committed to writing, photographing and posting recipes, once a week, for a whole year.
Hooray me!
It has been a huge learning experience, with lots of favours and ongoing support from my family and friends.
When I began I had literally no idea how to operate a camera, let alone write. I intended to only post a recipe with a couple of recipe notes attached – somewhere along the way I started talking (can I even call it talking?), obviously I have so much to say – I didn’t realise.
A lot of the writing makes me cringe a little. I am by no means a wordsmith, I dropped out of high school after Year 10, but I keep assuring myself that it is OK to be no very good at something. And like any skill, you only get better with practise. So here I am, a year later, practising my writing skills, my photography skills, and sharing my ‘share worthy’ recipes.
I am still enjoying every little bit of it.
So, to celebrate this mini milestone, I have decided to share the recipe for my Raw Lemon + Coconut Bars!
These lemon bars are a bit of a go-to for me now.
They have only 5 ingredients (which luckily I always seem to have around!) and take all of 5 minutes to prepare. I tried to give them a catchy ‘5 Ingredient Lemon Slice’ slogan, or ‘Paleo Lemon Bars in just 5 minutes!’ but they have so many things going for them, I couldn’t quite settle on which angle to run with.
These bars are the BEST on hand snack to have in your kitchen. They are a ‘paleo’ friendly treat, meaning they are made using only natural unprocessed ingredients. Vegan friendly, sugar free, gluten free, raw – you name it! These babies are choc full of the good stuff.
I keep mine in the freezer, but they hold together very well, so are a perfect lunchbox addition for the kids.
Plus they taste amazing. Seriously. No one will know they are actually good for you.
Raw Lemon + Coconut Bars
– 1 cup shredded coconut, plus and extra handful for garnish
– 3/4 cup almonds
– 1/4 cup flax seeds
– 1 1/2 cups medjool dates, pitted
– juice of 1 lemon
– 1 tsp vanilla extract (optional)
– sea salt, for sprinkling
Place the almonds, coconut and flaxseeds into a food processor and pulse until quite finely ground.
Add the dates, I do mine one at at time, and keep pulsing with each addition. Continue until all the dates are ground and you have a coarse, sticky mixture. Squeeze in the juice from 1 – 2 lemons and stir to combine.
Line a medium sized rectangular baking pan with cling film or baking paper and pour the mixture into the tin.
Use your hands to spread the mixture evenly into the tin, compressing firmly as you go.
Add a sprinkling of extra coconut to the top and press this down into the mix with your hands.
Sprinkle on a big pinch of large flaked sea salt.
Place the pan in the freezer and freeze for at least an hour. Remove and cut into bars.
I keep mine stored in the freezer.
makes 12 bars, or more if you cut them smaller.
Hands down one of the greatest things ever! I took some bars to work this morning at the library for my work mates and have since shared the recipe 9 times. Absolutely delicious
Yay Sarah!
And isn’t it a cinch to put together?!
Glad you love it as much as I do – even Clancy is a fan, which says a lot..
X Jade
Hi Jade, Thankyou so much for this recipe, I made it on the weekend surprised at how easy it was. Then my boyfriend proceeded to eat 4 slices, it was delicious. Will definitely become a regular in our household xxx
Hello there Brooke, thank you for taking the time to comment here!
I generally behave like your boyfriend when I’ve got a batch in the kitchen.. hard to stop at one!
Super excited you gave the recipe a go, they really are a cinch to whip up hey!?
X Jade
Congratulations on your first blogiversary Jade!! Yay, that is such an awesome achievement… and just so you know, I love your photos, posts, recipes, humour… ah, you’re just a natural at this. Thanks for helping me to realize that our little blogs share an anniversary date, too! I will remember that every year from now on! As for these lemon bars? Just YUM. The combination of lemon and coconut is such a winner. Healthy to boot! Here’s to many more years of sharing recipes and stories together xxx
I love that we share a little milestone date Laura, and I too will remember each year that we have this in common.
Many thanks for your words, they mean a lot to me, coming from somebody whose work I admire so much : )
AFTER spending 30 mineuts looking at all your fun antics, delicious recipes and beautiful pictures, I just have to follow you!! and thanks a lot! it is 8:30am and I am craving SOOOO many of your recent recipes.
YAY! thank you!!