Leon muesli bars...


Ever since I first visited a Leon restaurant, I have been in love. What's not to like about reasonably priced, delicious food? I obviously talked about Leon a LOT as I received their second recipe book for Christmas from my parents. I can honestly say it was one of my favourite presents and I sat down and read it from cover to cover, mentally bookmarking recipes. Strangely enough, I have never had quite the right ingredients to try any of the recipes... until yesterday! I decided to bake some cereal bars as the cost of Tracker bars is prohibitive and I had a rather forlorn pack of museli sitting on the side in the kitchen.

Ingredients: 

* 270g fruit - I used sultanas, dried dates, tinned blueberries, crystallised ginger and chopped plums instead of the dried fruit recommended.
* 40g nuts- almonds and walnuts
* 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
* 80ml apple juice
* 2 level tablespoons honey
* 60g wholemeal flour
* 120g muesli (instead of oats)

Now I have to say, I used less honey (I'm not a fan of the sweet stuff) and I omitted the flour altogether, meaning my cereal bars are slightly sharper but nothing a sprinkling of sugar won't sort out!

Preheat the oven to 190°C/375°F/ Gas Mark 5. Put the dried fruit into a processor and blitz until well chopped. Do the same for the nuts. Put the fruit, nuts, seeds and cinnamon into a bowl. (I don't actually have a food processor so I just left the fruit and nuts fairly large for a more 'rustic' effect.)


Warm the fruit juice and honey in a large pan together in a pan large enough to eventually contain all of the ingredients, until the honey is dissolved. Add the flour and oats, and stir in the fruit and nuts.



Smooth the mixture into a 25x30cm baking tray about 2.5cm deep. If the tray is not non-stick, it is wise to line it with baking parchment.


 Bake in the oven for 20 minutes- longer if you would like your bars more crunchy. Allow to cool, then cut into rectangular bars. They will keep for 2 weeks in an airtight container.


I as really impressed with how easy the instructions were to follow and the bars are yummy and work out much cheaper than even the basic range of tracker bars at Sainsbury's. I will be doing a full review on the recipe book soon as it is too pretty not to share!

What's your favourite restaurant? Do you have a recipe book that you keep returning to?

15 comments

FromGemWithLove said...

I love muesli, so I may try these :) xx

Maria Fallon said...

Gem- you definitely should, you can add as much or as little fruit as you like, I am definitely going to be experimenting with a few flavours!

Maria xxx

The Style Box said...

I love Leon so much! I always go out of my way to go there for lunch if I'm in london! I keep tweeting at them to ask if they'll open in Bournemouth soon! I've got the second book but not the first. Haven't actually made anything out of it yet but after seeing this I might have to try something out! They look delish! X

Danni said...

Yay i can comment on your posts without looking weird! These look yummmm. Also v pleased to hear that blueberry's come in tins...may have to partake in this bloobness.

xxx

Maria Fallon said...

Leon is amazing! I really want them to come to Birmingham or Cheltenham, would be amazing! Seriously do it, I made a slightly adapted version of the 100 cloves of garlic chicken- gorgeous is the only word for it :D

Maria xxx

Maria Fallon said...

Danni- YAY! It's a shame you're not here, I'm the only one who will eat them :P And the blueberries were all the way from Maine, USA..I don't know if the UK does them??

Maria xxx

daisychain said...

I really, realllly want/NEED this book!

Maria Fallon said...

Laura- DO IT! The illustrations alone make it worthwhile... http://www.amazon.co.uk/Leon-Book-Naturally-Fast-Food/dp/1840915560/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1297968076&sr=8-1 :D

Maria xxx

Unknown said...

I think I love too many restaurants to have a favourite, but I have become a little obsessed with Jamie's Italian of late.
I have a cook book called "The Three & Four Ingredient Cookbook" and yep, you guessed it, it only has recipes in it with 3 or 4 ingredients (plus standard store cupboard supplies of course). The recipes are delicious and its great on a student budget! Generally though, I'm more of a freestyler than a recipe follower! X

Maria Fallon said...

Lil- I know exactly what you mean, I do tend to just add extra little bits but I like to think of it as being adventurous rather than haphazard! :P

Maria xxx

S. Ellen said...

Ooh I've never heard of Leon, that book looks so lovely though. I love cookbook covers for some reason! x

Sherin said...

I love Leon. One of my favourite restaurants in London. This looks so delicious.

Maria Fallon said...

S.Ellen- Leon is a cookbook worth purchasing, it's amazing!

Leia- They really are!

Sherin- I always go out of my way to find a Leon, they are amazing! The muesli bars are yummy too!

Maria xxx

esqualibur said...

OMG I love Leon! There is one on the Strand just a few yards from Charing Cross Station and also one even closer, at Bluewater!! x

Maria Fallon said...

Esqualibur- The one on the Strand was my 'local' when I was working in London, Leon is AMAZING!


Maria xxx