Carob and hemp chewy bars

Bursting with energy and nutrients, these bars were the answer to my husband's recipe for Raw Apricot and Date Chewy Bars (see post 19.10.11), in a kind of "Bar Wars" :) I am on a quest to develop the ultimate yummy but healthy snack bar! They were a great addition to my lunchbox at work, though they drew some curiosity from colleagues. If you don't have a dehydrator, you could try a low oven- equivalent to145F or as near as you can get; it might take a long time, though. The following quantities made 8 bars:


100g semidried dates (called "fresh", but they come in a cardboard box)
100g sultanas
200g (including stones)whole  dried apricots (the small ones from Asian shops that look like Hunza apricots)
1 tab date syrup
1 tab carob powder (makes it quite strong- you may want a little less)
4 tabs hemp flour
4 heaped tabs desiccated coconut
200ml warm water

• First, pre-prepare the dried fruit by soaking in the water and stoning the apricots when soft enough- keep the water.
• Blend the soaked dried fruits with their water until you get a paste-like consistency.
• Combine with the other ingredients 
• Spread evenly onto a Paraflexx sheet and dehydrate at 145, turning onto the mesh tray and cutting as soon as they are dry enough. It takes around 10 hours, maybe a little more, but remember the thinner the bars the less time they will take. Remove from dehydrator when they are drier, firmer, and chewy.