Nutty quinoa and chia banana bars

Ingredients:

• 1 cup (100g) rolled oats
• ½ cup (80g) uncooked, pre-rinsed quinoa
• 2 Tbsp (30ml) chia seeds
• ¼ tsp (1.5ml) salt
• 1 tsp (5ml) ground cinnamon
• 2 ripe bananas, mashed
• 1 tsp (5ml) vanilla essence
• ¼ cup (60g) roughly chopped almonds
• ¼ cup (60g) chopped pecan nuts
• ¼ cup (100g) natural creamy almond butter
• 2 Tbsp (30ml) honey or pure maple syrup

Method:

1. Preheat oven to 160°C.
2. Line a baking tray with baking paper.
3. Combine rolled oats, quinoa, chia seeds, salt and cinnamon in a large bowl.
4. Stir in mashed banana and vanilla essence.
5. Fold in almonds and pecan nuts.
6. Place a saucepan over low heat; add almond butter and honey (or maple syrup)
   and stir to combine.
7. Fold through the dry mixture.
8. Pour onto baking tray and press down firmly with your hands to spread mixture
   out evenly.
9. Using a knife, shape out the bars (for easier cutting later).
10. Bake for 25 minutes or until edges turn golden.
11. Allow to cool completely before cutting into bars.
12. Store in an airtight container.