Derby & Apple/Carrot & Peanut Butter Health Bars

Surfing the web while house-sitting in Brooklyn a few weeks ago, I Googled “Roller Magic,” a roller rink located in nearby Hyde Park, NY. Turns out it is also the home of the Hudson Valley Horrors, a flat-track derby outfit founded in 2006, and they were holding tryouts the next day.

I love being part of a team and derby has always intrigued me. Even though the last time I was on skates was a gig my old band played in Wayne, New Jersey, I figured I would give it a shot. What was the worst thing that could happen?

The women and men involved were super friendly and great! Derby is not only a team sport with tough ladies, it is one that is highly focused on giving back to the community – something that I feel is important with our moving out here from Brooklyn. Live in the area? Come to a bout on Sunday, February 17th introducing the home teams! Get tickets here.

In exciting news, I made the team! In order to have some healthy snacks for practice, I decided to make these Apple Peanut Butter Snack Bars from Happy Healthy Mama with minor adjustments. They are good – not too sweet. I may cook them longer next time to make them a bit crispier, but overall, it’s a snack that is clean and good for you.

Apple/Carrot & Peanut Butter Health Bars

Ingredients:

• 1 shredded apple
• 1 shredded carrot
• 2 cups rolled oats
• 1/4 cup peanut butter (I used chunky and salted)
• 1/2 cup maple syrup
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

To Do:

NOTE: I used the food processesor to save on time and cleanup, but you could shred the apple and carrot with a grater and then mix everything in a bowl.

1. Preheat oven to 350F and lightly coat a 13×9″ pan or two 9×9″ pans with grapeseed oil or neutral oil of your choice.
2. Shred apple and carrot in a food processor. Switch to a mixer blade and add the rest of the ingredients. Pulse until it all comes together, but don’t process for a long time – it should be chunky.
3. Scrape the mixture out with a spatula and spread evenly in pan(s). Bake for 20-30 minutes, until the edges are browned. If crispiness is desired, bake until the top is browned.
4. Cool, cut and store in a ziplock bag or Tupperware.