This is another Scratch Labs recipe that I modified. Their products and books are great. I find them inspiring to try new recipes and not rely on store bought nutrition bars. I found that rice cakes work for me as a source of fuel and I like to be able to determine what’s in them and be able to make them myself. This might be for you also. Worth experimenting!
Makes 9 bars.
Calrose Rice : 2 cups
Bitter Sweet Cooking Choc Chip: 8Oz
Coconut Milk in Can (found in Asian / Thai isle) : 1/2 to 3/4 of a can used
Fresh Blueberries : 6-8oz
Salt : to taste
Sugar : to taste
Lemon Juice to taste
Overview
Regarding complexity and preparation, this recipe is similar to the last rice bars I wrote about – it’s quick and easy. These bars have a new flavour profile using Blueberries and Chocolate chips, plus a new consistency from the coconut milk. One large difference is the moisture of these bars. The coconut milk content makes them more moist, sweeter but also heavier.
Recipie
Wrapping / Packaging
The trick here is good packaging that holds up in a cycling jersey pocket. And is easy to open and clean to eat the food. A solution is a wrapper that is non stick on the inside and foil on the outside for structure.
ScratchLabs make some called Scratch paper here – Reynolds make some called pan liner here. Both are great. If you don’t have any special paper you can also make your own with two sheets, one parchment , one regular foil. Thats what I do, takes a little more time but a common thing to buy at the supermarket.
Wrapping examples shown with prior recipe.
Summary
The Blueberry Choc Chip are a lot more moist than my last recipe. I also found these bars last longer in the fridge, because they start moister(?). They are definitely a sweet bar and I like the flavor of the coconut milk. They did crumble a bit easier when eaten on the bike. I might experiment and dial back the amount of coconut milk to maybe 1/2 a can with this amount of rice. Also I think chips are better than chunks, but getting bittersweet chips might be a challenge.
Ingredients & Costs
Calrose Rice : 2 cups – $1.18 ( $3.49 a bag but only needed 1/3 of it)
Bitter Sweet Cooking Choc Chip: – $2 ($3.99 a bag half 8oz used)
Coconut Milk in Can (found in Asian / Thai isle) : 1/2 to 3/4 of a can used : $1.49
Blueberries : $2 for 8oz (I just used one of the containers in the picture)
Salt : to taste
Sugar : to taste
Lemon Juice – $0.50
Makes 9 bars : Price per bar $0.79
Nutritional Info
249 Calories
6g Fat
194mg Sodium
45g Carbs
2g Fiber
4g Protein