Walnut Fig Bars

Try these delicious bars as a fun way to add excitement to packed lunches or just as a tasty, nutritious snack. I like to make a batch of these for a week of easy breakfasts or mid-morning snacks. Dried figs are a good source for iron and calcium as well as fiber.
Ingredients:
* 1 cup rolled oats (quick oats also work)
* 1/2 cup whole grain flour (whole wheat, whole wheat pastry, spelt, barley are all good choices)
* 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
* 1 teaspoon vanilla
* 1/4 cup canola oil
* 1/3 cup sucanat
* 1/2 cup walnuts, roughly chopped
* 1 1/2 cups dried figs, covered with water and soaked at least 1 hour, until plump and re-hydrated
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Combine the oats, flour, cinnamon, vanilla, oil, and sucanat
in a food processor and pulse just until combined. The mixture should be moist and crumbly; if it is too dry, add a tablespoon or two of oil or water. Transfer half the mixture to a small mixing bowl and mix it with the chopped nuts.

Spread the other half of the oat mixture in the bottom of a 9-by-9 inch baking dish, pressing it down firmly in an even layer. Set aside. Cut the figs in half or quarters and add to the food processor. Pulse until the figs form a thick paste. Spread the fig paste onto the oat crust in an even layer. Top with the remaining oat-walnut mixture, pressing it into the figs gently but firmly. Bake for 15 minutes. Let cool completely before cutting into squares. Enjoy!