Breakfast bars for lazy people

I hate breakfast. In fact I am so utterly bored with it that I seldom bother any more – favouring a quick fix at my desk rather than facing the saga of preparing fruit, porridge or cereal in the morning at home.


The problem is I’m lazy through and through. I’d much rather lay-in for an extra five minutes than spend that time chopping, pouring, stirring…eating.

I like brunch. I have no problem with sliding out of bed at 10am, reading a paper, listening to Massive Attack and wolfing down a pancake or two over hot chocolate.

But breakfast is a no no.

We all have to eat though. So I’ve come-up with some easy peasy, low-fat, low-sugar fruit bars that can be prepared in no time at all in the evening while your making dinner, and taken in to work (or eaten in the car, bus or train) so that five minutes extra is never a problem.

If you’re a busy person who hasn’t got time to make a full English and wolf it down by 8am – this recipe is for you.

Power-packed breakfast bars
Ingredients

400g dates soaked in hot tea
600g rolled oats
1 tin condensed milk

Do it:

1 Set the oven to 150C and line a baking tray with greaseproof paper.

2 Drain the dates then blitz in a food processor (or chop finely by hand) into a pulp.

3 Place the dates and condensed milk in a medium saucepan and simmer gently for 10 minutes until it thickens.

4 Pour the oats into the sticky date mixture and stir.

5 Pour the mixture onto the baking tray and pat down evenly. Bake in the oven for 30 minutes.

6 Cut into slices and allow to cool before storing in an airtight tin. They will last for up to three days.

7 Play about with the recipe – try blending in dried apricots or cranberries and sprinkling sesame seeds or crushed nuts over the top.