Protein-packed Quinoa Breakfast Bars

1. Preheat the oven to 350 F. Spread oats and uncooked quinoa on a cookie sheet and toast in the preheated oven for 8 minutes. Remove from oven.
2. Place the toasted quinoa/oats mixture in a large bowl and add nuts and/or dried fruit.
3. In a medium saucepan, combine salt, peanut butter, honey, oil and brown sugar. Bring to a boil over medium heat and once it hits a boil immediately remove from heat. Pour the peanut butter mixture over the oats mixture and combine until the dry ingredients are evenly coated.
4. Line a 9×13 baking dish with parchment paper. Spread the mixture evenly into the baking dish, pressing it down into the pan. Bake at 350 F for 20 minutes. Remove it from the oven and set dish on a rack. Let it cool for up to 2 hours.
5. After the mixture has cooled, pour the dark chocolate chips and final 1 tablespoon of oil in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave for 30 second intervals, stirring in between, and continuing until smooth. Cut the baked mixture into bars. Dip each bar in the melted dark chocolate and set on parchment paper to harden. Enjoy!

Recipe adapted from Super Healthy Kids.

Note: For step 2 I used sunflower seeds and roughly chopped walnuts.