Happy New Year!
I hope you have had a lovely festive period, and that the New Year was greeted with a bang. Have you made any resolutions? What sort of things did you get up to?
Over the last few years we’ve started a new family tradition of bringing in the New Year watching the Jools Holland Hootenanney on BBC 2. I set out some nibbles, us grown ups share a bottle of something (Prosecco this year) while the kids drink something nice out of posh glasses.
The thing is that this New Year’s Eve I was being sensible. I didn’t want to start the New Year off with a hangover and I began my sensible eating plan (in a bid to shed the 1 kg I put on over the Christmas week), on Monday the 28th. So, that bottle of Prosecco wasn’t going to be opened until Jools Holland started at 11:10 pm (I’d drawn a little 125 ml line on my glass so I could calorie count it! I’d earned these prosecco calories in advance with a hard core P90X3 work out!).
I had some time to kill before the festivities began.
The weather lately has been absolutely atrocious. On the mainland they’ve been calling it Storm Frank (has that finished now?). Up here we’ve been calling it ‘winter’, because the wind and gales of this extent are something we’re used to with living on an exposed rock in the middle of the North Sea.
I checked the weather forecast for New Years Day. The wind was supposed to die down (only 21 mph rather than the 56 mph gusting to hurricane force we’ve grown accustomed to lately) and it was going to be sunny! The dark, dreary, heavy cloud was going to lift for the day!
I had a notion.
I was going to climb Ronas Hill once and for all. Ronas Hill is Shetland’s highest hill, a marilyn standing at 450 metres, and despite living on these islands for nearly 17 years I’d never yet made it to the top (and it hasn’t been for lack of trying – see our Simmer Dim Camping Story!). You can see this hill, pictured below back in November with her winter frock on, from our house. It taunts me – come and play! I was going to check to see if there was a cloud sitting on her first thing in the morning (they do that, clouds – even if the rest of the sky is blue and clear, sometimes clouds have a wee little rest on top of Ronas Hill.) I was going to climb it, and I was going to climb it myself.
So, at ten pm on New Years Eve I was found in my kitchen preparing a batch of protein bars to take with me on my hike. I tweaked this recipe using the ingredients I had on hand in my kitchen – namely, a jar of macadamia nut butter a blog reader/Twitter follower gifted me when she visited Shetland last summer (thank you Jude!), the last of my flax seed and some raw cacao nibs Santa had brought me in my Christmas stocking.
There’s only six hours of daylight this far north this time of year, so after checking if there was any cloud sitting on top of the hill (there wasn’t!) I set out early with a rucksack loaded with provisions (just in case the cloud came in and I ended up lost. This sort of thing happens frequently.) – a wind up torch, a GPS, spare batteries for said GPS, mobile phone, spare socks, and a packed lunch including some extra protein energy bars.
I made it!
It took me one hour exactly after parking at the top of Collafirth Hill and climbing to the cairn at the top of Roga Field (294 metres) and then to the cairn at Mid Field (388 metres) to reach the summit of Ronas Hill and phone my husband to let him know I’d made it.
Such stunning views! I could see all the way north to Unst, the most northerly island in the UK. I could see the lighthouse at Eshaness on the west side, I could see the Out Skerries off the east coast and I’m sure I could have seen quite far south if the sun hadn’t been in my eyes. Photographs don’t do it justice.
It was bitterly cold though! I was very grateful for my husband’s sealskinz gloves. They kept my fingers nice and toasty warm while I explored the area. At the top of Ronas Hill there is a Neolithic cairn (dating back to 4000 – 2500 BCE) and an Ordinance Survey trig point with a low stone wall built around it.
Behind the trig point I found a sturdy metal container containing a log book to sign! How fantastic!
It was at this point I sheltered and had a spot of lunch, a half sandwich and cappucino and one of my lovely superfood plant protein energy bars. It’s packed full of all sorts of awesome superfood goodness – quinoa, flax, oats, seeds, nut butter, honey and the addition of both ground and whole raw cacao nibs gives it a lovely texture. I was really rather impressed with them, but given I’d only had six hours sleep and I was fueled on coffee and a banana that morning, I was quite hungry!
I’m not going to pretend that these protein energy bars are healthy. They’re not. They’re loaded with sugar and fat, but as far as fuel for hillwalking goes – they’re pretty awesome.
The quinoa in this recipe isn’t cooked. Rather, it’s whizzed up in a high speed blender (I use the Froothie Optimum 9400) along with the flax seeds and some raw cacao nibs. Quinoa is rather high in protein – 14 grams per 100 grams of the grain.
I confess I only have one photograph of these bars. I arranged them on the top of the trig point for a photograph, and standing up out of the shelter of the surrounding wall – my fingers haven’t been that cold since I was a child in Canada! We used to spend hours out ice skating and our toes would freeze. As they defrosted in the warmth of the house they would burn with pain, and my fingers did just that as they defrosted back in my gloves on the way back down the hill. It was so cold!
It’s a very lunar landscape, isn’t it. Ronas Hill is an ancient magma chamber from a volcano from long long ago, hence it’s red stone. Centuries of freezing and thawing in the sub-Arctic climate has fractured the stone, creating the bizarre and unique landscape you see now.
I spotted two pure white hares and a few unknown to me bird species while up on Ronas Hill. Other than that I had the entire place to myself. Bliss.
A perfect way to start the New Year!
Quinoa Protein Energy Bars
Ingredients
- 200 grams porridge oats
- 200 grams quinoa
- 1 tbsp flax seed
- 30 grams raw cacao nibs plus 2 tbsp
- 185 ml honey
- 250 grams nut butter I used macadamia
- 1 tsp vanilla bean paste
- 35 grams sunflower seeds
- 35 grams pumpkin seeds
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 180 C and spread the porridge oats out into a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes, checking after ten, until light and golden. Set aside to cool.
- Grind the dry quinoa, flax seeds and 30 grams of cacao nibs in a high speed food processor until fine. Tip into a large bowl.
- Gently heat the nut butter and honey together in a medium sized saucepan over a medium-low heat until melted together. Add the vanilla.
- Stir the nut butter mixture, oats, quinoa mixture and remaining ingredients together with a wooden spoon until well combined.
- Press evenly into the base of a 8 inch square silicone baking tin (or a tin lined with greaseproof paper.
- Leave to chill for several hours in the fridge, or overnight. Cut into bars and serve. Will keep for several days in the fridge.
Notes
OTHER PROTEIN SNACKS YOU MIGHT LIKE
Chocolate Coconut Bounty Protein Bites by Kerry Cooks
Chocolate Coated Peanut Protein Bars by Elizabeth’s Kitchen Diary
LINKING UP WITH A FEW BLOGGING CHALLENGES
We Should Cocoa from Tin & Thyme, guest hosted this month by The Lovely Appetite (theme: simple)
Recipe of the Week by A Mummy Too
Tea Time Treats with Lavendar & Lovage and The Hedgecombers (theme: open)
Tasty Tuesdays by Honest Mum
Out and About by Dragons and Fairy Dust
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Elizabeth’s Kitchen Diary uses the Froothie Optimum 9400 blender and the Froothie Optimum 600 slow juicer in many of her recipes. These are affiliate links, meaning if you buy a blender or juicer through them we will earn a small commission. This is not a paid post and all thoughts and opinions are our own.
This post also contains an Amazon affiliate link, highlighted in orange, which means if you click through and make any purchase at all via Amazon we will get a small commission and you will be helping to support our family.
Mum of three, daydream adventurer, OU Life Sciences graduate, occasional crafter, ex-pat Canadian & quite possibly Britain's most northerly food blogger.
Sarah Bailey says
Ohh this sound amazing – what a delicious idea.
I will have to try making some myself. x
Heather Haigh says
what a great way to use Quinoa! They look really tasty.
Maya Russell says
I love this recipe and like these kind of high energy bars. I wonder if there is any way of cutting down on the honey/sugar in it.
Penny H says
I am going to make these – I was looking at high protein snacks to buy and the cost was awful! £2 for ONE protein ball! Thanks for the recipe – off to search for the nibs now.
Chocolate Lover says
What a splendid way to start the mew year indeed. I love these ‘out and about in Shetland’ posts of yours Elizabeth, I’ve learnt so much. I’d always thought Shetland was really flat – how wrong I was. Your protein bars sound delicious and also pretty healthy, there’s only the honey that’s possibly questionable, but I’m not even sure of that. Thanks for sharing with #WeShouldCocoa
Alison says
What stunning views, so gorgeous. Those bars look like exactly what you need after hiking. Thanks for linking to #outandabout
Fashion and Style Police says
I love munching on Energy Bars a lot.
Rachel | Beauty and the Bird says
These sound delicious and healthy too – great post!
Charlotte says
You photos are stunning! Looks like an amazing place! x
leeshastarr says
These really do look great. I’ll have to try the recipe out soon.
Jessica Louise McDonnell says
They look so yummy. I need to bake more things like this x
Emma White says
wow what an adventure and the pictures are just amazing and the bars look amazing
Umber Phoenix *My Make Up Life* says
these look so tasty! Ill need to put some together because im lacking energy at the moment
Rachel says
Those views are just stunning! I have only eaten Quinoa with salad so this is really interesting x
Oui Stephanie says
Sounds like you had a great New Year, and congrats on making it up your own personal Everest! I’ve never tried quinoa so I don’t know if these sound yummy or not, but I’ll assume they are :p Stephanie x
becky says
beautiful photos what great views, well done I could never have done it!
Nayna Kanabar says
The photos are amazing . I love all the scenery. The protein bars look super healthy and guilt free.
Ana De- Jesus says
Stunning views and it is fascinating to discover the history that surrounds us. I have never tried quinoa before what does it taste like?
The London Mum says
Wow! What a perfect New Years start! Wish I could have joined you, sounds amazing! x
Anca says
The bars look delicious, I should save your recipe as I want to make some bars myself. I like your idea with the wine glass, I’m counting calories and this is a very helpful trick.
Life as Mum says
congratulations on your mountain goal 🙂 Such fabulous and stunningly beautiful photos you have taken too. x
Laura Hartley says
What a fantastic way to bring in the new year! Had never thought of having uncooked quinoa like this but they sure look tasty! These would make a great post-gym snack, thanks!
Dannii @ Hungry Healthy Happy says
Wow, that was a sensible new year eve – well done you! Mine was a little less sensible 😉 But I am back on track.
We make a lot of energy bars like this and they make a nice little snack.
Life as Mum says
Oh wow. the views are fantastic and beautiful. Those bars look incredibly tasty
Cathleen @ A Taste Of Madness says
Sounds like you had a great new year!
These look amazing! I love putting quinoa in everything, but I have yet to make energy bars! Definitely on my to-do list!
Ali says
Well the ingredients aren’t exactly butter and sugar so I don’t think they sound too unhealthy! I might give these a go I’m looking for high protein snacks.
Eb Gargano says
Stunning photographs. But I can’t quite get my head around the idea that you only get 6 hours of daylight – eek. I live in Sussex so we get way more than that, but I still feel miserable about the lack of daylight at this time of the year. I now realise how fortunate I am to have as much as I do! Your protein bars look so delicious! It is one of my new year’s resolutions to eat more ‘good’ food like nuts and seeds. So I need to start making stuff like this! I do also like the idea of earning a glass of prosecco – perhaps that’s the motivation I need to do more exercise 🙂
Rebecca U says
yum! I am nut butter obsessed so anything that involves it, I’m there! pinning for later x #tastytuesday
Angela / Only Crumbs Remain says
WOw, Wow, Wow!! OH & I love Scotland and have dreams of moving up there one day (from Yorkshire, way down south from you), so your images of the Marilyn (love that) cloaked in her winter scarf and the views from the summit of the cairn have made me feel keener than ever to get back up to Scotland. We’ve never been as far north as the Shetlands before, Mull has been the most northerly island we’ve been to so far.
Your protein bars certainly sound perfect for a trek up into the hills (PS, do be careful venturing up there on your own!)
Angela x
Unnati Silks says
These look delicious!
Sharon @Nut Free Wok says
Wow, thank you for sharing your photos. I love it that you share that they’re not healthy, so funny. But when you go on such a gorgeous and rigorous hike, you totally must bring something delicious and compact. My family has nut allergies, but I’m thinking that it’s super easy to substitute with an alternative butter. Thank you!!!
Sandi (@sandigtweets) says
I love that you used quinoa as your protein for these bars. They look so good I would eat them even without that gorgeous hike.
kellie@foodtoglow says
What utterly enchanting images, Elizabeth. Ever since I started reading you I have been pulled in by your top-notch images of food and places. I can see why Ronas Hill was calling you, and your photos do indeed do it justice – stunning. If I had that on my doorstep I would be wanting to be at the top too. I wouldn’t have dared go alone though. My depth perception is so terrible I would have ended up at the bottom of it.:-( Nad your protein bars are a fitting power food for replacing all of those calories you burned in the cold! Stay warm!
Johanna GGG says
Happy new year elizabeth – what a great new year tradition to watch jools holland – maybe you will now have a new tradition of the new year’s day climb up ronas hill! Love your energy bars – and it is refreshing to hear someone say these energy bars aren’t really healthy if you haven’t climbed a hill! Best wishes for 2016
Manila Spoon says
I won’t complain that you only have one photo as that is quite a background! Besides, the bars sure look scrumptious and am sure is the perfect energy booster!!!
Margot @ Coffee & Vanilla says
Oh, those look absolutely delicious Elizabeth. Only today we were wondering with my daughters how to make quinoa bars at home… they love ready ones from the health store.
Jeanne Horak-Druiff says
Hah – so I was not the only one being sensible on new year’s eve ;o) What great shots, especially of the protein bars in situ 🙂 Wishing you all the best for a spectacular 2016!
Debi @ Life Currents says
What a fabulous hike and wonderful pictures! Thanks for sharing them. These bars look delicious and I love that they’re healthy!
Katerina says
Achieving our goals fills us with proud and happiness! Very well done for you! The bars look delicious! Happy New Year!
Claire @foodiequine says
Happy New Year Elizabeth! What a fantastic New Years Day hike and stunning views. The landscape is like something from a sci-fi film.
Kavey says
Crikey! What views! Great will power and achievement! I’ve never really used quinoa at home, I ought to have a play with it!
Emily says
These look like the perfect energy bars! I love the idea of sweetening with vanilla and honey xx
Elizabeth says
The honey does give a rather potent sugar hit, but it totally works, especially on the top of a big hill in the icy cold!
Joanne/WineLady Cooks says
How brave of you to climb alone, congratulations on your journey. Your photographs are beautiful and the quinoa protein energy bars are the perfect companion for a day of climbing.
Elizabeth says
Aw thanks Joanne 🙂 I realise loads of people do all this hill climbing on their own, but I’d never before braved it so I was rather pleased with myself. Here’s to many more hills, and later on in the year, a mountain! (big plans!)
Jacqueline Meldrum says
Energy bars are great for walks,easily stored and they give you that much needed boost. This one looks great. I’ve been blending quinoa into powder fo a few years and adding it to dishes, but never thought of doing that with seeds and cacao nibs.
Elizabeth says
I honestly had never heard of blending quinoa into powder until I found that recipe! Such a great idea! Cacao makes everything that much better though, wouldn’t you agree? 😀
Linda (Meal Planning Maven) says
Congratulations on achieving your mountain climbing goals! Your photography is beautiful and your energy bars are a must-try for sure!
Elizabeth says
Aw thanks Linda! It’s so difficult taking photographs this time of year with the poor light, so I’m so glad it was a nice day – everything worked perfectly that day. 🙂
Emma @ Supper in the Suburbs says
Happy new year Elizabeth! I am so impressed with your self discipline and determination to complete your goals. Well done! These protein bars looked like the perfect pick me up on your trek!
Elizabeth says
Happy New Year! 🙂
Lisa says
Wow well done for reaching it and sticking to your goal! I had notions of climbing Pen Y Fan New Year’s Day as we were close to it, but I wasn’t as sensible as you and was too hungover to do it. I’ll have to pass this recipe on to my husband for when he’s going out surfing for hours, I’m sure this would help!
Thanks for entering and linking up with We Should Cocoa x
Elizabeth says
Thanks Lisa 🙂 I can be pretty stubborn when I set my mind to something! I know it’s just a hill, and not a particularly big one at that, but still – I feel like I have achieved something. 🙂 Thanks for hosting such a great challenge, and if your husband does try my recipe do let me know what he thinks!
Amy Hunt says
Those photos are beautiful! I’m 2 days in to the new year and i’ve not left the house yet! I’m glad you had such a lovely time out, i’m so jealous!
-Wishing I could eat quinoa too haha! xx thanks for sharing.
Amy/PurelyAmy
Elizabeth says
Aw thanks Amy! Hoping you have an adventurous year – once the rest and relaxation of the holidays is over, of course. 🙂
Emilie says
Wow! Love this, I love how you came across the log book! Bet it was amazing seeing everyone’s messages. So glad I came across your blog, excited to spend tomorrow in the kitchen trying out your recipe! Happy new year xxx
Elizabeth says
Aw, welcome Emilie! Pleased to ‘meet’ you! 😀
Dom says
wow! Well done for achieving your mountain climbing goals! That’s very good of you!… we went down to London to a wedding which was so lovely but very alcohol fuelled! These quinoa bars look rather lovely but perhaps a little too healthy… oh but then it’s only just Jan 2nd! Happy New Year!
Elizabeth says
Thanks Dom, although it’s just a mere little marilyn – my mountain climb is later on this year! 🙂 Happy New Year to you too!
Kavey says
Crikey! What amazing views! Great will power and achievement! I’ve never really used quinoa at home, I ought to have a play with it!
Elizabeth says
It’s a remarkably versatile grain. We’ve been cooking with it for years. You should give it a go! 🙂