Very Cherry Bars

(Similar to Lara Bars)

1/4 cup chopped dates (roughly chopped)
1/4 cup dried cherries or dried cranberries
1/3 cup whole pecans, almonds or walnuts (I've also used cashews)
1/8 tsp cinnamon

Set out 2 pieces of plastic wrap for shaping and wrapping the bars.  Do this first; you'll have sticky fingers when you need it.

Place the dates and cherries in a food processor.  Pulse until processed to a paste.  Transfer paste to a medium bowl (don't clean processor).

Add the nuts to the processor and pulse until finely chopped.  Add the nuts, along with cinnamon, to the bowl with the fruit paste.  Use your fingers to knead the nuts into the paste.

Divide mixture in half.  Place each half on each of one of the sheets of plastic wrap.  Wrap the plastic around each bar and start squishing into a bar shape form, 3 1/2" long, 1" wide and 3/4" thick; press against countertop to flatten bottom side, flattening top side and ends with flat of hand.  Tightly wrap the plastic around each bar and store in the refrigerator.  Makes 2 bars.

Variations:
Apricot-Almond:  Use 6 Tbsp coarsley chopped dried apricots and 2 Tbs dates, use almonds for the nuts.

Tropical:  Use tropical fruit bits; cashews, add 1/8 tsp ginger, 1/2 tsp grated lime zest, and 1 tsp fresh lime juice to the mix.

PB&J:  Use 1/4 cup dried cherries or cranberries and 1/4 cup raisins or dates; use raw or roasted peanuts for the nuts.

Blueberry Bliss:  Use 1/4 cup dried blueberries and 1/4 cup dates; use almonds for the nuts.  Add 1/2 tsp finely grated lemon zest, and a drop of almond extract to the mix.

Cashew Cookie Dough:  Reverse the proportions of fruit to nuts - use 1/3 cup date for the fruit and 1/2 cup raw cashews for the nuts.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough:  Same as cashew cookie dough, but add 1/2 tsp vanilla extract, pinch cinnamon and 1/2 ounce very finely chopped semisweet or bittersweet chocolate to the mix.

Pistachio Heaven:  Same as cashew cookie dough, but use raw pistachios and add a tiny drop of almond extract.

Peanut Butter Cookie Dough:  Same as cashew cookie dough but use raw or roasted (lightly salted) peanuts for the nuts.