1 1/2 cups pitted dates
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder or 1/4 cup of
    a dark chocolate bar, unsweetened
1/4 cup dry chia seeds
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup slivered raw almonds or pistaschios

    Place dates in a food processor; puree until it forms a thick paste.
     Add cocoa powder, chia seeds, and vanilla extract. Pulse until all ingredients are combined.
     Add almonds; pulse until nuts are finely chopped and well distributed throughout.
     Spread large sheet of wax paper on work surface. Transfer date mixture to wax paper and use paper to press mixture into a 1/2" thick rectangle.
     Wrap tightly and chill overnight.
    Unwrap block and cut into 8 bars. 
    Re-wrap each bar in wax paper.
    Eat within a week.

3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup crystalline brown sugar OR xylitol
1/2 teaspoon real vanilla extract or
    vanilla bean paste
3 tablespoons orange or carrot juice
1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon semi-coarse sea salt
1/2 cup dried fruit
    (raisins, cranberries, blueberries, etc)
1/3 cup chia seeds
1/3 cup whole grain nutty nugget type cereal
2 1/4 cups all purpose unbleached flour

     Preheat oven to 170 degrees. With electric beater, cream the butter and sugar until nice and fluffy. Add the vanilla, juice and salt and blend well. 
     Set the beater aside and switch to a  spatula to blend in the fruits, seeds and cereal. Lastly, blend in the flour, stirring well to get it all mixed in. Mixture will be thick and crumbly.
     Dump it onto a paper lined baking sheet and with your hands shape it into a circle or rectangle about 1/2 inch thick or so. Cut into slices.
     Bake 30-35 minutes, or until nicely browned. Cool and serve!