In my last few days at the house of health, my mom has been making smoothies and homemade protein bars. Here is one of her favorite go-tos (although for it to be palatable to me, I have to double the sugar in the recipe below and where mom likes banana, I substitute apple sauce). 
Protein Power Bars
Adapted from No Meat Athlete
1 pound black beans
½ cup peanut butter
¼ cup honey
¼ cup applesauce
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp cinnamon
¼ tsp salt
1 ½ cups oats
½ cup unsweetened cocoa
½ cup flour
Optional stir ins— (1 cup)
Dried cranberries
Raisins
Dried apricots
Dry cereal
Crushed pretzels
Chocolate chips
Food process beans, peanut butter, honey, applesauce, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt until smooth. Add oats and cocoa and flour and pulse to combine. Add stir-ins and pulse again. If the consistency is spreadable, you’re done. Otherwise, add ¼ cup water and pulse.
Grease a 13×9 pan with baking spray or rub with 1 tbsp oil, then spread mixture into pan. Bake at 350 for 15-18 minutes.
These were okay. To make all the protein palatable, I think there is no shame in adding more sugar (in the form of honey or agave). Mom says to watch out for their “fart power.”
Last night we went out with friends to the new minor league baseball stadium and watched the Hillsboro Hops. Classic Americana, but made better with the Hops unique brew from Bridgeport. In particular, I love the hops mascot, which if I were a child would probably think was a dancing artichoke. 
