CHOCO-CURRANT CRANBERRY SQUARES
This recipe is from “Raising Vegetarian Children.” Here’s an ideal combination of dried fruit, chocolate and cereal that you can stir together in minutes.

Ingredients:

½ C. syrup (rice, barley malt, corn or maple)
¼ C. tahini or nut butter
2 ½ squares (2.5oz.) semisweet baking chocolate
2/3 C. dried currants, cranberries, or both
1 ¼ C. puffed rice cereal
1 ¼ C. flaked cereal

1. Place syrup, tahini, and baking chocolate in top of double boiler and heat over boiling water until chocolate is just melted. If you do not have a double boiler, place pan directly over medium heat, watching and stirring frequently to prevent burning. Stir to mix evenly and remove from heat.

2. Add currants and cereal and mix until well coated with chocolate mixture.

3. Press into lightly oiled 4”x9” loaf pan, making squares about 1-inch high.

4. Place in refrigerator or freezer to set for 30 minutes, then cut into squares and serve.

Variation: For Fruity Chocolate Coconut Balls, use a stickier syrup (choose any of the above except maple). Spread 1/3 cup of unsweetened coconut in a wide, shallow bowl. Take a spoonful of the chocolate mixture, form into a 1-inch ball and roll it in the coconut. Store balls in refrigerator until served.

Yield: approx. 24 servings