Power Hungry by Camilla V. Saulsbury

I am the type of person who carries a granola bar with me wherever I go. It’s my “just in case” snack — just in case I get stuck in traffic, just in case we have to wait an hour for a reservation, just in case the Hangry Monster comes. So you can understand why I am thrilled — beyond thrilled — to have this cookbook in my eager little hands. It is full of all the snack bars, power bars, energy bites, and granola bars of my dreams and, I’m guessing, yours.

• Who wrote it: Camilla V. Saulsbury

• Who published it: Lake Isle Press

• Number of recipes: Around 50, plus lots of variations

• Recipes for right now: Carrot Cake Lucy (aka Luna) Bars, Brewed Awakening Cappuccino Bars, Morning Maple Bars, Greek Yogurt Muesli Bars, 5-Minute Protein Truffles, Lemony Spirulina Bars

• Other highlights: I find myself wanting to make everything, all at once, with this book. Do I start with the knock-off power bars, like the “Nature Valley” crunchy granola bars or the DIY “Kind” bars? Or do I try the muesli bars, which are coated oh-so-temptingly with a white chocolate and Greek yogurt drizzle. I found the selection of recipes to incredibly comprehensive. Crunchy or chewy, sweet or salty, protein-filled for a big workout or just packed with dried fruit to stave off hunger — you can really take your pick.

The recipes rely primarily on a DIY Glucose Syrup as the binder. You can use organic corn syrup or brown rice syrup in its place, but Saulsbury’s recipe and instructions for making the syrup yourself seem easy and doable. The other ingredients are of the type that you’d find in any bulk bin section: grains, dried fruits, nuts and seeds, honey and maple syrup. Saulsbury isn’t above a little indulgence, however — many of the bars get a drizzle of chocolate or a dip in a yogurt coating to add a touch of luxury.

I’m very intrigued by the recipes in this book that incorporate savory elements, in particular the Crispy Kale Bars and the Chickpea Champion Bars. My tastes usually tend toward the savory and salty end of the spectrum, but bars like these just aren’t as widely available commercially. Definitely something I want to try.

All these recipes are soy-free and a great many of them can be made gluten-free, nut free, or other allergen-free. Many of the recipes are also compatible with the paleo diet, the vegan diet, and other lifestyles.

• Who would enjoy this book? Fellow snack-bar-packing Hangry Monsters, parents packing school lunches for kids, gym-goers and other active types, busy students.

Find the book at your local library, independent bookstore, or Amazon: Power Hungry by Camilla V. Saulsbury

• Visit the author’s website: Camilla V. Saulsbury

Apartment Therapy Media makes every effort to test and review products fairly and transparently. The views expressed in this review are the personal views of the reviewer and this particular product review was not sponsored or paid for in any way by the manufacturer or an agent working on their behalf. However, the manufacturer did give us the product for testing and review purposes.

(Images: Emma Christensen)