Jeff Is Cookin’!

I was contacted a while back by the folks over at Matisse &
Jack’s to give their Trail Blaze bake-at-home oatmeal energy bars a try. i’m always one for trying out new products and their pitch for the bars sounded great. Bake ‘em yourself, save some money, no packaging or preservatives and enjoy a home baked flavor instead of the typical packaged bars like Clif or Powerbar.

The boxes arrived, one cranberry walnut and one chocolate chip. I baked up the first batch and was surprised at how easy and quick it was to get going. They come as a dry mix and require a ‘wet ingredient’; either just applesauce for a vegan recipe or applesauce and yogurt. I took the applesauce/yogurt route and within 30 minutes, I had my first batch ready. The batch made nine bars, which would last me for about a week or two.

Over the next few weeks, i used the bars on all of my longer runs and as a recovery food after harder workouts. I was incredibly pleased with the taste of the bars. As promised, they tasted just like a home-baked treat. The best thing about them, aside from the taste, though, was how well they sat when eaten during a hard workout. I used them extensively while training for and racing the Twin Peaks 50k/50m. I was able to eat a bar during a hard workout and not have it sit heavy in my stomach and the energy release was always smooth and not accompanied by a sugar spike and drop.

When the initial two boxes ran out, I was quick to order another batch of boxes. Order from Matisse & Jack’s; buying five boxes at a time results in free
shipping. That, coupled with the inexpensive price of $4.99 a box, means I come out way ahead vs. purchasing the packaged bars at the local stores.

Each bar is about 180 calories; 4.5g of fat, 22g of carbs, 9g of protein. Here’s what Matisse & Jack’s say:

You’ll be surprised by the taste, and forget that you’re eating an energy bar. This doesn’t have the overly tough texture of most energy bars; no sore jaws here. Our Cranberry Walnut is a hearty mix of crunchy chunks of walnut, oats, and plump cranberries-a great option for breakfast, or as a recovery snack. Meanwhile, our Chocolate chip is a guiltless indulgence; made with high quality Guittard chocolate and organic rolled oats.

I wholeheartedly agree. Matisse & Jack’s have made a customer for life!