1. Soak the dates in water for 15-30 minutes (or an hour, if possible). Drain them, reserving a few tablespoons of the soak water.

2. Place the almonds in a food processor fitted with the S blade. Pulse a few times to break them down into smaller pieces. Add the cashews and pulse again, till the nuts are broken up uniformly (you don't want powder--you just want them to look as though they've been chopped). Empty the nuts into a large mixing bowl and add the oats, chia seeds, salt, cinnamon, and cranberries. Mix the ingredients and set them aside.

3. Place the dates, the almond butter, and the vanilla into your food processor. Blend until the mixture is smooth, adding a few tablespoons of the reserved water if needed.

4. Add the wet date mixture to the dry ingredients and mix thoroughly. It should all come together as a sticky, uniform mixture.

5. Press the mixture into an 8" x 8" baking dish and smooth the top over. Cover with saran and refrigerate for a few hours. Cut mixture into thin bars, wrap them in saran, and store in an airtight container for up to two weeks.