Since we don't have the luxury of buying granola bars at the grocery store, like we so enjoyed doing while on home assignment, I have found a great recipe to make them. This is one of my family's favorites and they are great to make ahead of time for lunches or to have on hand for hungry kids coming home from school or sports practice. I think I got this recipe from a Good Housekeeping magazine years ago, I can't quite remember. I often double the recipe and make some for the whole week. (They seem to stay good for 4-5 days in a Tupperware container...although they usually don't last that long in our house!) I love that these are healthy and great tasting too, not to mention soft and chewy. I have to special order the wheat germ, but it's worth it to feed my family these good-for-you snacks.Granola Breakfast Bars Recipe
2 cups oats (I use old fashioned, but I think they are a bit better with quick oats)
1 cup flour
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
3/4 cup raisins, optional (we opt out...we have tried them with chocolate chips - yum!)
1/2 cup wheat germ
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground Cinnamon
Mix these dry ingredients together, then add:
1/2 cup oil (I like olive oil best)
1/2 cup honey
2 teaspoon vanilla
1 egg
Mix together and flatten with wet hand in a greased tin foil lined 9x13 pan.
Bake at 350 F (170 C) for about 20-25 min. until edges are lightly browned.
When it has cooled slightyly, I flip them, peel off the foil and flip again onto a cooling rack. (This keeps the bottom from getting soggy.) Cut into strips when they are fully cooled. Hope you enjoy them as much as we do!
