Granola Bars

I have made these yummy things just a few too many times since finding this recipe a couple of months ago. I got the recipe here, and you can change them up any way that suits your fancy. But I have come upon the way that I love them best. After they are made, I put them individually in a fold-top bag and then put all my baggies in a larger ziplock bag and put them in the freezer. I'm planning to make these throughout the summer to have in the freezer for lunches for the school year. I haven't priced it out, but I'm sure they're cheaper than buying them and no doubt they are yummier and healthier. My version is doubled so it makes an entire cookie sheet of good sized bars. The original recipe says to toast the dry ingredients in the oven, but with the exception of coconut, I couldn't really tell a difference from a toasted/non-toasted version. (However, I do use nuts that are already roasted.)

Mix together in a large bowl:

2 cups oatmeal

2 cups Rice Krispie cereal

1 cup wheat germ

1/2 cup flax seed; ground (I use the blender)

1 1/2 cups sunflower seeds

2 cups coarsely chopped nuts

2 cups dried fruit

Mix together in a sauce pan and cook until it's bubbly on the sides of the pan (near boiling):

1 1/3 cups brown sugar

1/2 honey

1/2 corn syrup (you can do all honey, but I don't like them that sweet)

1/2 cup butter

4 tsp. vanilla

1 tsp. salt

Pour over dry ingredients and mix well. Pour onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. When set, take out of pan with parchment paper and flip over back into the pan. Remove the paper and cut into bars.

My tips:

This mixture of nuts from Costco make amazing bars. This container will make about 3 batches of granola bars. They are roasted and salted. The first time I made them with this mix, I cut back on the salt. I regretted that. I love the salty/sweet mix in this recipe.

I chop them very coarsely. About this much is perfect for my liking.

I love, love, love these cherries in them. Craisins are also good. So are blueberries. So is a mix. Okay, so I love the dried fruit just as much as the nuts. (but I highly recommend the cherries!)

Enjoy! Don't blame me if you become addicted!