Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Granola Bars


Lately I've been trying to replace much of the prepackaged food we eat with homeade. It tastes better and cuts down on the amount of preservatives the kids eat. Also, it makes me feel dumb when I eat things with ingredients that I can't pronounce. The kids have stolen enough of my brain cells, I don't have many more to spare.



This week I tried these granola bars and while hubby and I loved them, kids weren't too thrilled. They are more of the Kashi variety than the Quaker type. I found another recipe that I hope will be more kid friendly and I'll post that one too assuming it's not a complete disaster.








I can't remember where I found this recipe, I believe the Food Network:



Granola Bars


2 cups old-fashioned oatmeal
1 cup sliced almonds
1 cup shredded coconut, loosely packed (I used less)
1/2 cup toasted wheat germ
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
2/3 cup honey
1/4 cup light brown sugar, lightly packed
1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 cup chopped dried apricots
1/2 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips


1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 8x12 baking dish.


2. Toss the oatmeal, almonds and coconut together on a cookie sheet and bake 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned. Transfer the mixture to a large mixing bowl and stir in the wheat germ.


3. Reduce oven temp to 300 degrees.


4. Place the butter, honey, brown sugar, vanilla and salt in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat. Cook and stir for a minute, then pour over the toasted oatmeal mixture. Add the chocolate chips, apricots and cranberries and stir well.


5. Pour the mixture into the prepared pan. Wet your fingers and lightly press the mixture evenly into the pan. Bake for 25-30 minutes, until light golden brown. Cool 2-3 hours before cutting.




* I lightly pressed them down again when they came out of the oven.
* Cook longer for a more crispy bar, shorter for a chewy bar.



6 comments:

beth said...

Good for you, Michelle, for making more foods homemade!! I have been considering doing the same thing, myself. We don't need all of those chemicals and things we can't pronounce in our bodies, do we? We have to take care of the body God gave us!
I think the granola bars look really good! I can see where kids might not like them as much, though, especially when they are used to the Quaker kind, which are, well, soooo yummy. :)
Hope you have a wonderful day!
Beth.

Anonymous said...

Hi Michelle,
I'm glad you're back...I've missed your posts!
I love getting new recipes that I can make that don't include anything not natural. We've given processed foods also and never felt better!
I loved your last post...your home is looking lovlier than ever ~
Hope your enjoying the spring!

Theresa said...

Sounds yummy, I am going to try these and send the recipe to my daughter:) Thanks a bunch! Have a blessed day, hugs!

Robyn said...

Sounds yummy! I'll have to try them out!

Robyn said...

Sounds yummy Michelle!

Robyn said...

oops!