Homemade Granola Bars

2 C Rolled oats
1 C chopped nuts (your choosing)
1 1/2 C any puffed grains (brown rice, millet, wheat, etc)
2/3 C brown sugar
½ C honey
4 Tbsp butter (or peanut butter!)
½ tsp salt
½ tsp cinnamon (optional)
2 tsp vanilla (or something different if you’re playing with flavors)
1 Cup dried fruit (your choosing)
1 Cup chocolate chips (optional)

Line a cookie sheet or 8 x 8 pan (size doesn't matter too much-- just depends on how thick or thin you'd like your bars) with parchment paper (not waxed paper). Spread the chocolate chips over the parchment paper.

Toast the oats and nuts on a baking sheet in the oven until golden. Once toasted, toss them together with the puffed grains and dried fruit in a large bowl.

Meanwhile, melt the butter, sugar, honey, salt and cinnamon in a small saucepan over medium heat. Cook until all the sugar is dissolved but don’t boil. Remove from heat and add in vanilla. Pour over the granola mixture and toss to coat evenly.

Press firmly into the prepared dish over the chocolate chips. (I use another piece of parchment on top and use my hands or a flat bottomed dish to press it firmly). The chocolate chips will melt and create a layer on the bottom of the pan.

Allow to cool completely before turning out of pan and cutting with a large knife. You can put them in the fridge to speed up the process.

Store bars between layers of parchment paper in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.

Possible Flavor Combinations:
Walnut and Raisin (use maple syrup instead of honey!)
Pecan and Cranberry with white chocolate chips
Macadamia, Coconut and Pineapple with white chocolate chips
Almond and Dried Apricot

*Because Olivia can't have nuts, we just increase the amount of dried fruit. We use dried cranberries, raisins, coconut, and dried bananas. I also add wheat germ and flaxseed. You can play with the different flavor combinations-- just make sure you keep the dry to wet ratio the same. I generally make a double batch, in two 13 x 9 cookie sheets, and send Jonathan with a large tupperware container to work that lasts him a few weeks! YUM!

Tiffeny