I conquered a recipe of the best granola bars ever...they're not dry or hard - which I hate. Also, they're not so sweet like the store bought kinds that give you a sugar crash and a head-ache afterwards. This is a basic recipe which you can of course make even healthier. You will need a large bowl, a lightly greased 9 x 13 pan, measuring cups/spoons, a rubber spatula, and you will bake this at 325 degrees for 18 - 20 mins.
*3 1/2 cups rolled oats
*1 cup organic flour
*1 cup crisp rice cereal
*1 tsp baking soda
*1 tsp vanilla extract
*1 cup butter, melted
*1 cup honey
* 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
*2 cups of assorted additives (mini chips, nuts, seeds, raisins, dried fruit, etc)
First, Put all these dry ingredients (flour, oats,cereal, brown sugar, baking soda) together and mix well. Heat the butter so its half melted with solids - wisk the butter so its creamy looking. Add vanilla to the butter. Stir. Add butter and honey to dry ingredients, mix well. Make sure the heat from the butter didnt heat up the mixture because if you try to add chocolate chips or anything like that, they'll melt. I used 2 cups TOTAL of a mix of mini semi-sweet chips, salted sunflower seeds, crushed peanuts, and raisins. You can add whatever you want, just make sure the amount totals 2 cups - not 2 cups of each. Mix well. Now, put granola mixture in the 9 x 13 pan, smooth over with rubber spatula and press HARD. I took a peice of wax paper, placed it over the granola in the pan and packed it down very firmly. Now refridgerate for about an hour - this will keep it from being too crumbly. When ready, preheat oven to 325, then place bars in for 18-20 minutes. Take out and let cool for 15 mins before cutting. They're heavenly! Store in an air-tight container in the fridge so they hold their shape, or just leave them out if you dont mind a little mess.
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