Granola Bars

So I labeled these as sweets and sides - I just can't seem to make up my mind.  I should probably add entrées as well seeing you can crumble them and add them to yogurt - poof, instant breakfast - but that might be pushing it.

I finally decided to try my hand at some homemade granola bars.  Let me just say that today was NOT the day for me to be trying ANYTHING. I have been walking around as a cursed lady for the past 24 hours.  It all started when I broke my son's iPad and continued right through to the holder for the shower head breaking and the shower head crashing into my head.  I am hoping that it was just a 24 curse - you know like the 24 hour bug - and that in a few moments I will be back to normal.  Keeping in mind the curse, I tried two sets of granola bars today.  One with peanut butter and one without.  Being a super peanut butter fan I am happy to report that was the batch that made it through relatively unscathed.  The peanut butter free version is currently feeding the animals in the woods.  Due to the "technical issues" (read: me burning them to a crisp) experienced today I will only be posting the peanut butter recipe and you will have to wait for pictures.  Seriously it was a rough day!

Peanut Butter Granola Bars

• 4 c Rolled Oats
• 3/4 c Peanut Butter, melted
• 1/2 c Honey
• 1/4 c Puffed Quinoa*
• 1-2 T Flaxseed Meal*
• 1/2 c Mini Chocolate Morsels*
• 1/4 c White Chocolate Wafers*

1. Preheat oven to 350 F
2. Grease a 9 x 13 pan
3. Combine all ingredients minus white chocolate wafers.  Mix well.  If mixture is too dry then add more melted peanut butter or honey 1 tablespoon at a time.  
4. Press mixture into pan and bake for 10-15 minutes.  (Keep your eye/nose on them - I lost the non peanut butter batch to burning - they will turn a nice golden brown when they are done)**
5. Remove from oven and top with chocolate wafers.  Wait a few minutes until wafers have melted and spread the white chocolate into an even layer.
6. Allow granola and chocolate to cool and set.  
7. Cut into desired sections and store in an air tight container.  I store mine in the fridge.
8. Enjoy!

*These ingredients are not needed.  This is a great recipe, you can pretty much add whatever you want to your granola bars.  I chose puffed quinoa for an added texture, mini morsels for sweetness, and flaxseed meal for some Omega-3's and Vit. B's.  You can add dried fruit or nuts - go crazy!

** The granola bars do NOT need to be baked.  I choose to do this step in case I want to crumble the granola for other things instead of bars.  Baking it adds a crisp and melts the chocolate nicely.  It is up to your discretion.

I cut my granola into 3"x 1" bars.  Therefore the recipe made 33 bars at about 75-80 calories per bar.  Not exactly low calorie, but who turns to a granola bar for an under 10 calorie snack?

I promise to post some pictures and the non-peanut butter recipe as soon as I make them again.  (You wouldn't want me to post a non-tried and true recipe now would you?!)

As always, if you try them let me know!