Elle's Kitchen: Homemade Granola Bars

Mr. Wonderful and I are heading out for 

a road trip/camping trip.  I thought these 

tasty treats would be perfect to snack on.

Is that tin so me or what?

Years ago when I was a stay at home Mommy

I used to make these granola bars every Sunday

for my kids.  I would listen to NPR and bake.  I 

loved those days, making things from scratch was

such a joy.  I liked the idea of my kids having things

that tasted good.  We tried the packaged granola

bars and they tasted like cardboard and they were

also quite expensive, even when we bought them on

sale.  My baby turned 21 today and I was reminiscing

about all the fun we had while they were growing up.

Even the weekly chores like making these bars was

fun.  They were made with love.

Preheat oven to 325 F. Grease a 9'' x 13'' pan.

Ingredients:

4 1/2 cups rolled oats

1 cup flour

1 teas. baking soda

1 teas. vanilla

2/3 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup honey

1/3 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup Craisins or raisins

1/4 cup chopped dried pineapple

3/4 cup butterscotch chips

3/4 cup peanut butter chips

In a large bowl, combine oats, flour, baking

soda, vanilla, butter, honey and brown sugar.

Take a look at the spoon, I bought it on a recent

trip to Grand Haven, MI.  I was shopping with my

sister-in-law Pat and we were having such a nice 

time.  I think of it every time I use it.

Stir in Craisins, pineapple and chips.

Press mixture into pan.  Bake for 18 to 22

minutes or until golden brown.  Cool 10 minutes

and cut into bars.  Cool completely before removing 

from pan.

I like to wrap each bar in a little square

of decorated waxed paper (available in

a restaurant supply store, they are basket

liners that I cut into quarters).  I store them

in the fridge.

When Kate was in her first year of foods in

4-H, the young kids made cookies as their

entry.  She told me she planned to make this

recipe for her project, that's when I knew she

really must have liked them.  On the day of 

judging there were dozens of entries and 90%

of them were chocolate chip cookies.  There 

were no other bar cookies.  I stressed through 

the entire judging thinking, oh no, I should have

read over the instructions, maybe bar cookies

are not allowed.  I thought she is going to be so

upset if she gets disqualified for an improper 

entry.  She went up for the tasting with the 

judge and I could see her talking and smiling

and by her hand motions I could tell she was 

telling the judge how she made the cookies.

When the winners were announced, she won

reserve champion!  

Enjoy!