Delicious Granola Bars

Mom (who my children know as "Oma") came to visit a while ago and made some granola bars for the children. They liked them so much they asked for some "Oma Bars" over March break. I found out mom had used the Crosby's Molasses recipe for "Peanut Butter and Molasses Granola Bars" and changed it a little. I did the same thing and here they are:

Here is the recipe that made them:

Peanut Butter and Molasses Granola Bars

Ingredients:

• 3 cups quick rolled oats
• 1 cup bran
• 1 cup unsweetened coconut
• 1 cup sunflower seeds or sesame seeds or a combination of the two
• ½ cup chocolate chips
• ¼ cup chopped nuts
• ¼ cup wheat germ
• ½ cup fancy molasses
• ½ cup vegetable oil
• ½ cup brown sugar
• ½ cup peanut butter
• 1 tbsp 2% milk
• 2 tsp vanilla
• ¾ tsp baking soda

Directions:

1. Mix oats, bran, coconut, seeds, chocolate chips, nuts and wheat germ together in large bowl. Set aside.
2. Combine molasses, oil, sugar and peanut butter in a 2 liter saucepan and cook over medium low heat until sugar dissolves and mixture is smooth. (Stir constantly.)
3. Combine the milk, vanilla and baking soda and add to the molasses mixture. Stir for one more minute. Remove from heat.
4. Pour molasses-milk mixture over granola mixture and stir until dry ingredients are moist. Wet your hands and press the mixture into a 15 x 10 inch (2L) pan.
5. Bake at 275°F (140°C) for 20 to 25 minutes. The edges will start to brown and the bars will be slightly puffy. They will sink as they cool.
6. Let cool, cut into slices (I cut it into 27 pieces).
7. Store in the refrigerator.

School Safe Granola Bars

Mom! Mom! There's only one granola bar left in the box! You need to buy some more!

Now I don't. I found a recipe online that made a nice, chewy granola bar.

They were simple to make and taste every bit as good as those store bought ones. Here's how:

School Safe Granola Bars

Yield 12 granola bars

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup brown sugar, loosely packed
• 2 tablespoons butter (does not need to be softened)
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 2 cups old fashioned oats
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips (you can use milk chocolate or semi-sweet chocolate chips)
• 1/3 cup applesauce, unsweetened
• 1 tablespoon honey
• 1 tablespoon ground flax seed (optional)
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
• Pinch of salt

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a 9 x 9-inch baking pan with parchment paper and set aside.
2. In a mixing bowl add the butter and the brown sugar and mash together with a fork to mix (mixture will be very lumpy and crumbly). Add in the beaten egg, honey, vanilla and apple sauce and mix well. Set aside.
3. In a separate mixing bowl add all of the remaining ingredients (flour, oats, flax seeds, cinnamon, salt and chocolate chips) and mix. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix very well. Dump the mixture into the lined baking pan and press down firmly.
4. Bake for 18 minutes and allow to cool completely. Cut into bars and store for several days in an airtight container. You can also individually wrap the granola bars in plastic wrap where they will keep up to five days.

Rhubarb Granola Muffins

Today's muffin recipe is from an old newspaper clipping. They are awesome! I can't even tell which newspaper they came from but it doesn't really matter! They are crunchy and good. I used Harvest Crunch cereal where it calls for granola so they contain lovely slivers of almonds. 

Rhubarb Granola Muffin Recipe

1 3/4 cups flour

1 1/4 cups granola

3/4 cup sugar

2 tsp. baking powder

2 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. nutmeg

2 eggs

3/4 cup milk

1/3 cup vegetable oil

1 tsp. vanilla

2 cups chopped (1/2 inch pieces) rhubarb

1/2 cup granola for topping

1. In a medium bowl, mix together flour, 1 1/4 cups granola, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, salt and nutmeg.
2. In a large bowl, beat eggs; whisk in milk, oil and vanilla; stir in dry ingredients until almost combined. Stir in rhubarb.
3. Spoon into greased or lined muffin cups. Sprinkle the 1/2 cup granola over the batter, pressing lightly on top.
4. Bake in preheated oven at 375degrees F oven for 15 to 18 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean.

Pretty simple! Enjoy with your next cup of coffee or tea!

Home-made Granola

This granola is a great dish at breakfast. I like it with milk, or for a treat, I stir it up with yogurt. Sometimes we just eat it dry, out of hand, for a quick snack.

It's made in the microwave, so it's pretty quick to make.

Microwave Granola
Heat on high for 30 seconds in a microwave safe measure:
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup vegetable oil

Combine in a microwave safe bowl:
3 1/2 cups rolled oats
1/2 cup flour (whole wheat or white, your choice)
1/2 cup wheat germ
1/2 cup dry milk powder
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
1/2 cup sesame seeds
1 tsp. cinnamon

Pour honey mixture over oats mixture and stir very well. Microwave, uncovered, on high for 2 1/2 minutes. Stir. Microwave for 2 1/2 more minutes. Stir. Add 1/2 cup raisins if you like. Let cool. Store in an air tight container next to your cereal! Enjoy!