HomeMade Granola Bars

I found this amazing recipe over at Little Birdie Secrets. I can wait to try it. Don't these granola bars look absolutely delicious? What a money saver. Looking forward to a nice healthy summer treat when I finish the HCG. Try it out and let me know how they are..

Granola Bars
2 c. oats
3/4 c. wheat germ*
3/4 c. sunflower seeds*
1 c. chopped nuts*
2/3 c. brown sugar
½ c. honey
4 T butter
2 tsp vanilla
½ tsp salt
8 oz dried fruit*

Toast oats, wheat germ, sunflower seeds, and nuts in the oven Put brown sugar, honey, vanilla, butter, and salt into a saucepan and cook gently until butter and sugar are dissolved. Combine all ingredients and toss together in a large bowl to coat evenly. Press firmly into a parchment lined baking dish. Turn out onto a cutting board and cut when mostly cool. Wrap each bar in plastic wrap or waxed paper and store in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks.

*many different combination of ingredients will work—I’ve used puffed brown rice and puffed millet instead of wheat germ, various nuts and seeds, mini chocolate chips, coconut and dried pineapple, cranberries and pecans, etc. Whatever you can think of! You just need to have about the same ratio of dry to wet ingredients. Also note: If you use mini chocolate chips as any of the ingredients then you need to just press them into the top of the granola mixture after it is on the pan and cooled a bit.