Granola Bars

This recipe is so versatile and healthy. Add peanut butter, chocolate chips, apple sauce, raisins or other dried fruit. Add more sugar, use less sugar/honey.

2 c. rolled oats

1/2 c. packed brown sugar

1/2 c. wheat germ

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

1 c. whole wheat flour

3/4 tsp. salt

1/2 c. honey

1 egg, beaten

1/2 c. vegetable oil

2 tsp. vanilla extract

2/3 c. sunflower seeds

1 c. cranberries

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Generously grease a 9x13 inch baking pan.

2. In a large bowl, mix together the oats, brown sugar, wheat germ, cinnamon, flour, cranberries, sunflower seeds, and salt. Make a well in the center, and pour in the honey, egg, oil, and vanilla. Mix well using your hands. Pat the mixture evenly into the prepared pan. *Leave a one inch space around the edges so it doesn't touch the pan. This makes it less dry and more chewy.

3. Bake between 18 and 25 minutes or until just browned at the edges. Cool for five minutes, then cut into bars while still warm. Do not allow the bars to cool completely before cutting, or they will be too hard to cut. *I like to use a pizza cutter to cut the bars.