Homade Granola Bars

In my quest to find high fiber, nutritious foods that I can make at home and therefore save money, I came across this great recipe for Granola Bars.  It uses ingriedients that I have in my food storage pantry which also helps rotate my supplies!

The trick to this recipe is to pack the dough firmly in the pan before cooking and again right when it comes out of the oven.  Then when they are 1/2 cooled cut into the size of bars you like, then let them cool all the way before removing them from the pan.  This keeps them from crumbling,

HONEY VANILLA GRANOLA BARS

4 1/2 cups rolled oats

1 cup whole wheat flour  (can use white flout if you wish)

2/3 cup honey

2/3 cup butter

1 tsp baking soda

1/3 cup brown sugar

2 cups semisweet chocolate chips (or combination white chocolate/golden raisens/craisens, chopped nuts, the sky is the limit)

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Lightly grease one 9×13 inch pan.
2. In a large mixing bowl combine the oats, flour, baking soda, vanilla, butter or margarine, honey and brown sugar. Stir in the 2 cups assorted chocolate chips, raisins, nuts etc.
3. Firmly press mixture into the prepared pan. Bake at 325 degrees F (165 degrees C) for 18 to 22 minutes or until golden brown.  Remove from oven and press down again using a pancake turner. Let cool for 10 minutes then cut into bars. Let bars cool completely in pan before removing or serving.

Wrap in foil and or small sandwich bags, great in lunches or for a healthy snack!

1 tsp vanilla

2/3 cup