Granola / Energy Bars

I fell in love with these bars the first time I made them! I'd been looking for a granola bar that had a little more chew to it, not simply nuts held together with honey and egg white. Well, this is it. It makes a lot and is easily varied, and they hold together well for transporting, and they freeze well too.  Hope you enjoy them, and let me know what variations you particularly like!

Energy Bars

Anastasia Tuckness

based on Granola Bars from Blessedendurance.com (photo at this site)

2 cups regular oats, not instant
½ cup white flour
½ cup wheat flour

2-4 T brown sugar
½ cup wheat germ

½ cup walnuts, sunflower seeds or almonds

½ cup chocolate chips

½ cup raisins or other dried fruit
1 tsp cinnamon
½ tsp salt

2 bananas, mashed OR 1 cup applesauce

½ cup peanut butter
1 egg, beaten
½ cup vegetable oil
½ cup honey
2 tsp vanilla

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a 9 x 13 dish.
2. Combine all dry ingredients (oats through salt) in a large bowl. (The types and amounts of nuts and fruit are quite flexible.)

3. In a medium bowl, mash the banana with the fork. Beat in the egg and peanut butter. Pour in the oil, honey, and vanilla and stir.

4. Make a well in the dry ingredients and pour in the wet. Stir well.
5. Spread into the pan.
6. Bake for about 22-25 minutes or until the edges begin to brown. Cool slightly, then cut into bars. Store them in the fridge or wrap them individually and freeze them for convenient snacking.