Guiltless Delicious Granola Bars

This recipe hits it out of the park....When enjoying these, I have to remind myself that they are healthy!  Truly a treat and an indulgent one at that!!!!

THIS RECIPE AGAIN PROOVES THAT HEALTHY CAN BE VERY YUMMY!!!! 


I chose to use my homemade granola in place of the nut mixture to incorporate the crispiness of the baked granola.  Also I used olive oil in this recipe because I find coconut oil to be a strong flavor.  I am thrilled however to have finally found a granola recipe that pleases my man clan. 

Combine in small sauce pan. Heat until pourable. Do not boil.
1/4 cup coconut oil
1/4 cup olive oil
2/3 cup local honey
1 cup natural peanut butter or almond butter


Combine dry ingredients in a large bowl.
2 cups quick oats
1 cup (total) of your choice sunflower seeds, flax seeds, dried fruit bits, carob chips
(I use 1 cup of my homemade granola)
1 cup organic brown rice cereal crisps
(Erewhon Organic Crispy Brown Rice found in organic food section at Walmart)
1/8 -1/4 cup carob chips (optional)


Pour honey, oil and PB mixture over oat mixture and combine well...refrain from eating it by the spoonful warm...Soooo delic!  The best decription yet is..."it is like the combination of a peanut butter rice crispy treat and a granola bar."
My inspiration for this recipe came from Laura at Heavenly Homemakers....

Keifer

Keifer grains....about 1 TBS


Place them in a pint jar with fresh mik.




Put a lid on it.




Let the grains do their work...24-72 hours

Strain out the grains with a plastic strainer. Rinse the grains and use them again.

Just that easy. I marvel at how easy it is now. I have had the grains for over a year and initially agonized over the process. I would call in my aunt to check it and confirm that I had done it right....I have made my 3rd batch in the past 2 weeks and am loving it. I suppose my favorite use is making Blueberry Lemon Keifer Smoothie. My best description is that keifer is liquid yogurt. It blesses us with those beneficial bacteria that our digestive tract needs. It is slightly effervescent and tangy. I recommend sweetening it with stevia. Keifer is one of those super foods.

Baked Oatmeal

Baked Oatmeal

1/2 cup oil (applesauce can be substituted)

2 eggs, beaten

1 cup milk
Beat liquid ingredients together.
3/4 cup sugar (I used 1/2 cup and 2 TBS molasses)
3 cups quick oats
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
Stir dry ingredients and then combine the liquid and dry together.

Fruit variations:
Peaches
2-3 cups fresh or frozen peaches
1 tsp cinnamon as mentioned in base recipe

Apple Banana
peel and grate apple into oatmeal mixture
2 bananas mashed and combined into mixture


Blueberry
1 teaspoon nutmeg (very good with blueberries!)
1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries

Banana Chocolate Chip
2 bananas mashed and added to oatmeal mixture
1 cup chocolate chips
Spice Muffins
cinnamon as mentioned in base recipe
1/2 teaspoon cloves
1 teaspoon nutmeg
Sugar free option For all of you that love Baked Oatmeal, I have tried it sugar-free successfully.

3 mashed (frozen and thawed) bananas,
1 c. frozen blueberries,1 1/2 TBS of stevia.
Can bake in 9x13 buttered baking dish...or scoop into muffin pan.
Bake @ 450 for about 15-20 minutes. Set your timer!
Allow to cool in muffin pan before turning out onto cooling rack. The family is sure to enjoy these!