New Treat

So we're working towards a "chemical" free household around here.  In lots of ways...cleaning supplies, soaps, dish detergents, etc.  But also in terms of our food consumption.  We're working towards maintaining an all organic household.  It's very costly but is so worth it!!  Especially with two little ones in the house.  We are moving towards banishing anything with High Fructose Corn Syrup in it.  BLEECH!!  Sugar and sugar and more sugar!!  Just what our kids DON'T NEED!  LOL!

I'll climb down off of my soap box now  =)

With that said...I used an AMAZING Alton Brown recipe this morning to make homemade granola bars!

They are AMAZINGLY delicious and so filling!!!  My husband and I were STARVING the other morning on our way home from hot yoga and were wishing we'd thought to bring something JUST LIKE THIS with us.  Well...no more worries about that since we now have a  huge stash of them!!  YUM!!

Here's the recipe!

Thanks Alton Brown!!

• 8 ounces old-fashioned rolled oats, approximately 2 cups
• 1 1/2 ounces raw sunflower seeds, approximately 1/2 cup
• 3 ounces sliced almonds, approximately 1 cup
• 1 1/2 ounces wheat germ, approximately 1/2 cup
• 6 ounces honey, approximately 1/2 cup
• 1 3/4 ounces dark brown sugar, approximately 1/4 cup packed
• 1-ounce unsalted butter, plus extra for pan
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 6 1/2 ounces chopped dried fruit, any combination of apricots, cherries or blueberries

Directions

Butter a 9 by 9-inch glass baking dish and set aside. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Spread the oats, sunflower seeds, almonds, and wheat germ onto a half-sheet pan. Place in the oven and toast for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.


In the meantime, combine the honey, brown sugar, butter, extract and salt in a medium saucepan and place over medium heat. Cook until the brown sugar has completely dissolved.


Once the oat mixture is done, remove it from the oven and reduce the heat to 300 degrees F. Immediately add the oat mixture to the liquid mixture, add the dried fruit, and stir to combine. Turn mixture out into the prepared baking dish and press down, evenly distributing the mixture in the dish and place in the oven to bake for 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely. Cut into squares and store in an airtight container for up to a week