Homemade Granola Bars

We are on Spring Break here in our part of the world.  The local school districts schedule their spring break at the same time Kansas State has theirs, so it's a win-win situation in our house!  Add block leave for Jeff, and you've got a family that's ready for a week off!  To celebrate our time off, we planned a 5 star, luxury Bahama get away 3 day geocaching trip across Kansas.  Read about our GeoTrip at my other blog, JJJ Geocaching Jaunts!  Planning a 3 day trip takes a lot of work and time...Jeff did most of the cache and route planning.  I was in charge of planning for the food:  three lunches on the go and snacks. I knew I wanted to bring granola bars, but I hate all of the added "stuff" in prepackaged granola bars.  So I scoured the Internet (allrecipes mostly) and found a recipe that I liked.  I did make a few changes, and will make a few more when I make them again!

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 Homemade Granola Bars (adapted from Chewy Granola Bar recipe)

1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/3 cup crunchy peanut butter
1/4 cup corn syrup
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups quick-cooking oats
1/4 cup sunflower kernels
1/4 cup dried cherries
3 tablespoons toasted wheat germ
1 tablespoon ground flax seed
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips (I used chocolate chunks)

In a small mixing bowl, combine the brown sugar, peanut butter, corn syrup, butter and vanilla. Stir in the oats, sunflower kernels, cherries, wheat germ and flax seed. Fold in chocolate chips.

Press into an 8-in. square baking dish coated with nonstick cooking spray. Bake at 350 degrees F for 15-20 minutes or until set and edges are browned. Cool completely on a wire rack. Cut into bars. 

What did we think?  We LOVED them!  They were gobbled up!

What did I change?  I used dried cherries instead of raisins (I didn't have any raisins on hand) and used chunky peanut butter instead of smooth.  I also used ground flax seed instead of sesame seeds and chocolate chunks instead of chocolate chips.  I wrapped each bar in a small piece of plastic wrap and kept them in the cooler.

What would I do next time?  I have a few changes!  Next time, I'd double the recipe!  I'd also use honey rather than the corn syrup and use 1/3 c. of brown sugar instead of 1/2 c.  I can't believe I'm saying this, but the granola bars were a little too chocolaty!  Next time, I'd use 1/3 c. mini chocolate chips instead of 1/2 c. of the chocolate chunks.  

Awful Waffles (they're not really awful at all, I just like how awful rhymes with waffle!)

So once every few months, JP gets a "Rule Day."  When it's Rule Day, he gets to make the rules and decide what to do, where to go, what to eat, what to watch on TV, etc.  All within reason, of course.  When he was planning his Rule Day, immediately JP thought of skydiving.  Um, no.  I nipped that one in the bud.  (Which, is one of my favorite sayings...if you don't know what it's from, watch here!  Even if you know Barney, you should watch this video.  It cracks me up!)  I also put the kibosh on a few other things like visiting grandparents in Maine (sorry, 1 day is just too short to make the trip!)

So what did JP decide to do?  We went out to eat for lunch at JC's 1950's Diner (instead of Smash Burger...we're waiting for Papa to come home from Iraq to go there!)  We also rented a Muppet Movie and the Ghost Buster's Wii game.  We're planning a trip to the playground...the "train park" on Ft. Riley and for supper tonight, guess what we're having??  That's right, Awful Waffles (but they really aren't awful!)

I think it was my dad was the one who came up with "Awful Waffles."  Update:  I now know why my dad nicknamed them "Awful Waffles."  I guess I'd forgotten this...  It is a pain in the A&& to clean the waffle iron...it's an awful mess.  But don't let that stop you from making these!  They are soooo gooood!  Awfully good!  :)

So here's the recipe for Waffles.  It's from adapted from "The King Arthur 200th Anniversary Cookbook."

Hearty Waffles

1/2 c. wheat germ
1/2 c. oat meal
1/4 c. sunflower seeds
1 c. whole wheat flour
1-3/4 c. unbleached flour
1/4 c. Bob's Red Mill Mighty Tasty Hot Cereal (if you don't have this, you can use 1/4 c. cornmeal instead)
1 t. cinnamon
1 T. baking powder
1 t. salt
1 t. baking soda


5 T. honey
2 eggs, lightly beaten
2 egg whites, lightly beaten
2 T. vinegar
scant 2 cups skim milk (put vinegar in measuring cup and add milk to equal 2 cups)
2 cups plain, fat-free yogurt
1/4 c. applesauce
1/4 c. olive oil


2 c. blueberries (fresh or frozen)


Stir the dry ingredients together in a large bowl.  In a separate bowl, mix the wet ingredients together.  Make a well in the dry ingredients and pour in the wet mixture.  Stir until just mixed.  If using fresh blueberries, fold the berries in.  


Prepare a waffle iron.  Preheat, spray with cooking spray (remember to spray top and bottom!) and use an ladle to spoon batter onto waffle iron.  If using frozen blueberries, sprinkle a few on the batter once you spoon it onto the waffle iron.  A waffle usually cooks in 2-4 minutes.  

You can also make these into pancakes if you'd rather not have "Awful Waffles."   Also, this recipe makes A LOT of waffles (or pancakes.)  Feel free to half the recipe to make a smaller amount.  I usually make the full amount and freeze the waffles in small packages.  That way, it's really quick and easy to have a healthy breakfast...pull them out of the freezer and pop into the microwave or toaster oven!  Enjoy~

I'll post pictures tonight, after we've make the Awful Waffles!

Update:  Here are some pics of our "Awful Waffles."  I made about 32 waffles with my waffle iron.  Don't they look awfully good???