It's Recipe Wednesday...Toni's Famous Granola Bars

It's recipe Wednesday and you know what that means...a recipe that is tried and true in the McDonald household.  Now today's recipe is courtesy of my most beautiful cousin, Toni!  I sampled these yummy homemade granola bars at her house one day and HAD to have the recipe!!! I will tell you she mills her own whole wheat, I however just use store bought whole wheat flour and they are just the same (don't tell Toni).  You of course can add in whatever your family likes and omit what they don't, of courtesy.  I can't express how great these are and my daughter has several of her friends at school hooked on them too.  Best of all, there is no refined white sugar in them, as they are sweetened with honey and brown sugar :) which is Mother Nature's sweeteners. I found a picture of this deliciousness, so enjoy!


Toni's Granola Bars

dry ingredients:
4 c. rolled oats (old fashion)
1 c. packed brown sugar
1 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
2 c. whole wheat flour (you could use any flour you choose)
1 1/2 tsp. salt
optional items:
3/4 c. coconut
2 Tbsp. toasted sesame seeds
2 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 c. raisins or craisins
1/2 c. Almonds, Peanuts, Pecans or Walnuts
1/2 c. Sunflower seeds

wet ingredients:
3/4 c. canola oil
1 c. honey
2 eggs, beaten
4 tsp. vanilla

Mix all dry ingredients well in a big bowl. Mix all wet ingredients in separate bowl. Make well in center of dry mix and pour in wet mixture in center. Mix altogether until dry ingredients are wet.  Use a big spoon or your hands, not a mixer. Pat the mixture evenly into a greased or oil sprayed 11 x 17 cookie sheet or jelly roll pan.  It will be sticky so use a piece of waxed paper sprayed lightly with oil to pat down.  Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes. Remove after the edges just start to brown.  They will become dry if you over-bake.  Cool for 5 minutes then cut into bars while still warm and store in airtight container.  When deciding on which dry optional items to add, I wouldn't choose them all.  I usually add the chocolate chips, coconut, and raisins.  Just don't add so many dry that the wet mixture won't mix all the way through :)  you won't be sorry you took the time to make these, and I find they take the place of cookies and are a bit more healthy...which makes me smile and just move on.