Granola Bars
Saturday, January 26, 2013
When the kids were on the course, granola bars were de rigueur. Portable, nutritious and more importantly, they held their shape and didn't melt. After a few purchases, it was Michael who had this brilliant idea that we should make our own.
And so we set out to do just that. Most of us will have everything needed for this recipe in our pantry already: oatmeal, nuts, seeds, dried fruits, or any combination thereof. And to keep it together, a binding agent made with brown sugar, butter and brown rice syrup. Other recipes called for corn syrup but a few reputable sites told me I could substitute and I did.
In the beginning, I stuck to recipes, but later realized that it was so practical and sensible that we could actually shove all our assorted seeds and nuts, and some other cereals, into this amazing snack, and that's the beauty of it. Just stick to the weights to keep it proportionate and 'put-together' and without much fuss, you'll have your own healthful treat without the added unmentionables that are found in the commercialized stuff.
Ingredients:
170g light brown soft sugar
75g brown rice syrup
130g unsalted butter
75ml apple juice
380g oats
95g sultanas
50g pumpkin seeds
50g sunflower seeds
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350ºF.
2. Line a deep square 8 inch baking pan with parchment paper.
3. In a medium saucepan, boil sugar, syrup, butter, and juice.
4. Once the mixture is boiling, take the saucepan off the heat and stir in the oats, sultanas, and seeds.
5. Pour the mixture into a deep, baking pan and use a spatula to even out the mixture.
6. Place the pan in the oven for about 15 minutes.
7. Once the granola is cool, remove it from the pan and cut it into bars.
8. Wrap each piece in plastic wrap if carrying individually.
Take them to school, work, field trips and on the course. Oh ... and take extras, you may want to share.
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