Recipe Share!

Look, I’m not gonna lie to you. I am by no means a cook or a baker. I do my best to follow recipes that seem like they’re easy enough to tackle with ingredients that don’t sound too intimidating. If a recipe has stuff in it I can’t pronounce, I’m not too likely to attempt it. I will say, however, that I did host Thanksgiving at my house this past November, and no one ended up with food poisoning or any other digestive illnesses. It was even, dare I say, tasty! So since that culinary success, I’ve gained a bit of bravery in the kitchen.

These granola bars didn’t seem too difficult to make. With all this blasted snow we’ve had lately, I’ve had both of my kids home during the day due to school closures. After we played with Play Doh for the seven trillionth time and my one year old started reciting lines from “Bubble Guppies”, I decided it was time for a change of pace. Let’s bake, kids! They loved helping, and loved eating these bad boys just as much as I did. Deeeeelish!

Oatmeal Cinnamon Raisin Granola Bars

2 cups rolled oats

3/4 cup packed brown sugar (I used the Splenda brown sugar)

1/2 cup wheat germ

3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 cup all-purpose flour

3/4 cup raisins

3/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup honey

1 egg, beaten

1/2 cup vegetable oil

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Generously grease a 9x13 inch baking pan.

In a large bowl, mix together the oats, brown sugar, wheat germ, cinnamon, flour, raisins and salt. Let your kids stir it for a little while so they feel like they’re “helping”. Make a well in the center, and pour in the honey, egg, oil and vanilla. Mix well using your hands. If you’re brave, let your kids dig in! Pat the mixture evenly into the prepared pan.

Bake for 30 to 35 minutes in the preheated oven, until the bars begin to turn golden at the edges. Cool for 5 minutes, and then cut into bars while still warm. Do not allow the bars to cool completely before cutting, or they will be too hard to cut.

I’m still no Paula Deen, but what the heck: “Y’all come eat!”