Tayta's Granola Bars

Tayta left on a jet plane today on her first international adventure sans parents--though she did travel with an adult. Newly arrived in Istanbul, Tayta will help care for babies and small children while their parents are conferencing. She may even have a chance to see some of the wonderful sights of this ancient city, but taking care of little children is what really excites her.

All packed up the night before, Tayta offered to make new recipe she found on one the creative blogs she enjoys reading. Knowing that her big brothers would be running a marathon and a a 10K while she is away, she thoughtfully made these wonderful granola bars for them to snack on during the week.

While Tayta followed the linked directions and the basic wet ingredient/dry ingredient proportions, she made enough adjustments that I'll give Tayta's revised recipe below. Tayta's bars didn't cut up as neatly as the ones on Little Birdie Secret's blog but we decided that is because she spread the mixture thinly in a jelly roll pan. Next time she'll use a smaller baking dish. But I must say, even the crumbs are so delicious that we save them in a container and I've been nibbling on them today.

Granola Bars~Tayta's version
2 cups oats
3/4 cup wheat germ
3/4 cup raw sunflower seeds
1 cup chopped nuts (combination of chopped almonds, chopped pecans, and 2-3 T ground flax seed)
2/3 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup peanut butter
4 T canola oil
2 tsp vanilla
½ tsp salt
8 oz (2 cups) raisins
1/2-3/4 cup mini chocolate chips

possible additions for next time: sesame seeds, peanuts, chopped dried apricots...

Follow the directions given here. No baking except for toasting the oats/seeds/nuts. Delicious!