Home Granola Bars!

The key to these is CUSTOMIZE!!! Make them your own by adding your favorite flavors: Leave the almonds out, add pistachios. Sub pumpkin seeds for the sunflower seeds. Let your kids pick what they want in the bar.

Ingredients

• 2 c. old-fashioned rolled oats
• 1/2 c. raw sunflower seeds
• 1 c. sliced almonds
• 1/2 c. wheat germ
• 1/2 c. honey
• 1/4 c. packed dark brown sugar
• 2 T. unsalted butter
• 2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
• 2 T. peanut butter, natural
• 1 3/4 c. any combination of chopped, dried fruit: apricots, cherries or blueberries

Directions

Butter a 9 by 9-inch glass baking dish and set aside. Preheat the oven to 350. Spread the oats, sunflower seeds, almonds, and wheat germ onto a half-sheet pan. Place in the oven and toast for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from oven and reduce heat to 300.

In the meantime, combine the honey, brown sugar, butter, vanilla and salt in a medium saucepan and place over medium heat. Cook until the brown sugar has completely dissolved. Stir in peanut butter.

Immediately add the oat mixture to the liquid mixture, add the dried fruit, and stir to combine. Turn mixture out into the prepared baking dish and press down, evenly distributing the mixture in the dish and place in the oven to bake for 25 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely. Cut into squares and store in an airtight container for up to a week.