granola

This granola bar recipe is adapted from Alton Brown. If you don't know who Alton Brown is let me just say this.......your crazy! Alton Brown is a proud member of the Food Network Team and he is wonderful. His approach to cooking is actually real and while watching his show Good Eats you learn lots and lots about the science behind cooking.

If this recipe appears unhealthy I assure you it is not. It is delicious and there is lots and lots of great healthy things in it. If you feel that there is anything unhealthy about just remember moderation!!!! Don't eat 1/2 the tray the night you make it. I suggest making it on a Sunday that way you have enough time and that way you can package them up in saran wrap so you can easily take they for a snack during the work day.

Before you scan down and see that there is m&m's in it don't have a panic attack over it. There is a small pack of m&m's in an entire tray of granola bars. So in each granola bar you may have 4-5 m&m's. I'd say that's okay!!!

So let's get started. I recommend finding some place you can buy these items in bulk. It will allow you not only to save money, but it will allow you to get exactly what you need. So even though there isn't much to see in the picture below it strongly illustrates the importance of getting items in bulk. It makes everything easier and in the end there is no waste.

You will need several items to begin.....

- one small pack of m&m's, 1/2 cup of sunflower seeds, 1/2 cup of unsweetened coconut, 1/2 cup of chopped walnuts, 1 cup of slivered almonds, 2 cups of oatmeal, 1 cup of craisins, and 1 cup of raisins...

You start by toasting the almonds, walnuts, and oatmeal in 350 degree oven for 16-20 minutes. Check it about half way through so it is not getting to brown.

In a separate bowl put the coconut, sunflower seeds, m&m's, craisins, and the raisins then set aside. Once the the oatmeal and nut mixture is toasted mix in with the rest of the ingredients like in the picture below.

Holy cow I almost forget the healthiest part 1/2 cup of ground flax meal! Take the 1/2 cup of it and mix thoroughly with the granola mixture.

Then melt in a saucepan 2 tbs of butter (I used a low low fat butter and it still tasted great), 2 tbs of brown sugar, then 2/3 cup of honey, 1/4 cup of light corn syrup, and 2 tsp of vanilla. Melt through until the sugar and butter have completely melted and it is a smooth and creamy mixture.

Then reduce the heat on your oven to 300 degrees. Take the liquid honey mixture and mix it into the oatmeal mixture. Do this until all the pieces in the granola look wet. Then put a piece of foil in the bottom of a baking dish and put some pam on so it will be easy to remove your bars once they are cooked. Once it is in the pan press down with the back of your spoon. Put it the 300 degree oven for 20 minutes until it is nicely golden brown on top. When you take it out it has to completely cool before you cut it otherwise they will completely fall apart. I'm serious!

They are are delicious and if you think of the health benefits of the walnuts, almonds, craisins, raisins, flax meal, and natural sugars of the honey how can they not be good for you??? I think all those health benefits will let you not have a panic attack about the 4-5 m&m's you may have.

Enjoy !!!!