Playgroup Granola Bars

As requested, here is the granola bar recipe our family loves.  This granola bar is fairly heavy and chewy - if you extend the baking time you can make it a bit crunchier.

Playgroup Granola Bars

Mix together:

• 1 c vegetable oil
• 1 c honey
• 2 eggs
• 2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 c brown sugar

Add dry ingredients and stir well:

• 2 c flour
• 1/2 - 1 c wheat germ
• 4 c rolled oats
• 1 1/2 tsp salt

Stir in:

• whatever extras you like (about 2 cups worth)

Bake in TWO well greased 9X13 pans at 350 for 30-35 minutes.  Cut each pan into 18 bars (3X6) when still very warm.  Allow bars to cool almost completely before removing from the pan.  Warm bars will crumbly, but completely cool bars may be difficult to remove.  I usually pack them in individual ziplock snack bags and toss them into the freezer.  They freeze really well.  If you are serving smaller kids, you may want to cut them into squares instead.  For bigger appetites - free 2 bars per snack bag.

One batch makes 36 granola bars.  This recipe is pretty flexible and you can mix and match the extras to get just the type of granola bars you like... if you add more than 2 cups of extras like seeds and nuts you may need to reduce the oats slightly.

chocolate chip variation:
Add:

•  1-2 c chocolate chips 
•  1-2 c rice crispie cereal

raisin/nut/seed variation:
Add:

•  1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 c raisins (or other dried fruit)
•  1 c nuts or seeds (any variety you like)

* favorite combos: raisins and almonds; dried cranberries and pecans

- adapted from a recipe by Pregocook at allrecipes.com