Homemade Granola Bars

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We like living a good and healthy lifestyle. Despite a fast life, hectic work schedules, I still manage to pull time out to cook an entire day's meal. It gets real hectic sometimes. Fitting in time and managing a healthy meal which is full of nutrition is an everyday challenge.

Recently we decided to go on a change in our breakfast routine. It so happens that everyday I spend time in preparing a complete breakfast which begins from cooking the breakfast, followed by preparing tea and post cleaning process. By the time the morning chores are done, it's time to prepare for lunch. This leaves hardly any time for other jobs which are then pushed for the weekend. We decided to put an end to all this. Going the healthy way, we switched to eating oats during the week days and cooking breakfast was for the weekends.

Day 1, day 2, day 3, day 4... by now I was bored eating the same oats which have no taste nor are appealing. Other than the usual porridge (which is ok for a day or two), it was the monotony that was killing me. We then switched to corn flakes which was still better for me. All said, this did save a lot of time for us and it has helped us focus on many other important jobs.

Since oats are high in fiber and healthier option for weight loss, I decided to make my own bar of Granola bars which I can munch on whenever I go through hunger pangs. They make up for a great breakfast and are equally as good as oat porridge. It's great for breakfast, a tea-time snack or even as a dessert! Indulge a great treat the healthy way!


Homemade Granola Bars

INGREDIENTS

1 cups quick rolled oats
1/4 cup chopped almonds
1/4 cup pitted dates, well chopped
1/4 cup golden raisins
1/4 cup rice crispies
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract, optional
25 gms melted butter or vegetable oil
1 tablespoon water

DIRECTIONS

Granola bars can be either made in oven or on stove top. I find stove top easier, so I make it that way. Mix dry ingredients 1 to 5 and toast on a medium low flame for about 10 minutes till crisp and brown. Nuts should turn crisp. Set it aside to cool a little.

Next, in a saucepan mix butter, honey and brown sugar and heat on a medium flame till the sugar melts and begins to bubble. If you see the sugar caramelizing, add a tsp of water or more. Remove from heat when it is slightly thick and bubbles. Add the vanilla essence. Quickly add the toasted oats and nuts and mix well. Spread on a parchment paper and using the back of a wooden spoon, spread it across gently. Cover another parchment paper and press them down gently. Let them cool. Cut into bars once cooled. Enjoy anytime as desired!

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