School starts this week in Topeka. Ah, I remember the days of trying to get kids out the door
and off to school. With my stepkids from my first marriage, it was often the
time when I found out they needed something, such as poster board or a shoe box,
or lunch for a field trip along with a “I need you to sign this permission slip” request.
Today, this is my idea of back-to-school supplies!
Many years ago in New Hampshire, while working on an article
featuring healthy lunchbox fare, I came across this recipe for Peanut Butter Granola Bars, and one for Apple, Oatmeal and Coconut Muffins I posted in the past. Both recipes are easy to make, full of whole grains, and sweetened with
honey instead of sugar.
I still make these granola bars. They are a tasty, quick
breakfast to get the day started, or a healthy snack for a mid-afternoon
slump.
Peanut Butter Granola Bars
Adapted from The
School Lunchbox Cookbook by Miriam Jacobs.
This recipe calls for oat bran. I found the Bob’s Red Mill
brand in the natural products section of the grocery store.
Makes 10 bars
1 1/2 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup oat bran
1/4 cup dry nonfat milk powder
1/2 cup raisins (dried cranberries also work well)
1/3 cup honey
1/4 cup peanut butter (or your favorite nut butter)
1/4 cup extra-light-tasting olive oil
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 large egg
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a 9-inch-square
baking pan.
Mix together the oats, oat bran and dry milk in a large bowl.
Add the raisins and mix well again, making sure the raisins are separated.
In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the honey, peanut
butter, oil and vanilla until well combined. (If the peanut butter is stiff,
microwave the bowl for 10 seconds to raise the temperature a bit so the
ingredients will mix together. Do not let the mixture get hot.) Add the egg,
and mix well.
Pour the wet mixture over the oat mixture and stir until
well combined. Pour the batter into the baking pan and spread out evenly. Bake for
20 minutes.
Take the granola bars out of the oven and score into bars
with the edge of a spatula. Let the bars cool completely in the pan, and then
turn them out onto a cutting board. Separate into individual bars and store in
an airtight container.
I love, love homemade granola bars, especially when they contain peanut butter. These look really great!
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