DIY: Fast and Easy Granola Bars

To contact us Click HERE
This past Christmas, my bro-in-law and his lovely wife came to stay with our little family.  He is studying medicine in Iowa.  He is really big into preventative medicine through making healthy food choices.  He always brings me delicious and nutritious recipes to try, and this trip he did not disappoint.  
These little homemade granola/powerbars are the PERFECT treat.  The are packed full of nutrition and are absolutely delicious!  I love them, my husband loves them, and the kids LOVE them!  The best part is how incredibly fast and easy they are to make.
The recipe is as follows: makes about 32 servings depending on bar size
2 cups quick oats
1 cup all natural peanut butter (You can get this at Smith's Marketplace here in Utah.  They have the coolest machine that grinds whole peanuts into smooth delicious peanut butter.)
1 cup honey
1 cup dark chocolate chips
1 cup dried cranberries
1 cup ground flax (This is also something I found at my local Smith's Marketplace.  It is by the health food in the refrigerator section.)
almonds (optional)
Mix all ingredients together and stir until well blended.  Spread mixture onto a cookie sheet or pan and refrigerate until ready to serve.  Store in the refrigerator for 1-2 weeks or freeze for later use.
I cut them with a pizza cutter after they have set for a little while in the fridge.  Wrap each bar up in some parchment paper or wax paper to keep them fresh.  




The fun part about these bars is that you can interchange any of the ingredients for a little twist.  For example you can switch out the chocolate chips for another kind of nut, or maybe dried fruit.  Just keep the ratio of each ingredient the same when replacing.
-Megan