Granola Bars

These granola bars are full of good things and perfect to pack for lunches or as a nice 'pick me up' snack in the afternoon.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups old fashioned oats
• 3/4 cup wheat germ
• 3/4 cup sunflower seeds
• 1/2 cup pumpkin seeds
• 1/2 cup almonds, slivered
• 1/2 cup peanuts, chopped
• 1/4 cup coconut
• 1/4 cup raisins

Syrup:

• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/3 cup honey
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1/2 teaspoon salt

1. Spread oats, wheat germ, sunflowers seeds, and pumpkin seeds on a large baking pan and toast in the oven at 325º for 12 minutes.
2. While this is toasting bring all the syrup ingredients to boil in a saucepan. Once it starts to boil reduce heat to a simmer. Let simmer 5 minutes.
3. Pour toasted ingredients and the rest of the dry ingredients into a large bowl.
4. Stir syrup mixture into dry mixture until well blended.
5. Press mixture into a 9" x 13" pan.
6. Cool until firm. Cut in pieces and wrap each bar individually in plastic wrap.
7. Store in a cool place.

Cinnamon Maple Toasties

 My daughter sent this recipe to me. She said it looks simple and delicious. I agreed and decided to make them right away. I have made them a number of times, at first I rolled them up in little rolls and placed them in a muffin tin to bake. This method is even simpler and they are a really quick delicious snack. You can use white bread if you like, we prefer 60% whole wheat bread.

Ingredients:

• 12 slices of bread
• 1/2 cup melted butter
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• glaze

Method:

1. Cut off  the crust from a slice of bread and using a rolling pin roll slice until very thin.
2. Spread both sides of a slice with melted butter.
3. Mix sugar and cinnamon together and sprinkle one side of the slice of bread with the sugar mixture.
4. Fold over half of the slice with the sugar/cinnamon mixture to the inside to form a triangle and place on a parchment lined pan. Repeat with all the slices.
5. Bake at 375º for 15 minutes or until they start to brown and are a little crispy.
6. Drizzle with glaze while still warm. 
7. If you want smaller servings cut these triangles in half. 

Glaze

• 3/4 cup icing sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon maple flavoring
• Add enough water to make a thin glaze.