Hippie Granola Bars ( or just Granola)

I just like the word hippie. I could use terms such as healthy, wholesome, natural, but hippie is so much more fun. I  know I am FOREVER and a day late on posting ANYTHING so tonight while I have a few spare minutes ( the husband is playing COD ) I figured I'd fight off some sleep and write up a quick post! Now I LOVED these granola bars and so did Avery however I needed to add MORE peanut/almond butter to made them "stick" better into bars however with my recent diagnosis of gestation diabetes I am steering clear of these bad boys only because the honey and oats are carb loading freaks that I crave consistently. However, in moderation even I could eat these bad boys! (Nuts = protein!)

To the left you see the ingredients I used. I LOVE Trader Joe's but in general you can find healthy options at most grocery stores or online. I love TJs organic trail mixes! They come presized for servings and are a wonderful addition to muffins, tops of breads, oatmeal, and today.. Granola Bars! I also used a cranberry/pomegranate mix of dried berries, a golden berry blend of raisins, golden raisins, cherries, cranberries, and blueberries. YES dried fruit typically is loaded with sugars. That's why reading labels is THE most important step in shopping. Find chemical free and no sugar added brands. This helps with not only watching your natural sugar only intake *fruit is sweet enough alone* but also knowing why marketing is a multi-billion dollar industry that is out there to confuse and trick us into thinking that just because it's "this" or "that" it will be healthier for us. I call bluff and will show you my cards sir. Check up on what you're putting in you and your families bodies :)

Ok enough preaching.. I also used Raw Sunflower seeds and old fashion oats.

 My "stick" was the Almond butter ! 

Ingredient list (remember this is flexible, add and do what you and your family likes!):

• 1/4 cup of honey
• 1/2 cup or more of natural organic (or raw!) peanut butter/almond butter/almond butter w/ roasted flax seeds
• 1/2 teaspoon of organic vanilla extract
• 1 1/4 cups of traditional rolled oats 
• 1/4 cup of dried cranberries (or other fruit)
• 1/4 cup of whatever other dried fruit you desire 
• 4 tbsp of raw sunflower seeds
• 2 tbsp of slivered almonds (optional) (mine were in the trail mix I crushed up and added!)
• 3 tbsp of sesame seeds

How to eat and destroy .:: evil laugh ::. :

1. Measure Nut butter, vanilla extract, and honey in a microwave safe measuring cup or bowl
2. Microwave on high for 45 sec - 1 min, when melted stir 
3. Mix remaining ingredients in a bowl and stir melted mixture into dry ingredients.
4. Mix well then press into a non-greased 8X8 inch dish 
5. Bake at 350 for 10-20 mins until golden brown
6. Serve and DestroY! 

I took these to play school for two weeks for snack (plus a snacking at home, at the park, for breakfast with yogurt)! They last quiet awhile in a Tupperware dish on my counter top! If your 'bars' come out crumbly, don't get discouraged, next time just add more nut butter! Crumble this bad boy up and sprinkle on yogurt, make parfaits, top smoothies, slap some in a bag for a snack or treat for the kids! Easy peasy lemon squeezies! 

Grab ya granola

YO GRANOLA GRANOLA!