it has been a bit. i blame my absence on no one but my cat, skywalker.

(i have this problem with cute things where i just want to squeeze the living crap out of them. it’s amazing he has lived to 3)

anyway, granola bars! they are one of the coolest snacks in the world; portable, delicious and fairly inexpensive. if you’re buying them weekly like me, the cost and the amount of sugar you’re ingesting adds up after a while. making them yourself not only cuts back on both of these factors, but you can put anything you want in them (even cat)!

2 c. oats (i used quick oats, but feel free to use old-fashioned)

1/2 c. almonds (or any nut)

1 c. dried mixed berries

1/2 c. honey (use maple syrup if you’re vegan)

1/4 c. brown sugar, packed

2 tbs. butter or margarine, + more for the pan

1/2 tsp. salt

on a sheet pan, lay out nuts and oats. toast at 400 degrees until they are toasted. in the meantime, melt butter, brown sugar and honey over the stove.

mix in dried berries and salt with the oat mixture. pour in sticky sauce, and mix until completely combined.

butter a 9” x 13” baking dish, then pour mixture in. using your fingers, press oats down to ensure tight granola bars. bake again at 300 for 25 minutes. let cool.

 GREAT GRANOLA: man, these were so easy. and i ate them for over a week! i would suggest: when pressing down on the mixture to make compact bars, use some plastic wrap or wax paper over your hands… the mess tends to be a little more controllable. also! let these cool fully before cutting. they’re so soft and brittle, they’ll just break up on ya!