~Granola Bars for YOGA~ #gratitude

Thanksgiving morning Bainbridge Yoga House hosted a special yoga class.

We dedicated our practice to all that we were grateful for.

I took Granola Bars for everyone to grab on their way out.

I've always wanted to make homemade granola bars.

These were yummy...and easy!

Here's what you need:

Honey too~

I forgot to put it in the picture. 

~Recipe adapted from Barefoot Contessa's Back to Basics Cookbook~

4 cups old~fashioned oatmeal
2 cups sliced almonds
2 cups shredded coconut
1 cup wheat germ
6 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 1/4 cup honey
1/2 cup light brown sugar
3 teaspoons vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1 cup chopped pitted dates
1 cup chopped dried apricots
1/2 cup chopped dried cranberries
1/2 cup chopped dried cherries
{or you can just use 1 cup dried cranberries instead of cherries}
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Butter a large jelly~roll pan. Line with parchment paper.

Toss the oatmeal~almonds~and coconut together on a cookie sheet.

Bake for 12 minutes {stirring once or twice} until slightly browned.

Take out a big bowl.

Add the oatmeal mixture to the bowl.
Add the wheat germ.

Reduce the temperature in the oven to 300 degrees.
Place the butter~honey~brown sugar~salt~and vanilla in a saucepan.

Bring this to a boil over medium heat. Cook and stir this mixture for one minute.
Pour it over the oatmeal mixture in the bowl.

If needed chop the dried fruit.

Add the dates~apricots~cranberries~and cherries.

Stir well.

Pour the mixture in the jelly~roll {deep cookie sheet pan}.

Gently press with wet fingers.

Bake the granola bars for 25 - 30 minutes, until golden brown.

Let the bars cool for 2 - 3 hours.

I went to yoga while these were cooling. ;)

Turn the pan upside down.

The pan should lift right off. Peel the parchment paper off the bars.

Cut into squares.

Wrap in parchment paper and tie with baker's twine. 

Deliver them to someone you're GRATEFUL for~

#gratitude

~xxooxx~