granola bars, version 2.0

i first made these granola bars about a month ago, but something just wasn't right. don't get me wrong, they tasted just fine, but i wanted them to be slightly crunchier. voila. i think they're the grains and berries version of pemmican.

these bars have a bunch of healthy ingredients and keep forever (at least a month) if you wrap them individually in saran or store them in an airtight container between layers of wax paper.

ingredients:
1 3/4 cups puffy cereal (i used nutty flax from whole foods -they're like tiny, healthy kix and they never go stale or get soggy. and they're gluten-free.)
3/4 cup toasted oatmeal
3/4 cup oat bran
3/4 cup sunflower seeds
1/2 cup toasted flaxseed
1/2 cup brown sugar
2/3 cup honey
4 tbsp butter
1/2 tsp kosher salt
8 oz. dried fruit (of your choice, but i use cherries)
1/4 cup chocolate chips
lots of wax paper
pyrex dish (one 11x16 or two 8x8 dishes)

to make:
food prep - i like to chop the cherries in half

line the baking dish with wax paper - make sure that the paper comes up the sides of the dish, as well

mix dry ingredients (except chocolate chips), and fruit in a medium sized mixing bowl

meanwhile, heat the honey, sugar, butter and salt over low to medium heat, stir often

whisk together dry ingredients to distribute component parts evenly

get your sturdiest spoon

when the sugar syrup is syrupy and beginning to bubble, pour over the dry ingredients.

stir, stir, stir!

immediately plop into the lined pan(s)

cover the granola bar mixture with another sheet of wax paper. use this paper to press the granola bar out to the edges of the pan. squish it so that it will stick to itself. let it sit and cool for several hours. you can use books to help squish it long-term, if you would like.

before they get rock hard, lift up the wax paper and sprinkle on some chocolate chips. press these in and go back to the squishing.

later, turn the granola out onto a cutting board. take a big knife and cut them into whatever shape you like best. i wrap mine in saran wrap for fast grabbing and portable snacking.

like i said, they keep forever. so make them and share them.

for substitutions: the honey/sugar is the glue. you can use it to stick together pretty much whatever you want. feel free to substitute nuts, other grains, etc.