Chewy Granola Bars

If you can make Rice Crispy Treats, this is a piece of cake!

Ingredients:
2 cups oats
3/4 cup wheat germ
3/4 cup sunflower seeds
1 cup peanuts, crushed
2/3 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup honey
4 tbsp butter
2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp kosher salt
8 oz dried fruit

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Mix peanuts, wheat germ, oats & seeds in baking dish/sheet. Toast 10 to 12 minutes, stirring every few minutes to prevent burning. Line 13 x 9 inch glass baking dish with wax paper and set aside. In sauce pot, bring brown sugar, honey, butter, vanilla & salt to a simmer, stirring constantly for a few minutes. Mix wet & toasted ingredients together in large bowl and pour mixture into prepared baking dish. Spread with wooden spatula. Fold over sides of wax paper or add a sheet to the top to cover. Press firmly over mixture to compact it together. Let sit for 2 to 3 hours to harden. Lift out of baking dish and place on cutting board to cut into bars.

Note: My wife started making these because I recently became allergic to pecans and the kind of granola bars we liked used pecan flour. Its an easy recipe and works well for substituting whatever you have in the pantry. I love to crumble one into my cereal in the mornings!