Homemade Granola Bars

Homemade Granola Bars

Ingredients:
2 1/2 C. quick oats
1/2 C. crisp rice cereal
1/2 C. mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 C. brown sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 C. canola oil
1/4 C. honey
1/2 tsp. vanilla
* optional: ground flax seed and/or wheat germ (I use 3 heaping Tbs. or so of flax)

Directions:

1. Mix all ingredients (except for the chocolate chips - keep those out for now) really, really, really well. Take your time to make sure everything is really blended. Taking your time also allows the wet ingredients to sort of soak into the dry components. If your mixture seems dry after mixing then you may need to add a little more oil and/or honey - a teaspoon at a time - until it starts to clump up a little. Then add in chocolate chips.
2. Now place on parchment paper on sheet or in baking pan. You can either cook in one and cut after or try shape them.
3. Bake 350 for 17-22 min (Granola is picky to cook so keep watching it!!!!)