granola bars

I made the comment recently that more traveling could occur if we ate more of our own food, both on the road and everyday.  I have only been home one weekend in the last seven.  It may actually be six.  I find the problem with traveling the way I do is that I do not wish to stop and if I do, I cannot find anything I really wish to eat.

Many years ago, when we used to have more food allergies to deal with.  I made my own granola bars based on a Martha Stewart recipe.  I dug it out again because the boyos need snacks.  And because we are traveling again this weekend.  It is a good thing that I like sleeping in a tent and I have a very small tea kettle that I can take anywhere!

These granola bars can be quite crumbly.  I used to travel with them in a plastic box instead of a plastic sack.  Very satisfying though.

peanut butter granola bars

Note:  based on a Martha Stewart recipe.  I went looking for it again and I think the name has changed to be a breakfast bar.  I have also occasionally thrown in a 1/4 - 1/2 cup of chocolate chips.  It is all a matter of taste

1 large egg white

1/2 cup quick oats or other flake type cereal with same consistency (I always thought amaranth flakes would be good)

1/2 cup dried cranberries or cherries.

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup peanut or other nut butter

1/2 cup light brown sugar

3 tablespoons olive or walnut oil

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon.

Preaheat oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit.

Line an 8 inch square baking pan with parchment paper.  If you use two pieces, and lay them perpendicular to each other, it makes lifting the granola bars out easier.

Mix the oatmeal and dried fruit in a bowl.

In a small saucepan, heat the oil, peanut butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt together.  Heat and stir until the brown sugar is dissolved.  I usually remove the mixture from the heat before all the sugar is dissolved and just keep stirring hard until it is.  I wish to cool the mixture down a bit because you now stir in the egg white.  Cooling the mixture down a bit means that the egg white does not cook.

Mix the peanut butter mixture into the oat mixture.  Spread in an even layer in the baking pan.  Bake for 30 minutes.  It should be a little darker brown.  Cool for 10 minutes.  Lift out of baking pan and let cool completely before cutting.

I did not get these cut before the picture.  I am still frustrated that I only have my phone camera.  Hopefully, the car will be repaired soon!

Good for traveling.  Good for missed breakfast.  Good for snacks for boyos who run so hard they forget to eat!  Very good for Koda bears.