granola bars

:-) i love making these for people. they make people happy. i blogged about this awhile ago, but i didn't actually post the "recipe", so here it is. my friend katie gave me this recipe a few years ago. i hung out with her and ate them, and i always appreciated her version (coconut, chocolate chips). seems like all good recipes always involve friends!

Easy Granola Bars

Basic bar:

3 cups quick-cooking oats

1 (14 oz.) can sweetened condensed milk

2 tbsp. butter, melted (optional)

Add toppings (Katie's version)

1 cup flaked coconut

1 cup sliced almonds

1 cup mini semisweet choc chips

1/2 cup sweetened dried cranberries

Or . . . unsalted peanuts + raisins (eyeball the measurements)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350. Grease a 9" x 13" pan or baking sheet

2. In large bowl, mix oats, sw. cond. milk, butter, coconut, almonds, choc chips and cranberries with your hands until well-blended. Press flat into the prepared pan.

3. Bake for 20-25 minutes in the preheated oven, depending on how crunchy you want them. Lightly browned around the edges will give you moist, chewy bars. Let cool for 5 minutes, cut into squares, and completely cool before serving.

4. Enjoy :)