Chewy Granola Bars

4 1/2 c. quick oats (or 2 c. quick oats, 2 1/2 c. regular oats)
1 c. wheat flour
1/2 c. flax seed (** optional **)
1/4 c. wheat germ (** optional **)
1 tsp. baking powder
1/3 c. brown sugar
2/3 c. sunflower oil (** can use melted butter **)
1 c. honey
1 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 c. "extras" - chips, nuts, or dried fruit (** see below **)

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Mix dry ingredients. Add oil, honey & vanilla; mix well. Add extras; mix & press into greased 10x15" pan. Bake 18-22 minutes until golden. Let set for 10 minutes before cutting into bars. Allow them to cool completely in the pan before wrapping individually in Saran wrap. Can be frozen.

** Feel free to play around with the recipe. Here are a few of my favorite variations:

• Peanut butter = add 1/2 c. peanut butter, 1/2 c. butterscotch chips & 3/4 c. milk chocolate chips


• Almond = substitute 1 tsp. almond extract for vanilla; add 1/2 c. sliced almonds & 1 c. craisins


• Cinnamon = add or substitute 1 tsp. cinnamon for vanilla; add 1/2 c. coconut & 1 c. raisins


• Nutty = 1/2 c. coconut, 1/2 c. chopped pecans & 1/2 c. sunflower seeds