Tag Archives: Trail Mix Granola Bars

Recent Favorites

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My new favorite item in my closet.

Patagonia Women’s Down Sweater

I have broken this jacket out many times already for our fall-like weather we have been having. :( (Summer was FAR too short—only TWO months!!)

I am really impressed by how warm this jacket is because it is not that thick or heavy, but I stay quite toasty in it.

Plus I scored an awesome deal on it and paid $140 instead of its $200 original price tag!

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(Source)

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My new favorite item in the pantry.

I bought this Mom’s Best Naturals cereal at Fred Meyer last week for $1.79. That’s a steal of a deal for up here!


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I got two different kinds: Honey Nut Toasty O’s and Oats & Honey Blend.

I have been thoroughly impressed with both kinds! They tasted like Honey Nut Cheerios and Honey Bunches of Oats, respectively, but better! For some reason, the past couple new cereals I have tried have tasted like cardboard (seriously!), but that was not the case with these cereals. . . . they rocked!


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I especially love that the cereal was made in Northfield, MN—about 45 minutes from my hometown!


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My favorite time of the day.

I love the fact that it is now actually dark when I go to bed now, and the sun is just starting to rise when I go for my run in the morning. That’s my favorite time to run!


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My latest favorite snack.

I have received many compliments my Trail Mix Granola Bars, so I encourage you to try them as well! I made a whole pan of them last weekend and completely demolished them. They are quite dee-licious if I do say so myself! ;)

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One thing I’m not so sure about.

Have you jumped on the Pinterest bandwagon yet? It’s a hot one, but I haven’t quite figured out what I am doing yet.


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I do enjoy looking at other people’s “pins” and “boards” though.

Don’t know what it is? Click here for Pinterest’s explanation of it.

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Something I’m not lovin’.

This powdered drink mix-in. I much prefer Pure by Crystal Light!


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Trail Mix Granola Bars

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I have made homemade granola bars in the past but have been quite unsuccessful with them actually sticking together.

These Thick Chewy Granola Bars, which I made a while back, definitely fell apart as evident here.

But I have now discovered the secret!


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The secret is that you have to bring the sugars (and a few other ingredients) to a boil and cook off some of the liquid. This concentrates the sugars and allows the ingredients to actually stick together.

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Trail Mix Granola Bars

(Recipe inspired from here.)

Ingredients

1/2 cup honey

1/4 cup sunflower seed butter

1 Tablespoon sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup rolled oats

1/4 cup unsweetened shredded coconut

1/4 cup sunflower seeds

2 Tablespoons pumpkin seeds

2 Tablespoons chia seeds

1/2 cup dried fruit (I used cherries and raisins.)

Directions

1. Combine the honey, sunflower seed butter, sugar, vanilla, and salt together in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil on stovetop. Reduce heat, and simmer for 3 minutes; stirring occasionally.

2. In a bowl, combine the oats, coconut, sunflower seeds, pumpking seeds, chia seeds, and dried fruit.

3. Pour honey mixture over oat mixture and stir until full incorporated.

4. Press into a pan and chill in refrigerator for 1 hour.


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These are by far my favorite granola bars I have ever made! They are thick, chewy, and incredibly delicious!

Enjoy!