A girlfriend of mine came over for coffee yesterday and it was early enough for it to be considered breakfast time.
And we are both trying to be healthy.
So I made muesli (or granola) bars.
They were delicious. Thick and chewy and filled with all my favourite muesli filling.
Perfect with a coffee.
I have great plans when I make things like muesli bars.
Great plans.
I plan to eat them for breakfast every morning, or to take them to work as a healthy snack.
Yeah so much for that.
I’m already eating the second last one as we speak.
No healthy muesli bar breakfasts and snacks for me. All gone!
My girlfriend is studying photography.
She brought over her beautiful camera and we styled and photographed the muesli bars together.
A great camera makes such a difference! Thanks girlfriend!
HOMEMADE MUESLI BARS
Adapted from Smitten Kitchen.
You can fill these with 2-3 cups of whatever dried fruit, nuts and seeds you like! I used a combination of sultanas, chopped dates, dried apple, sunflower seeds, flax meal, unprocessed bran and dessicated coconut.
1 2/3 cups rolled oats
1/3 cup rolled oats, processed in a blender or food processor until finely ground
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 tbsp white sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
2-3 cups dried fruit, nuts and seeds
1/4 cup applesauce
2 tbsp peanut butter (optional)
6 tbsp melted butter (or coconut oil, I used half and half)
1/4 cup honey
2 tbsp light corn syrup
1 tbsp water
Preheat the oven to 180 C and line a 20 x 20 x 5 cm (8 x 8 x 2 inch) baking tray with parchment paper.
In a large bowl, mix together the oats, oatmeal, sugars, salt, cinnamon and fruit and nut mix.
In a small separate bowl, combine the peanut butter, applesauce, melted butter, honey, corn syrup and water.
Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix well to combine.
Put the mixture into your baking dish and press down with the back of a spoon until the muesli is compact and even.
Bake for 30 minutes, until golden and fragrant.
Allow to cool completely before cutting into squares. Makes 16 muesli bars.
Enjoy with milk or coffee for breakfast.
