Chewy Healthful Granola Bars

Ingredients:

• 2 c rolled oats
• 3/4 c packed brown sugar
• 1/2 c wheat germ (if you don't have any, just use that much more oats)
• 3/4 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 c whole wheat flour
• 3/4 c dried cranberries (or raisins, if you prefer)
• 3/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 c honey
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1/2 c applesauce or pumpkin puree
• 2 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions:

• Preheat oven to 350.  Grease 9x13 pan.
• In a large bowl, mix dry ingredients (including the cranberries).  Make a well in the center and pour the honey, egg, applesauce, and vanilla inside.  Mix well.  
• Pat mixture evenly into pan.  Bake for 30-35 minutes, until bars begin to turn golden around the edges.  Cool 5 minutes on wire rack, then cut into bars. Remove from pan and allow to finish cooling on wire rack.  Store in airtight container.

Jeweled Bars

These are very easy to make and look beautiful (not to mention how good they taste!). If you don't like an ingredient, substitute something similar that you do like. You almost can't mess this one up!

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups graham cracker crumbs
• 1/2 cup butter, melted
• 1 1/2 cups white chocolate chips (dark chocolate chips or a mixture of the two are good too!)
• 1 1/2 cups dried cranberries
• 1 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk
• 1 cup flaked coconut (Jordan doesn't like coconut, so I've substituted sliced almonds with very yummy results!)
• 1 cup pecan halves

Instructions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray 13" x 9" pan with non-stick cooking spray.
• In a medium mixing bowl, combine graham cracker crumbs and butter. Press into the bottom of prepared pan.
• In the same bowl, combine the remaining ingredients; mix well. Gently spread over crust.
• Bake for 25-28 minutes or until edges are golden brown. Cool on wire rack.