Chewy Granola Bars

So tonight we had a movie night. I made some tacos, simple and fast package stuff, nothing homemade this time. We had tacos, these granola bars with ice cream, and we watched the Smurf's movie. That was the funniest movie. The kids had a blast and we all had a wonderful evening.

My husband told me that these where like crack for him. He does not give many compliments about my food except, "Yeah, it's good." So I just LOVE when I can get more from him! =D

Chewy Granola Bars

Ingredents:

1/2 cup softened butter

1 cup packed brown sugar

1/4 cup sugar

1/ T vanilla extract

1 egg

1 cup flour

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

1-1/2 cups quick-cooking oats

1-1/4 rice cereal

1-1/2 apples, diced

1 cup raisins

1/2 cup caramel chips or butterscotch chips

(Caramel and/or butterscotch not pictured)

In a large bowl, cream butter and both sugars together until fluffy. Then add vanilla and egg; mix well.

Add the flour, cinnamon, baking powder and salt in a separate bowl, mix. Slowly add to butter mixture.

Mix in oats and cereal.

Fold in apples, raisins, and chips.

Press into a greased 13x9in. pan and bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes or until the top is golden brown.

Cool on a wire rack.

~Note: You can use chocolate chips, nuts, pears, mango, etc. This is a bar that you can add or omit anything that you or your family likes or dislikes. It is very substitutable. Just play with it a little bit and find out what works for you and your family. I promise you will be making this treat often. =D

I used a dish that was a tad larger then 13x9 and it became all sorts of crumbly, so you placed it in a bowl and added a nice scoop of vanilla ice cream to the top of it. I cannot express how amazing that tasted. I have made this for years and never thought of adding ice cream to it until tonight. I definitely recommend it.