Chewy Granola Bars

I got tired of the weird chemical taste in my low-fat granola bars. They were either soggy or too crunchy, so I found a recipe and made my own.  You can alter the recipe to include any dried fruit you want.  The recipe suggests a tropical mix, but I bought dried blueberries and it turned out fantastically.

Cooking spray
2 tsp all-purpose flour
2/3 cups all-purpose flour
1/3 cups whole-wheat flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/4 cups packed brown sugar
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 tablespoons fat-free milk
2 large eggs
1 1/2 cups granola cereal (without fruit) plain or honey flavored
3/4 cups dried fruit
1/2 cup sweetened coconut flakes

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

1. Use cooking spray and 2 tsp flour to grease and flour a 13 X 9 inch pan.
2. Whisk to combine flours, salt and baking powder in a medium bowl, set aside.
3. In a mixing bowl, combine sugar, oil, milk and eggs.  Mix until well combined.
4. Slowly add flour mixture and mix on low until a light brown batter forms.
5. Fold in granola and fruit.
6. Pour in prepared pan and spread evenly.  Sprinkle coconut flakes.
7. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes or until golden brown.
8. Allow to cool completely before cutting into bars.

Cooking Light, Jan. 2000

***Crock Pot Alert*** Italian Sausage and Lentil Bean Stew

This was an easy dish to throw together in the slow cooker.  Serve it on a chilly Fall day with a loaf of crusty French bread for dipping! Make sure you rinse your dried lentils first or you might get a few gritty bites of dirt...

2 teaspoons olive oil
1 clove of garlic, minced
1 small onion, chopped

1 cup Shitake mushrooms, sliced or chopped
1 cup dried lentil beans, washed
2 bay leaves
3 cups frozen spinach
1 package of Italian turkey sausage links
3 cups chicken broth
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground black pepper
1. Heat oil in a medium pan and add onion and garlic. Saute until soft, but not browned.
2. Add mushrooms and cook until juices evaporate.

3. Pour vegetable mixture into bottom of crock pot.
4. Cover veggies with lentil beans.
5. Add Bay leaves and spinach.
6. Top with sausages, salt and pepper. Add broth.
7. Let cook on low for 7 hours.

Sprinkle bowls with Parmesan cheese and serve. Makes 4 servings.