Homemade Granola

Mr. C asked me recently if we could make granola bars ourselves.  I said sure and went about my day.  But when I was making my grocery list I came across a recipe in my Taste of Home magazine (I love those) so I added the ingredients to my list.

Mr. C and I set to making them and they were wonderful.  Way sweeter than a store-bought one and  I can’t see how they could be so “good” for you, but they were yummy.  One note we have to add is that in our “heat” (with no air conditioning in the house) they needed to be stored in the frig or they got too mushy.

On-the-Go-Granola Bars (Taste of Home, March/April 2010)

• 7 Tbsp. butter, softened, divided
• 1 1/2 cups miniature marshmallows
• 1/2 cup apricot or peach preserves
• 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 4 cups reduced fat granola with raisins
• 1 1/3 cups diced dried mixed fruit

Line an 8 in square ban with maxed paper.  Grease the paper with 1 Tbsp. butter; set aside.  In a large, heavy saucepan, combine the marshmallows, preserves, brown sugar and remaining butter; cook and stir over medium heat until blended.  Remove from heat.

Stir in granola and mixed fruit; toss to coat.  Press firmly into prepared pan.  Cover and refrigerate for 1 1/2 hours or until firm.  Invert and remove waxed paper.  Cut into bars.

Other notes – we used a mix of blueberries, cherries, cranberries, plums as our mixed fruit (by Sunsweet).  And we used apricot preserves.