• 3 cups rolled oats
  • 1 cup chopped cashews [or any nuts you like]
  • 1 cup dried fruit (any you like – currants, raisins, cranberries, chopped apricots, dates, figs)
  • 3/4 cup seeds (any you like – sunflower, pumpkin, flax, sesame) I mixed pumpkin, flax and sesame together
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cardamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 2 1/2 cups milk
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1/2 cup your favorite raw local honey
  • Zest of one organic orange
  • 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon pure almond extract

Opened the pantry again this morning. Looking at me were the usual cast of characters: rolled oats, wholegrain bread, peanut and almond butters, bagels, English muffins, assorted jams and jellies including my homemade carrot marmalade and wholegrain cereals. Although I am grateful for all of the food in my pantry I was longing for something new, something really healthy and something exciting!

Over to the frig I went. Yogurt, bananas, apples and oranges are great for breakfast. We often eat these, too, but we are trying to form new habits this New Year and I thought it would be fun to come up with a new, hearty recipe that we could enjoy.

Well, back to the pantry. We love our Pure Protein bars, but we try not to eat too much processed food.

I NEED something fresh.

Something new.

Something I can sit and enjoy with a cup of my favorite tea or something I can grab and go on my way to Curves.

Also in my pantry were an assortment of nuts, dried fruits and seeds that we nibble on and sometimes (okay, so more than sometimes) use in baked goods. I also buy nut and fruit medleys at BJ’s Wholesale Club. Some of the medleys even include dark chocolate chunks like this brand:

so whether you are using an assortment of nuts adn dried fruits or taking advantage of a medley like thsi one, you can make delicious oatmeal bars in no time.

Oh, oatmeal bars. They were calling me…

 

Place one of your oven racks in the middle of your oven. Preheat oven to 350 degree oven.

Mix your dry ingredients together.

How beautiful is that?

Now whisk together your wet ingredients in another bowl.

Pour over your dry ingredients and stir to combine.

Pour into a 13×9- inch baking dish coated in cooking spray or butter or lined with parchment paper.

Bake for 45 minutes, let cool and then cut into squares.

A delicious change of pace, and healthy for you, too!