Chewy Oatmeal Bars

Here is another recipe that my neighbor sent me. We made these last summer, and they were pretty good. I stored them in the freezer and would throw them in my bag before we headed out the door. By the time Preston would be hungry after playing at the park or what not, they'd be thawed and ready to consume. John tried them once and thought they tasted too healthy. To each his own, right? I thought they were pretty good.

Ingredients: 

Image and original recipe found here

3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1/2 cup granulated sugar

1 (8 ounce) container low-fat vanilla greek yogurt...or plain

2 egg whites, lightly beaten

2 tablespoons vegetable oil 

2 tablespoons nonfat milk (I used whole, it's what we drink around here)

2 teaspoons vanilla

1 ripe, smashed banana (my neighbor always threw one of these in just to add a little more to these, but the recipe doesn't actually call for it) 

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour (I substituted 1/4 c flax seed, and equal parts white and whole wheat flour into ours)

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon salt (optional)

3 cups old fashioned oats

1 cup raisins (we used peanut butter chips instead)

You can pretty much hide anything healthy in these and I don't think anyone would notice.

Directions:

Heat oven to 350 degrees. In large bowl, combine the first 7 ingredients...and banana if using. In medium bowl, combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. Mix well. Add dry ingredients to wet mix and mix well. 

Stir in oats and dried fruit or whatever addition you're using. Spread onto bottom of ungreased 13x9 baking pan. Bake for 28-32 minutes or until golden brown. 

Cool completely on wire rack. Cut into bars and store tightly covered. 

You could even make these into muffins if you preferred!