homemade granola bars

Breakfast is a struggle in our household, namely in that I struggle to get out of bed, so my husband has to find his own breakfast. 

So basically the struggle is just mine. 

But it is real. 

Thus, the hashtag. 

#thestruggleisreal

His breakfast usually consists of yogurt, granola and a lot of water. 

Mine is cereal and milk. 

Brunch is reserved for Sundays . . . and the evenings I don't feel like making an exciting supper. 

This might be the reason he emailed my mother-in-law's granola bar recipe my way and then came into the kitchen with a hopeful look on his face. 

The dry ingredients are pretty standard, like oats, brown sugar, chocolate chips, raisins and other good stuff you very likely already have in your pantry.  

Add some molasses and honey and applesauce to hold it together, and your breakfast is about to get a whole lot better.

You can make your granola bars a little softer by baking them the regular amount of time or a little crispier, if you like those granola bars that crumble in their wrapper so that you have to lick the crumbs out with your tongue while trying to drive to work. 

Don't tell me you haven't done it. 

I didn't have molasses . . . or mini chocolate chips . . . so as with most recipes that come from moms and moms-in-law, it's best to just let them make them for you while you sit around gluttonously scarfing them down. 

But if you're brave enough to try them on your own, you'll have a tasty, chewy, chocolately, raisiny breakfast . . . no crinkly wrapper required! 

PS I trust you'll wash these down with a glass of milk?
PPS Thanks. I knew I could count on you. 

What's the best recipe you've gotten from your mom or mother-in-law?

RECIPE: Homemade Granola Bars 

2 cups old fashioned oats 

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup wheat germ

3/4 cup whole wheat flour

3/4 cup raisins

1/3 cup coconut

1/3 cup chocolate chips 

1/8 cup chopped nuts

3/4 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon baking powder

Mix all of these together in a large bowl.  Make a well in the center and mix in the wet ingredients below.

1/4 cup honey

1/4 cup molasses

3/4 cup applesauce

1/8 cup peanut butter

2 teaspoons vanilla.

Press on a baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.  Let sit 10 minutes and then cut into bars.  If you want them a little more crispy, turn the oven off and leave them in the oven with the door open for a few minutes.