Funday Sunday - Granola Bars

What kid doesn't enjoy a good granola bar every now and then? Or what adult for that matter? The problem with prepackaged granola bars is that I have yet to find a single one (and believe me, I've looked) that does not contain milk or nuts of some form. So when I get in that 'granola-mood', I make my own. This, like the previous Funday Sunday recipe, has many possibilities. The less allergies you have, the more fun you can have of course. My kiddos love them of course and Josh gobbles his fair share up too. I tell ya, I love rolled oats. They have so many uses!

Granola Bars

1/2 c. Butter
3/4 c. Brown Sugar
1/3 c. Corn Syrup
1 Egg
1/2 t. Vanilla
3 1/2 c. Oats
1/2 c. Raisins*
1 c. Chocolate Chips**

Mix the butter, sugar and corn syrup together in a bowl. Add the egg and vanilla. Third, add the oats, raisins and chocolate chips to the mixture and mix well. Grease a 9x13 pan and firmly press the mixture into the bottom of the pan. Bake in the oven at 350 degrees for 20 to 25 minutes until it's light brown on the top. It usually takes me around 23 minutes. Cool for two hours before eating (but they taste pretty darn good warm with a glass of (soy) milk). Expect them to be slightly crumbly. I don't know what the manufacturers do to keep them nice and firm, but a little crumble never hurt anyone.

*I've substituted the raisins with dried cranberries. They are really tasty in the mix. And I've even added both to change it up. I figure you could put just about any dried fruit you want in there. Blueberries, apricots, coconut, etc. My favorite is coconut and cranberries.
**If you don't have any kind of milk or nut allergy the chocolate chips can be substituted for just about any kind of chip (or no chips at all if preferred). I have always wanted to try 1/2 cup peanut butter chips and 1/2 cup chocolate chips. Drizzle a little melted chocolate chips over the top of the cooled bars and you could have a really nice peanut-butter cup granola bar. Yum!
***Just FYI...marshmallows don't hold up in the oven so don't waste them trying but I bet peanuts or almonds would be tasty.