Life with young kids

Two of our granddaughters are staying with us for four days over labor day weekend. I'm not sure if a blog is a place to boast but I'll do it anyway. I'm so proud of the healthy snack I made yesterday. Sun Harvest was sold out of the carrot bars that Emeline eats and so we made our own, they are yummy. So, here is the recipe and a picture of Ethne with the Carrot Honey Oat Bars.

Carrot Oatmeal Bars

• Dry Ingredients:
• (1 cup) whole wheat pastry flour
• (1/3 cup) all-purpose flour
• (1/3 cup) flax
• (1/3 cup) cracked wheat (Can use any combination to equal 1 cup)
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp table salt
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp allspice

Fruit, Oat and Veggie Mixture:

• 1 1/2 cups grated carrot*---(10 oz before peeling and trimming) use the finest holes on your box grater and pack them in
• Grate 1 fresh apple and add your choice very finely chopped dried fruit—and nuts (optional) to equal 1 Cup
• 1 cup rolled oats

Wet ingredients:

• 1/3 Cup honey
• 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
• 2 eggs
• 1/4 cup vanilla or plain yogurt

Directions

1. Mix all dry ingredients together, set aside.
2. Mix all fruit/veggie ingredients together, set aside.
3. In a large bowl, cream together butter, and sugar, honey and yogurt until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes.
4. Add eggs, scrape bowl well, and continue to beat until mixture is thick, and very pale, another 3-4 minutes.
5. Turn mixer to low speed, and add Dry ingredients, mixing until just blended.
6. Remove mixer or beaters, and stir in fruit and oat mixture by hand until well incorporated.
7. Chill one hour at least. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 350.
8. To form bars, lightly grease your hands with oil. (The kids can help out here! It's very sticky!)
9. Shape gently into small loaves. You can also drop them by spoonfuls to make cookies, but they'll cook faster.

Bake 15-20 minutes, until just starting to brown. Remove to cool on rack, and store at room temperature. Makes about 26 bars.