Hi fellow OWLs! So, I went hiking with a friend yesterday and she makes these awesome granola bars that are a great after-hiking munch! I'm planning on making a bunch just for a back-up snack for whenever I get hungry and want a better choice than cookies or chips. I'm sharing the recipe here because this blog is about making a positive difference in every area of your life and that includes physical health! :)

Granola Bars:

3 cups quick-cooking oats

1 (14-oz) can sweetened condensed milk

2 tbsp butter, melted

1 cup flaked coconut (I toast these with the nuts first)

1 cup sliced almonds (have also used macadamias...VERY delicioso)

1 cup mini semisweet choco chips (I usually don't put these in)

1/2 cup sweetened dried cranberries

1 cup wheat germ

Really, you can use any combination of chocolate chips, dried fruit, coconut, pecans, almond slices, flax seed, wheat germ, etc.

Directions: Preheat oven to 350F. Grease 9"x13" pan. In large bowl, mix oats, milk, butter, coconut, almonds, choco chips, and cranberries with your hands until well-blended. Press flat into prepared pan. Bake for 20-25 minutes in preheated oven, depending on how crunchy you want them. Lightly browned around the edges will give you moist, chewy bars. Let cool 5 mins, then slice into bars.

Enjoy!