granola and candy day

So one of my goals for Feb. was to make granola.  I am trying to find healthy snacks for our family.  I love those chewy granola  bars, but i only buy them on special occasions because they are too expensive.

Here is the recipe (adapted from another on line recipe i found, i just used more ingredients i liked).

2 cups oats

3/4 cup wheat germ

1/2 cup crushed pecans

1/2 cup crushed walnuts (the original recipe called for 1 cup crushed peanuts)

3/4 cup sunflower seeds

2/3 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup honey

1/4 cup molasses and pure maple syrup (the original called for 1/2 cup honey, but i really like molasses and maple syrup flavorings and i didnt want to use all the honey i had left).

4 TBL butter

2 tsp. vanilla

1/2 tsp. kosher salt

6 oz. dried fruit (the original called for 8oz., but i didn't have it so i did 6 and i really think 8 ounces would have been too overwhelming...oh i used dried cherry flavored cranberries by oceanspray)

oven 400. mix oats, wheat germ, nuts, sunflower seeds and place in a glass baking dish.  toast in oven for 12 min.  while toasting mix other ingredients (excluding the dried fruit) in a small sauce pan bring to simmer, stirring constantly.  Combine the dry mix and the sweet mix along with the fruit.  mix well.  Get large glass dish lined with parchment paper and a bit of non-stick spray. pour mix and press.  Give it a good press so it will all hold together.  let cool for a few hours.

next time i want to incorporate ground flax seed into the recipe.

Also, while cooper was napping this morning, Elijah and I made chocolate heart candies.  i can't believe how easy it was.  But I did find out that hershey bars don't set up that well after being melted.