SWEET! Wheat Treats

What do you get when you mix a wannabe health nut with a sugar junkie?
Some really great whole grain treats!

Here are my favorite all natural, whole-grain, recipes with yes...some sugar:

Granola Bars (thanks to my friend B. R. for this)
2 cups oats
3/4 cup wheat germ
3/4 cup seeds (I use half flax, half pumpkin)
1 cup nuts, crushed (I use half almonds, half peanuts)
2/3 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup honey
4 T. butter (I use coconut oil--yum!)
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 tsp. real salt
8 oz. dried fruit (I use one handful each of dried blueberries and dried pomegranates)

Mix first 4 ingredients in a baking dish with sides. Toast them in the oven for 8-10 minutes at 400 degrees, stirring every few minutes.

Prepare a 9x13 pan for granola by lining it with waxed paper or plastic wrap, sprayed with nonstick spray.

Put sugar, honey, butter, vanilla, and salt in saucepan and bring to a simmer stirring constantly.

When grains are toasted mix everything in large bowl: the grains, liquid glue, and dried fruit.
Mix well. Dump into prepared pan. Place another plastic or wax sheet over the top and PRESS HARD all over the granola.
Let cool (30 min. to an hour). Carefully turn the granola over onto a large cutting board. With a large knife cut your granola into whatever size bars you like.
You can wrap them individually in plastic for lunches or just put them in an airtight container. They will last for a month or so in the cupboard--unless you eat them first.

I Loooove these--much better than anything you can by at the store--my kids like these too. Adrie calls them "candy bars."

And now for my very favorite cookies:

Great Harvest Cookies (thanks to my niece for finding this--they taste as good as the ones I grew up with from the G. H. bakery)
2 cups wheat flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda

1 cup butter
2 cups brown sugar (can be reduced a little)
2 eggs
1 1/2 T. molasses
1 T. milk

2 cups oatmeal
1 cup raisins (optional but good)

Combine dry ingredients in a bowl. Combine wet ingredients in a separate bowl. Mix together and add the oatmeal and raisins.

These are fun to eat when they're big just like at the bakery. Drop 1/4 cup sized (or smaller) onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 10-12 minutes, 350 degrees. Do not overbake--they are best moist and chewy.