HOMEMADE GLUTEN-FREE GRANOLA BARS

Here is an easy recipe I came up with for some delicious chewy gluten-free granola bars. It takes less than 5 minutes to mix and only about 15 to bake. You will need the following:

2 cups gluten-free oats
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
3 teaspoons cinnamon

Stir dry ingredients together, then add:

1/4 cup melted margarine
1/2 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 medium eggs

Mix thoroughly until all the oats are coated and moist. Then fold in either

1/2 cup chocolate chips or
1/2 cup raisins

Spread evenly in a greased cake pan. Bake on 350 degrees for 15 to 17 minutes. Granola will be firm and light brown. Let set for 5 minutes, then cut into bars. To store them for later use, I like to take the completely cooled bars and spread them out on a large piece of saran wrap, then I just cut the wrap into squares and quickly individually wrap each bar. With less sugar than cookies or a lot of other snacks, I find these delicious gluten-free granola bars to be a great treat or hearty snack on the go. Plus, you gotta love all the health benefits of good ol' oats! So give them a try and let me know what you think.

Thanksgiving

So I had a fabulous Thanksgiving and a delicious dinner. There was only one setback. I accidentally ate some gluten via a dessert. Come Friday night, I was pretty ill. It has been years since I have experienced that much pain from consuming gluten. But the experience reminded me of how much I have to be grateful for and how great some things work out in life. Not only was it a perfect time to get sick (the weekend, opposed to the busy work week), but also I was glad to think of how great my body usually functions. I also was able to turn to my mom (a fellow Celiac) who could fully understand all my complaints, whining, and symptoms. When she first got sick from Celiac’s they did not know what she had or why she was suffering so horribly. I am very fortunate to readily know I have Celiac’s and how to combat the troublesome affects of gluten. Also, I am no anatomy expert, but I do recognize how amazing it is to have intelligent bodies that can heal and recuperate as well as friends and family to help you when you are feeling down and out. My mom’s love, sympathy, and support just reminded me of how much I really have to be thankful for this holiday season. So overall, I was very thankful my holiday meal turned out how it did. In a way, it made my Thanksgiving that much more thankful and reminded me not to take some amazing things for granted.