Tasty DIY granola bar

Adapted from 101 cookbooks , an awesome food blog, for a cbae style kitchen
http://www.101cookbooks.com/archives/video-big-sur-power-bars-recipe.html

Tasty Power Bars !!!

1 T oil, to grease the pan
1.5-2 c (walnuts, almonds, pistachios, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, etc)

~1 c dried fruit (raisins, cranberries, other chopped dried fruit)

2/3 cup (unsweetened) shredded coconut
1 1/4 cups rolled oats
1 1/2 cups unsweetened crisp brown rice cereal
3/4 c honey
1/4 cup natural cane sugar
1/2 teaspoon fine-grain sea salt
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

optional add-ins (chocolate chips, espresso powder, cinnamon, nutmeg)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a baking pan with the oil. If you like thick power bars, opt for an 8 by 8-inch pan; for thinner bars, use a 9 by 13-inch pan.

On a rimmed baking sheet toast the nuts, seeds, and coconut for about 7 minutes, until the coconut is deeply golden. Toss once or twice along the way. Mix the oats, toasted nuts, coconut, and the cereal, together in a large bowl and set aside.

Combine the honey, sugar, salt, spices (if using) and vanilla in a small saucepan over medium heat and stir constantly as it comes to a boil and thickens just a bit, about 4 minutes. Pour the syrup over the oat mixture and stir until it is evenly incorporated.

Spread into the prepared pan and cool to room temperature before cutting into whatever size bars you desire.

Makes 16 to 24 bars.