Homemade granola bar

A while back when I was trying a granola bar recipe from the Smitten Kitchen, I came up with the idea of adding healthy ingredients to the existing classic rice crisp treat recipe to create a "granola bar" that's tasty and easy.

First, I coated the oats with oil, honey and maple syrup and toasted at 325F for 15 minutes until golden brown, according to the "Classic Granola" recipe from Cooks Illustrated. This recipe was tasty and easy and the whole house smelled really nice while baking. After the granola was cooled, I made the "rice crispy treats" by melting 1.5 tablespoon of butter and 22 large marshmallows. Off heat, I stirred in about 1.5 cups of rice crispy, 2 cups of granola and 1/2 cup of raisin, pressed down in a square baking pan and cooled overnight.

The result was popular among kids and adults. Most people liked the addition of the raisins, but I would have preferred the bars to taste more like the rice crispy treats. Next time, I might also add some toasted almond for a nuttier flavor. Endless possibilities!