Muesli Breakfast Bars

Muesli bars is a heart-healthy recipe loaded with protein. Many of these ingredients you will already have in your pantry. A little history about it, Muesli is a breakfast cereal, which consists of uncooked rolled oats, fruit and nuts. It was developed around 1900 by a Swiss physician Maximilian Bircher-Benner. Muesli supports a healthy diet. It can help lower blood cholesterol. It is also rich in fiber and trace minerals, and omega-3 fatty acids. Muesli without sweetener has a low glycemic index, this recipe does contain honey.

Ingredients

• 2 1/2 Cups old-fashioned rolled oats
• 1/2 Cup soy flour
• 1/2 Cup fat-free dry milk
• 1/2 Cup toasted wheat germ
• 1/2 Cup sliced almonds, toasted
• 1/2 Cup dried apples, chopped
• 1/2 Cup raisins
• 1/2 Teaspoon salt
• 1 Cup dark honey
• 1/2 Cup unsalted peanut butter
• 1 Tablespoon olive oil
• 2 Teaspoons vanilla extract







Preparation:
Preheat the oven to 325 F. Lightly grease a 9-by-13-inch baking pan.

In a large bowl, combine oats, flour, dry milk, wheat germ, almonds, apples, raisins and salt. Stir well.

In a saucepan, stir honey, peanut butter and olive oil over medium-low heat until well blended. Don't let boil. Stir in vanilla. Add the warm honey mixture to dry ingredients and stir quickly until well combined. The mixture should be sticky, but not wet.

Pat the mixture evenly into the prepared baking pan. Press firmly to remove any air. Bake just until the edges begin to brown, about 25 minutes.

Cool for 10 minutes in pan, cut into 24 bars. When cool enough to handle, remove bars from the pan and place on rack to cool completely. Store the bars in airtight containers in the refrigerator. Makes 24 bars.