Try it Tuesday

We've been going through a granola phase in this house.  A few months ago I posted about these energy bites - my boys cannot get enough of them.  Over the weekend I gave another recipe a try.  As my oldest stated - these are deeeelicious.

Granola Bars (from The City Sisters)
1 2/3 cups quick rolled oats
1/3 cup oat flour (made by pulsing 1/3 cup oats in food processor until fine)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
2 to 3 cups dried fruit and nut mix
1/3 cup organic peanut butter or other organic nut butter
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 tablespoon water
1/2 cup agave nectar (or honey or corn syrup)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  In a large bowl, combine the rolled oats, oat flour, salt, cinnamon, and dried fruit/nut mix.  Add the organic peanut butter, vanilla extract, water, and agave nectar.  Stir with a spatula until the entire mixture is well combined.  This takes some muscle.
Spray an 8×8 pan with cooking spray and line with parchment in one direction.  The parchment should extend over the sides of the pan to help you lift the bars out of the pan once they have cooled.
Pour the granola bar mix into the pan using the spatula to get every last crumb.  Now, this is an important step.  You need to really press the mixture into the pan so it will bind together while cooking.  Using the spatula, your hands or a piece of plastic wrap, press the granola into the pan.
Bake for 30 minutes or until the edges have browned.  Allow the bars to cool in the pan for a few minutes and then slowly remove the bars using the parchment overhang.  Let them cool on a rack for about 30 minutes and then place them in the refrigerator for at least an hour or two.  I have found (and have seen others on the net) that using this technique will help stabilize the bars and hopefully avoid crumbling.  Once the bars have cooled in the refrigerator, set them on a cutting board, and using a large serrated knife, cut them to the size you like.  I like big bars because I eat them for breakfast, so I tend to get nine out of one batch.  The bars will last for a while in an air tight container in the fridge (I keep mine in there for about two weeks) and can be frozen for a later snacking date.