Homemade Granola Bars

I am totally stealing this from my friend Jen...
OK, but I tweeked it when I made it.


2 Cup Oats
1 cup brown sugar (Jen uses raw turbinado) I used Splenda Brown Sugar 1/2 Cup
1 Cup whole wheat flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 Cup honey
Any dried fruit, nuts, seeds, chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, etc.
Mix all ingredients and press into greased pan, 11 X 13. Dough will be very dry and crumbly, but press until dough forms with pan.. Bake at 325 for 20 minutes or until edges are browned. Take out and let cool entirely.

I made them today and I have to tell ya...
They are to die for! My mom isn't big on chocolate chips, but she really like these. Then I took some to my neighbor and she thoroughly enjoyed them!
This is a keeper and my Recipe Spotlight for the week!

Zucchini Mini Muffins

I have a friend who sent me a recipe a few years back for Zucchini Bread. Well, since I can eat a whole loaf to myself (seriously!) I tried putting them into the Deluxe Mini-Muffin Pan and they turned out to be the PERFECT SIZE! I can pop 1 or 2 and not feel guilty for eating a whole loaf.
Then I thought, "Melissa, how can you make them a bit more healthier?"
This is the recipe I came up with...

Zucchini Walnut Mini Muffins
3 Soft Brown Bananas (you know, the ones you throw away, because they're turning color. Just throw them into a freezer bag and freeze them for baking! BTW, these are replacing the Eggs!)
1 C. Applesauce
2 C. (or that equivalent) of Splenda (replacing the sugar)
2 C. Shredded Zucchini (I get fresh zucchini and shred it myself)
3 tsp. Vanilla
3 C. Whole Wheat Flour
1 tsp. Baking Soda
1/4 tsp. Baking Powder
1 tsp. Salt
3 tsp. Cinnamon Plus Spice Blend

DIRECTIONS:
Beat Bananas, Applesauce, Splenda, Zucchini & Vanilla together. In another bowl mix the remaining ingredients. While beating the wet ingredients, slowly add the dry ingredients (YES, you do have to do it that way, because if you don't, you can get clumps of unmixed dry mix...NOT very good to bite into!).
Place 1 TBS. of your dough into each cup in the Deluxe Mini-Muffin Pan (no need to oil the pan, trust me on this!).
Bake in the oven for 15 mins. Remove and let them cool on the Stackable Cooling Rack. Remove after 5 mins onto another Stackable Cooling Rack.
Pop one in & enjoy!
I haven't figured out the nutritional facts yet, but when I do, I will be sure to post them.
Let me know what you think!!!