Last week I had some shopping errands to run. While on my way back I happened to drive past my college(the place where I did my under graduation). I have some lovely memories of those days. It was so many years since I passed out of college and I hadn’t had a chance to visit it.I decided to pull over and see the college from inside.It was 3 in the afternoon and the classes had just ended for the day and it was an appropriate time to do so. I wondered if it was still the same old beautiful campus or there were any major structural changes.Filled with excitement and nostalgia I entered the gates of my alma mater. The campus was still as beautiful,the buildings well maintained and the lawns as well manicured as before.Wow! Nothing had changed.
I visited the classrooms where I studied, the cafeteria, library,lecture halls and walked through the long corridors lost in thoughts ,reminiscing about my friends and teachers,almost hearing the lively chatter and remembering the happy and fun times we spent there.
A sweet but chirpy ‘Excuse me!’ brought me out of my reverie. I realised I was coming in the background of someone’s selfie. Mumbling something apologetic , I quickly ducked out of their frame,not realising that I had to keep doing that every few seconds.I have to mention here that it was an all girls college.At every nook and corner were girls…girls in ones… twos…threes …girls in groups…smiling girls…pouting girls…pretty girls…skinny girls…smart girls…but mostly girls with only one mission on hand….getting that perfect ‘Selfie’
The first words which came to my mind then were-
“OMG! This is a Selfiesh world!” 🙂
I chuckled to myself at the play of words.I am pretty sure the craze for selfies is the same everywhere.This could easily be the “Year of Selfies” 🙂
The college was the same. It was the generation that had changed.
With newer thoughts and refreshed memories I returned home and made these delicious chewy,nutritious granola bars. Packed with fruits,nuts,dates,oats,coconut,choco chips,orange and lemon peels and honey these mini snack bars are full of energy and can be an ideal kick start for the day especially for those teenagers or people rushing to colleges or work places and have no time for a sit down breakfast. You can make them in advance on a weekend perhaps,pack them in individual butter papers/chocolate wrappers,keep them in the fridge and just pick one or two of them when you are leaving home. It has to be out of the fridge at least ten minutes before you eat or better still you can warm it up in the microwave for 10 seconds. They look pretty and taste delicious and chewy.
Why not make these yummy snack bars today and be rest assured that your family has the energy to kickstart the day.
STEP ONE:
Line a baking sheet with aluminium foil or parchment paper. Put in 2 and 1/4 cups rolled oats, 1 cup chopped nuts (almonds,walnuts,pecans) and roast at 350º F for 6 minutes. Add 1/4 cup dry grated coconut and roast further 6 minutes. Take out of the oven and let cool.
Total time taken in the oven: 12 minutes
STEP TWO:
Toss in 1 cup of dried fruits. I used mango bits,pineapple bits,raisins and chopped mejdool dates.Mix well.
STEP THREE:
In a saucepan put 1/2 cup+ 1tbsp honey, 3 tbsp. brown sugar,2 tbsp. butter,1 tsp. vanilla/pineapple essence,2 tsp. cinnamon and 1 tsp. salt. Bring to a boil while continuously stirring. Take off heat. Add the roasted oats,fruits and nuts to this sauce and mix well.
STEP FOUR:
Line a 8×8 baking dish with parchment paper and grease it. Spoon in the oats and honey mixture into it and press lightly with the back of a spoon.Sprinkle some choco chips and some dried orange and lemon peels. Do not press it hard.It can make the granola bar tough and dense.Bake in a pre heated oven at 325º F for 20 minutes.Let cool.
STEP FIVE:
Slice into bars. This should make approximately 10 bars of this size.
STEP SIX:
Wrap the individual bars in buter paper or chocolate wrappers and store in fridge or gift to someone you care about.
I am taking this delicious snack to party with my Fiesta Friday friends. Wow! Can’t believe it is the 90th Friday already and it just seems like yesterday. We have some new party co-hosts Effie @ Food Daydreaming and Lindy @ Lindy Mechefske to help out dear Angie. So let’s not waste time and rush to the party..
Aromas and Flavors from my Kitchen 
they look amazing !
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Thank you Anita 👍☺
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Do you use the “quick” oats or the ones that take longer, like 20 minutes or so?
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It is better to use the traditional rolled oats to get the right texture. But in case they aren’t available you can use the quick oats as well. Thank you for liking it 👍☺
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Reblogged this on Old Things R New and commented:
I think I may love this recipe. It sounds simple and I can buy the fruit and nuts at a reasonable price from Aldi.
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I am sure you will love it. But please make sure you do not over cook the honey as it may make the bar brittle. Thank you for the reblog ☺
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Yum. As a daily granola bar eater, I have been looking for versions that are not only tasty but healthy as well. Going to be making these this week!
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I am sure you are going to love this one. Please do let me know if you do 👍☺
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I appreciate the tip. Tuesday is a free day on our blog and I enjoy sharing other bloggers stories.
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Thank you so much. It is an honor for me ☺
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I have to make these, just saved the recipe. They look insanely delicious.
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Thank you Suzanne 🙂 The last one got over today and I am all ready to bake a fresh batch.
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These look awesome ! Ahh the visit to your college must have sure made you nostalgic , I can relate to it 🙂
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Thank you so much Freda.I enjoyed the visit. Brought back lovely memories of college days 🙂
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🙂
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Wow visit to college must have given lot of happy memories.. Granola bars looks delicious.. Loaded with good stuff this s amazing
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Yes Vidya. I relived all those fun moments spent with my friends. I really enjoyed the visit. The granola bars turn out very delicious and stay in the fridge for more than a week.
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Thank you for liking it 💕
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Yum, great for a busy school day!
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True! A quick nutritious meal 👍
Thank you ☺
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Wow must be awesome going back to memories of those days.. The granola bars look yumm..Maybe this selfiesh world needs more such amazing recipes.. 😉😃👍👍
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Haha😉 I am sure our younger generation was at the back of my mind while I was conjuring up this health bar. They just never seem to have enough time for breakfast 😓
Thank you Anshu for liking the recipe.
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When these look good enough to eat, they are surely good enough to make. You are so generous with these recipes!! Thank you x
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Thank you so much Shehanne. I really enjoyed making them. Easy to make and yummy to taste 👍☺Love sharing my experiments with all of you. Thank you so much for the motivation.
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I’m so glad you do share them. I love them x
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Wow
too tempting anxious to taste.Skd should organize food exahibition
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Haha Thank you 😉 I sent them over for you to taste dad
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Wow – you sure have a lot of goodies in these bars! Are the “green” things in your mix some kind of dried fruit?
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Thank you dear Judi. They are candied lemon peel bits. Yes there are lot of goodies in those bars. Makes for a filling hearty healthy breakfast substitute.
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What a sweet story! and yes love these bars! I’ve been making some simple ones myself with shaved coconut, cranberries, and a hint of coffee, but I like the idea of packing it with dried fruit!
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Makes it all the more nutritious and crunchy 😉
Thank you so much for liking it 👍☺
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that’s a great idea!
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Thank you ☺👍
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Oh what lovely treats these are Ana. Always love granola bars, and I’m sure the home made variety is much better than store bought. I love all the ingredients in these, they would definitely make for a gorgeous snack or in a lunch box. I’m sure your visit to your college brought back some cherished memories. 🙂
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Thank you Loretta ☺ Once we start making these customised beauties at home we will never go back to the store bought ones. And yes I really enjoyed my trip to the college. However none of my teachers are teaching there. They have all moved on. So couldn’t meet any of them.
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Oh these look great, I am going to have to make them.
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Thank you so much. I am sure you will love the recipe 👍☺
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Ana, these bars look absolutely scrumptious. I cannot wait to make them. Loved reading about your experience of going back to your college!
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Thank you Sandhya 🙂 They turned out so good that I am all set to making another batch. We can customise them with our choice of fruits and nuts. Makes a good nutritious snack ☺
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Looks delicious👌🌟
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Thank you dear Marsay💕
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Love your story …so true! These granola bars would be perfect for my son, who is always on the go with school and soccer! Thanks so much for sharing!!
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Thank you so much dear Arl ☺ I am sure your son wouldn’t mind grabbing a couple of them when going out.
Even I was planning to pack them for my son when he comes for a break from his University to take back. Because his hectic schedule makes him miss his break fasts most of the time.
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Same here for my son! 🙂 Great idea!
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Love this post Ana, time flies 😉 Your Granola bar look so chewy and delicious too. Have a nice weekend! 🙂
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I love the color in theses snack bars. And, their chewy nature is right up my alley. Thanks for sharing this chewy treat. I hope you have a wonderful weekend!
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Thank you for liking them Kaila. Healthy and delicious snack it made for. Enjoy your weekend dear 🙂
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I also just visited my Alma mater. So interesting to go back. I had to laugh at your comments about selfies. So true.
As for the granola bars – I love the combination of the toasted nuts and oats and then all the fruits. Just beautiful. Thanks for bringing these to Fiesta Friday!
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Thank you so much for the motivating words. Visiting our alma mater after a long time gives mixed feelings right? Can’t explain in words. There is happiness and excitement on one side then there is also a sense of having lost on time, a feeling of growing older when you see the younger generation but still the feeling of happiness supercedes all the other emotions .
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So absolutely true – the mixed feelings but the pervasive sense of happiness and being part of something that continues on in perpetuity…
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Yummy,,,, wow nice recipe thanks for sharing 🙂
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Thank you so much ☺ It’s a handy meal on the go
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That sounds like a nice trip back in time. 🙂 it’s not something we really do here, I don’t think. So it sounds interesting! Lovely recipe as well!
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Thank you Nell . We do have alumni meets but incidentally I couldn’t attend any. So it was really a nostalgic feeling and a wonderful experience ☺
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These look really good – I’d comment more but I have to go take a selfie, haha!
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Haha. Thanks for liking it. Then I won’t keep you waiting😉 But please come back when you are done. Love to talk to you ☺👍
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These look so moreish and yummy! Lovely flavours. Happy FF#90 🙂
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Thank you so much ☺ They were indeed very yummy. Convenient nutritious food to grab and rush.
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Nice recipe, excellent story too 🙂 Thanks for sharing – I’ll be trying these
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Thank you so much. Please do. Its food on the go- easy to slip into a bag
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Thank you once again for stopping by and for the motivating words ☺
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Yummy nice recipe thanks for sharing
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Thank you so much for liking it 👍 😉
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They look great!
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Thank you so much ☺
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What a beautiful and delicious snack!! Love all the dried fruit 🙂
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Thank you. Healthy food on the go 😉
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