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Sunday, July 4, 2010

Girli's Groovy Granola Bars


I've been called a hippie-chick many times in my life.  I suppose because I've always been pretty in-tune with nature...free-spirited...tree-hugging...music-loving...peace sign-flashing...tie-dye shirt-wearing...  amongst other things.  I probably found the love for most of those things being raised by two "once upon a time" hippies.
That's my mom and dad...mere months before I was born.  Look how young and cute and free-lovin' they were!  Man, if only you could see my parents threads better in the picture on the right....I'm tempted to "undo" the collage just to show you moms red, white and blue platform sandals and dads white-ish hightop chucks...what a gas!   
So, lately I've just been waxing nostalgic for some reason.  Maybe it's because I've been foraging in my own yard and getting my hands in the dirt, planting veggies a lot lately... maybe it's the Dead albums I've been vibin' on ...or the grass I smelled drifting on the air a few days ago...whatever the skinny...my inner peace-child is showing.
Girli’s Groovy Granola Bars
Yield: ~20 (2 x 3 ½”) bars

2 c. rolled oats
¾ c. whole wheat flour
¾ c. brown sugar, packed
½ c. wheat germ
¼ c. Whole Flaxseed Meal
2 c. groovy goodies: I use hazelnuts (½ c.), pepitas (½ c.), sesame seeds(¼ c.), shredded unsweetened (or sweetened if it’s all you can find) coconut (½ c.), poppy seeds (¼ c.)
1 tsp. sea salt
freshly grated nutmeg- a few scrapes
½ c. coconut oil
¼ c. honey
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 tsp. pure almond extract

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9 x 13” pan well, then cut a long piece of parchment or foil to fit long way down center and hang over the end (this will make for easy lifting once baked). Grease that as well.

With your hands, mix together first 8 ingredients (groovy goodies count as 1 ingredient). Once they are well combined, add remaining ingredients to bowl and prepare to get messy. Work your hands through the mixture until everything is evenly moistened. The dry ingredients will just be moist and tacky, but there shouldn’t be any patches of flour left.

Using your hands, press the mixture into your prepared pan.

For chewy granola bars, bake ~20-25 minutes. For crunch granola bars, bake ~30-35 minutes. Let cool in pan for 5 minutes, then carefully lift the whole thing out and place on cutting board. Make your cuts now, while the bar is still warm. If you forget and they get hard before you’ve cut them into individual bars…don’t fret! Simply crumble it up and eat it in granola bits!


Delicious, nutricious, flavor-licious...can you dig it?  I do have to site a couple of known inspirations for this post...first off, Kim and her Hippie Rice Salad post in which she showed and old photo of her folks...and second, Stephanie and her granola bars, which were the starting point for mine!  Both of these hip chicks laid down some far-out posts...

You chicks are welcome to chill at my pad anytime.  Just don't tell the man...cuz that would totally harsh the vibe- if ya get my drift. 

The fuzz simply don't dig the hippie lettuce...they're just a bunch of jive turkeys!

I remember the days when munchies didn't cost me all my jing*....


You don't even have to be stoned to scarf some of these babies down...groovy Mama!

Peace, love and granola!

I am submitting this post to My Meatless Mondays, Just Another Meatless Monday, Two for Tuesdays Blog Hop Carnival, Tuesday Twister, Wholesome Whole Foods and Vegetarian Foodie Fridays (click on the badges below for more info on each).
MyMeatlessMondaysHey What's For Dinner24TbadgeGIRLICHEFTuesdayTwisterWWFatHFLVFF

*fun slang words from the 70's found here.  I woulda worked 'em all in if I thought you woulda kept reading...

Wishing everybody a safe and happy 4th of July filled with family, friends and FOOD...whether you're in the U.S. or on the other side of the world...let FREEDOM ring!

Would you like to comment?

  1. Most entertaining post- reminds me of a show- Party Down! where Roman ate the 'special' cookies and after only three was totally stoned off his rocker!

    I also liked a band in the 90's called Hippie Chick- great dance tunes...oh I have a few photos of mother natures finest piled on a friends kitchen table- oh uh ummm granola bars that is...

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  2. Hey Heather~
    I loved your "groovy" post! Great pics! Have a great day with your family!

    Jane

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  3. What a great post Heather. You would fit right in here with all of our BC "tree huggers", from one tree hugger to another:D

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  4. You silly tree hugger :) I love all the pics and the granola bars look chock full o' healthfulness! Happy 4th to you and yours.

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  5. Happy Fourth groovy-darlin' - hope it's a great day for you!

    I could exist on granola. This recipe is a must-try - thanks!

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  6. The smell of "grass". Hmm yeah. Okay. :P

    These granola bars look rad! Neat-o! Or whatever the hippie lingo is these days.

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  7. Your groovy granola bars rock! I think this post rocks too.

    We all need to tap into our inner "hippie chicks"

    Happy 4th to you and your family!!!

    btw, I appreciate that you posted my blog badge. Thank you.

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  8. Great post...Love the family pictures. I've been wanting to make some granola bars.

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  9. I love bars like these! They rock! I need to make some, thanks!

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  10. you are just too cool they look great would be a healthy snack for travelling

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  11. Oh you're such a cutie patootie when you were a baby. Love seeing old photographs. Thanks for sharing!!!


    I think a snack on some granla bars before I make another assault into the grill. hahaha...

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  12. Fun post! ;-) I love making my own granola bars--they always taste so much better than store bought. I like all your "groovy goodies" that you added too.

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  13. I love the photos! They are, indeed, groovy! Those bars look so healthy!

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  14. So nice to know about your parents, that's a very healthy bar, i'll have it any time of the day:-)

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  15. Well, I'm definitely NOT the hippie, tree hugging type, but I still love granola bars!
    Great recipe!

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  16. haha! memories! nothing like being raised in the 60's and 70's. My parent's weren't hippies (i had a couple uncles and aunts that were)...but my dad's a musician so the scene was the same...just a different tune. sooo...what kind of 'grass' were you smelling when you became inspired for these babies? LOL

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  17. oh my what a cute post, love the pics and the graolna bars, love them..and pepitas..yum

    sweetlife

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  18. Those pictures of your parents reminded me so much of my own...if only I had a scanner I would upload them and we could compare! This was such a cute post - the groovy granola looks delicious! I think I'm going to go watch that 70's show now...

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  19. yum! those granola bars look amazing!

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  20. I was a product of the 70's and those times are part of me (tree-huggin' and all). So those granola bars are right up my alley. (But I don't wear Birkenstocks) Back to the bars - love the seeds and nuts in them - what a grand crunch!

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  21. Far Out! Heather. To think, I really said words like that! I'd love to see your mom's shoes up front and personal. Actually, ask her about go go boots:)

    Loved this post! I think you and the others may be on to something. Groovy recipe submissions...

    Thanks for sharing...what a cutie you were, still are:)

    Hope you had a Safe, Groovin' Independence Day! Now, I'm off for some munchies starting with that totally groovy granola of yours!!!

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  22. May I call you the Groovy Chef with the groovy recipes. You may just start something here.

    The granola photo sells it for you.

    You are my conscience. You reminded me of Two for Tuesdays and I think I have just the thing.

    Love, your grooving friend

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  23. That was a very fun post and I think these look great - or should I say groovalicious? Yum! Thanks for the linky (wo) man.

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  24. Wow these look FANTASTIC! I loved the groovy seeds poking out everywhere. I think my kids would love these!

    Thanks for linking up with Just Another Meatless Monday, can't wait to see what you bring to the table next week!

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  25. Shagadelic baby! Love the trip down memory lane and also the awesome looking granola bars.

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  26. These look way too pretty and fun (and I thought the pepitas were pistachios at first glance). Homemade granola bars have been on my to-do list for a while, and I think you just set the standard!

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  27. What a fun post :)

    I love making my own granola bars, but I've been using the same recipe for the last couple of years. Your's sounds like it might be even better. I like that you use coconut oil and flax... good to have while you're camping and hiking (apparently the flax is anti-inflammatory, so less achy joints if you overdo it). The nutmeg is a nice touch too...mmm maybe I'll make a test batch, we're not camping 'til the end of the month!

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  28. You don't have to be a hippie to love Granola. These look great!

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  29. I love it:) Love all the old pictures. They really take you back to another time, you know?

    Your granola bars are some of the best I've ever seen! They look absolutely delicious.

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  30. Your so funny Girli!

    Looks really yummy and healty!
    Thanks for linking up to Wholesome Whole Foods!

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