Care Package #37: Cowgirl Bars

I'm not really sure how these bars got their name. But rest assured, I have not purchased leather boots, a hat that is measured by gallons, or a horse. However, I did make a pretty mean batch of super crunchy snack bars! I found this recipe in the Savannah Morning News under a section about up scaling your road trip fare. Not too shabby, but they could possibly remove fillings if bitten the wrong way... consider yourself warned!

Cowgirl Granola Bars

.3 C sunflower seeds
.3 C flax seeds
2 C old fashioned oats
.5 C chopped figs
4 TBS vegetable oil
.5 C honey
.5 C brown sugar
.5 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
.25 tsp nutmeg

Preheat oven to 350 and line a 13.5" x 10" baking sheet with parchment paper.

Toast the flax and sunflower seeds, for no more than 10 minutes. In a large bowl mix together the oats, seeds and dried figs.

In a medium saucepan over medium-low heat, whisk together the vegetable oil, honey, brown sugar, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg. Cook this only until the brown sugar melts and the ingredients come together (about 2-3 minutes).

Pour the spice-sugar mix over the oats and stir with a wooden spoon until evenly coated. Press the mix into the cookie sheet using a spatula to apply pressure and get an even thickness. Bake for about 30 minutes or until it begins to brown. Let cool slightly, then cut with a very sharp knife.