chewy granola bars

you know those nights where you're up every 2-3 hours feeding a baby and you're absolutely dead tired and need some nutrition for the love of pete to keep you alive? or how about those days where you just have no time to do anything, not even sit down for an everloving meal?

well, meet the perfect granola bar.

this recipe has been adapted to accommodate my new lifestyle - breastfeeding mom with a baby who has undetermined food sensitivities so mom is cutting out all possible food irritants. these are gluten-free (using gluten-free oats), dairy-free, corn-free, and peanut-free. and still delicious. take that, baby stomach.

Chewy Granola Bars (adapted from Smitten Kitchen)

1 2/3 cups quick rolled oats
1/2 to 3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup oat flour (or 1/3 cup oats, processed till finely ground in a food processor or blender)
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 to 3 cups dried fruits and nuts (i like to use a mix with dried cranberries and blueberries, and when i'm feeling crazy i add in some dark chocolate chips)
1/3 cup almond butter (or other nut butter)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
6 tablespoons oil (or butter for non-vegan)
1/4 cup agave nectar
2 tablespoons maple syrup
1 tablespoon water

mix dry and wet ingredients seperately, combine, throughly mixing all ingredients until wet. bake at 350 F for 30-40 minutes or until edges are brown. you'll want to wait to cut these until they're cool or they may crumble.