I’m stumped! You all gave such awesome suggestions for what to call the new “day” for food here. And … TODAY is my birthday!
So I think what I’ll do is toss out the Top Ten choices and let you VOTE! Would you do that for my birthday? 🙂 After all, we’re in the season of elections and things. Click for the choices and choose your fav. I’ll let you know the winner next Friday! And don’t forget about the awesome Thirty-One bag giveaway!

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XC Girls Granola Bars

Cross Country season has started, and the runners are HUNGRY. Last Friday, The girls team came over for pasta and fruit smoothies after practice. While they played games on the porch, I made these granola bars that are SO GOOD I feel like I should just call them cookies. These bars are really quite healthy!

I put a plate of them out on the counter and left some in the pan to freeze for lunches. Those hungry runner girls gobbled up the plate full AND the pan full. I made theirs with mini chocolate chips, but the batch pictured here is made with dried blueberries. The girls loved them, asked for the recipe, and here it is.

In honor of a great group of gals who train really hard, I’m calling the XC (Cross Country) Girls Granola Bars. Go Hawks!

XC Girls Granola Bars

• 4 cups old fashioned oatmeal
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 cup honey
• 1 cup peanut butter
• 1 ¼ cup of mini chocolate chips
• Sea salt
With your hands (I use wet hands, so it doesn’t stick), mix together all ingredients except sea salt. Combine thoroughly and press into a greased 9×13 pan. Sprinkle lightly with sea salt. Bake for 25 minutes at 350 degrees. They should get a little brown around the edges and be set, but not firm, in the middle. Let them cool and firm up for about 10 minutes … while you pour a cold glass of milk! Cut into about 25 bars about the length of your pointer finger. Wrap individually in foil and pop them in the freezer. These are perfect for a lunchbox, a late night snack, or to grab and take for after a run.

Options:

To make them healthier (If you’re in training), you can add a tablespoon of protein powder to the dry ingredients first and then add the sticky stuff, or you can add some nuts, dried berries, or sesame seeds. Good for you!

(These started from a recipe sent to me by Kroger, and I tweaked it to make it the perfect Cross Country granola bar!)

I hope these will find their way into your kitchen. I’d love to hear about what you’re cooking up this weekend!