Nor'easter - The Siege Continues

This is day two of the disastrous early spring storm. The low continues to sit just off the coast and is loathe to move out to sea and leave us alone. The wind still howls outside and bands of heavy rain pelt the windows. I should be outside pruning perennials and adding compost to the beds. Bummer!

However, not all is lost inside. I've spent my hours wisely and all the laundry is done and put back in it's place, the bathrooms sparkle, I've almost finished with the back of H's sweater and of course, cabin fever brings out the munchies in me. H has cooked up a special pot of chili to go with the Cheddar Jalapeno Corn Bread Sticks and I found a wonderful recipe for Dark Chocolate Granola Bars!

I used to love to bake all sorts of wonderful breads, coffee cakes, muffins, cookies, etc., but with my new found interest in nutrition, I find eating white flour more and more difficult, so I look to new ways to bake with whole grains and other more nutritious ingredients. I baked up the Granola Bars and I have to tell you, they are scrumptious! Now really, how bad can anything with chocolate in it be???
My apologies to Ms.Paula Deen but these did not have a stick of butter or a cup of
May-oh-Nase in them! I made a double batch and baked them in a jelly roll pan so I could take some to work tomorrow. The recipe follows:

Dark Chocolate Granola Bars

1/4 C. Sugar
1/4 C. Maple Syrup
1/4 C. Honey
2 TBSP Natural, chunky peanut butter
1 egg
1 TBSP evaporated milk
1 tsp pure vanilla
Mix all of the above ingredients together

1 C. Whole Wheat Flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp Allspice
2 Cups Old Fashioned Oats
1 1/2 Cups crisp rice cereal
1/2 Cup Dark Chocolate Chips
1/2 Cup dried cranberries
1/2 Cup chopped walnuts

Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients and mix til thoroughly combined. Press into a 9x13 pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350 degrees for 18 - 20 minutes. Score surface with shallow cuts to make bars. Cool, break apart and enjoy!