Healthy Snack Bars

Photo: flickr user miss_rogue

Ingredients

1 cup Dried Fruit -- chopped

2 tablespoons Vegetable Shortening

1 Egg -- slightly beaten

1 cup Nuts -- chopped

1/2 cup Brown Sugar -- packed

1/2 cup Whole Wheat Flour

4 tablespoons Wheat Bran

4 tablespoons Wheat Germ -- toasted

2 teaspoons Cinnamon

1 teaspoon Salt

4 tablespoons Vegetable Shortening

4 tablespoons Brown Sugar -- packed

2 tablespoons Honey

2 tablespoons Molasses

1 Egg -- slightly beaten

2 cups Quick-cooking Oats

4 tablespoons Whole Wheat Flour

Preparation

Topping: In a large bowl, combine chopped dried fruit, shortening, and 2/3 cup boiling water; let stand for 5 minutes. Add remaining ingredients and combine. Set aside.

Crust: In another large bowl, combine shortening, sugar, honey, molasses, and egg together, then add oats and flour until well combined. Using a fork, press into a 13 x 9 x 2 inch baking pan which has been prepared with nonstick cooking spray. Bake at 350 degrees F for 5 minutes.

After removing crust from oven, spread fruit mixture evenly over the top and bake an additional 25 to 30 minutes. Remove from oven, and cool completely, then cut into bars.