I am an expert at assembling things, combining flavors, and dreaming up new recipes, but I am no cook!!
I decided to make a few things in preparation for our trip to Montana next week – Crunchy Buckwheat Granola and some granola bars. My granola bars today were a bit of a literal flop.
The granola turned out great – because this recipe just awesome!
The granola bars – not so much! I used Kelsey’s Granola Bars as inspiration, but we had no egg, so I attempted a flax egg.
I learned that flax eggs might be good for some things, but stickage is not one of them. My bars are pretty crumbly! But they do taste delicious.
Don’t Make These Floppy Granola Bars
Ingredients
- 2 cups oats
- 1/2 cup chopped nuts
- 1/4 cup ground flax
- 1 cup milk
- 1/4 cup dried cranberries
- 1 tsp vanilla
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp salt
Mixed in bowl. Spread into parchment 9×9 pan. Baked at 375* for 30 minutes.
Now if only Allie would release that Alliebar recipe…
Lunch was served in a rush between flying oats and a shower
I’ve been dreaming about smoked salmon with cream cheese on a bagel for weeks now – so glad to fulfill that craving! And who says you can’t mix savory salmon and capers with cinnamon raisin english muffins!?
I almost always eat sandwiches like this open-faced because I think you get to enjoy it longer, but toady it was all about eating it bagel-sandwich style.
On the side: a cheerful spinach salad with cuc, carrot, honey, olive oil, salt and figs!
Dog gone good.
After lunch I raced out to meet Andrea for a walk!! We strolled for a super fast 45 minutes while talking about all kinds of fun things. Walks are the best!!
After I wrap up blogging, I’m heading out to meet Faith and attend a free hatha yoga class this evening.
Montana in T-2 days – things are getting hectic!
Tina @ Faith Fitness Fun says
Haha! That’s how I would describe myself too. I’m a great food assembler. Cooking….not so much. The bars do look yummy.
Beth @ Beth's Journey to Thin says
Aw man what a bummer that your bars didn’t turn out as good as you were expecting – they sure look delicious! And I love salmon + cream cheese on a bagel – I haven’t had it in ages, though! I actually won that contest at HLS for the design your own cream cheese for cream cheese with salmon, capers, red onions, scallions, and sea salt. Yum!
Christine says
Yeah it’;s too bad they don’t stick because they do look good.
Ahhh I want an AllieBar now!!
Angela @ Eat Spin Run Repeat says
I gave smoked salmon a chance a few weeks ago and absolutely adored it. Rather than cream cheese I mixed Greek yogurt with herbs and lemon juice, and it was foodgasmic on all levels. Your granola looks that way too!
Stacy @ Every Little Thing says
haha great way to describe yourself, a food assembler! eeeeeee good luck getting things in order for the mountains!
Estela @ Weekly Bite says
At least the granola bars tasted great, right? 🙂
Have a great yoga class 🙂
Michele @ Healthy Cultivations says
You may not be a cook, but you ARE a great photographer. I always enjoy your photography.
Andrea [bella eats] says
Walks ARE the best! Even better than meeting for lunch. 🙂 Thanks for the fun chats! Looking forward to more now that my schedule is more flexible!
Katie says
gotta love the name of the bars! so funny! They look good!
Oh I just bought smoked salmon yesterday! I was craving it!
Have fun at yoga tonight!
Cathy B. @ Bright Bakes says
your sandwiches, no matter how simple, always look amazing and yummy. Totally makes up for the granola bars, eh? 🙂
love,
cathy b. @ brightbakes
Natalia - a side of simple says
I may be just as excited, if not more, about your trip to Montana. I’ve been catching up on your travel posts from your last adventure there and I can’t wait to live through this next one, but this time it will be up-to-date!
PS. The bars sure look good to me 🙂
Lauren says
That’s my favorite bagel combo! They have it at my school, but not many people know about it. I love getting it.
Stacey says
I agree with the above comment about your photography – it’s rockin’! And at least the granola bars look good. 😉
Lisa (bakebikeblog) says
Wow – I love that series of photos!!! I need to spend some more time working on my photo layouts I think!!
Sam says
Added peanuts to the granola eh? I wanted to tell you that I made some with peanut oil (unrefined) and it made it quite tasty. I also wanted to tell you that I used that recipe for my Christmas gifts this yr. People kept asking if they should cook it….I suppose you could. But I really love it atop yogurt. Plus I think of you every time I eat it:) I LOVE it!
xo
Kate (What Kate is Cooking) says
I love your sweet and savory sandwich idea!
Jasmine @ Eat Move Write says
I absolutely love anything with capers. Sounds amazing to me. I’ve been wanting to make granola bars lately too. Good to know you need to use REAL egg. 🙂
Katy (The Singing Runner) says
I’m a food assembler too. Haha. 😉
Heather @ Side of Sneakers says
Ugh, now you got me craving AllieBars! 😉
chelsey @ clean eating chelsey says
I agree, sandwiches are best enjoyed open faced so you can feel like they last a longer time!
Kara says
I love mixing sweet and savory. I’ve been known to have a turkey sandwich on a chocolate chip bagel, but I think that’s an acquired taste 🙂
Alaina @ The Jogging Concierge says
Granola bars seem to be the “In” thing to make nowadays. I may have to jump on that soon. 🙂
Heather (Heather's Dish) says
i am so excited to hear about the montana trip and see the amazing photos! you guys are stocked on great snacks for the trip though 🙂
Amy says
Are you going to guerrilla yoga? I’ve been wanting to try it out.
Kath says
No it was the Ashtanga teacher training – but it was CANCELED! Boo! I’ll go to guerrilla with you sometime 🙂
Amy says
That would be so fun! I’ve heard it’s really cool.
Dorry says
I get cravings for smoked salmon, too! I think it happened after traveling through Europe and it was available at almost every hotel breakfast buffet.
Kati says
I wonder why your flax egg didn’t work?? I’ve had lots of success using flax eggs for granola bars..maybe you didn’t get enough liquid for it to gel? When I use flax eggs, I usually mix them separate from the batter in the proportion of 1 tbsp. flax to around 3 tbsp. of water. Then I let it sit and get gooey for at least 2-3 minutes. It then becomes remarkably egg like in texture and I incorporate it into the other batter. Maybe this method would help the bars stick better?
Kath says
I used a 1:3 ratio and mixed it with the milk, which I heated. It DID work – it was thicker and kind of gummy, but it didn’t work like the 1 egg did in this same recipe a while back.
Samantha Angela @ Bikini Birthday says
LOL, okay I’ll put this on my list of things not to make : P
Stephanie says
Food assembling I can handle. It’s my forte. It’s definitely a plus to going raw this month!
Sarah (Sarah Learns) says
i attempted to make granola bars once and they were a total fail. i decided after that to leave it to the pros, but somehow looking at the pictures of your bars (they look delicious) makes me want to try again! don’t worry, i won’t use this recipe, though. 😉
[email protected] says
Hmmm, salmon and cinnamon raisin? I might have to try it before I knock it! 🙂
Gabriela @ Une Vie Saine says
I know what you mean- I’m great at following a recipe or throwing a bunch of random stuff together and making it taste good, but I cannot come up with a gourmet recipe to save my life. I leave that to the more talented bloggers 🙂
Marisa @ Loser for Life says
As long as it tastes good, that’s all that matters!
Looking forward to hearing about your Montana adventures!
Anna @ Newlywed, Newly Veg says
Granola bars are hard to make!! I’ve had some real flops in that department too. But as long as they TASTE good… 🙂
Rachel @ The Avid Appetite says
LOVE smoked salmon and capers! You have me craving some right now. Also digging your toile-esque place mat! Cute!
Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table says
That dog mug is adorable! Is it a mason jar or a class?
Good luck with the Montana trip packing/planning!
Kath says
It’s a jar – from Lagunitas brewery in CA!
Amy says
I do flax eggs the same way as Kati- 1 Tbsp ground flax to 3 Tbsp water. If you whisk them over med-low heat in a saucepan they get nice and goopy! I’ve found they work really well in things like cornbread (where I first learned this technique: http://www.kosherblog.net/2005/03/09/blue_ribbon_vegan_cornbread/) or cranberry bread.
Amy says
^ Oops, sorry! Messed up the cornbread link. It’s worth trying though; it’s so good!
http://www.kosherblog.net/2005/03/09/blue_ribbon_vegan_cornbread/
Lisa says
If you were to use egg as opposed to flax in this recipe, how many would you need to use? I’d like to try it because the pics have left me with a serious hankering for some nice granola bars!!
Thanks!
Kath says
The original called for just 1 egg
Namaste Gurl says
I’m sure your granola bars were just great, Kath! If not, I’ll take what you don’t want 🙂
Christine (The Raw Project) says
The granola bars sound great and I’m the same way about mixing flavors, but not so much cooking. Enjoy yoga!
Sarena (The Non-Dairy Queen) says
Flops happen to everyone if you are a cook or not. At least it tastes good! Have fun this afternoon!
Cyndi @ Weightless Life says
I congratulate you on even getting in the kitchen and trying! I find myself thinking up recipes but not sure of how to make it happen. Even though even if I did fail the husband would probably still eat it.
Jil @ Big City, Lil Kitchen says
Oh! That sandwich looks so good! and I hear you…I’ve had a few granola flops.
Kelly says
I feel the same way about being a “cook”. After you follow so many recipes, you start knowing what goes together and you just get good at throwing things together that you already have.
Kath says
Thanks for the photo compliments! I wasn’t very happy with the lighting in these, but I guess it was good afterall!
maryann says
i noticed there wasnt any sweetner in the bars, maybe honey, m. syrup, rice syrup or agave might make them stickier?
Kath says
Yeah I left out the sweetener on purpose (brown sugar) but maybe that was it!
aubrey (italktofood) says
you are a cook! Those look incredible! I just made homemade smoked salmon! And for dinner I am making a smoked salmon board with whole wheat bagels. I just made scallion dill and lemon cream cheese. Yuuum!
Ann Claire says
That granola looks awesome! Who needs to be a cook if you can make things like that without being one? All of your photos are great, by the way.
Flourchild says
I think you are a cook, I love all of your creations!! Your oatmeal section is my fav! We live in Idaho..depending on which way you drive to Montana you may pass right by our house..your welcome to stop by and say hello!!!
Kath says
Well we are flying to Montana (Missoula), but are you close enough for a visit!?
Linda says
I love granola bars!! =)
Lauren at KeepItSweet says
You totally have me craving smoked salmon right now!
JenATX says
Montana sounds gorgeous! I cant wait to see the pics from the trip 🙂
faith @ gracefulfitness says
Your bar sure was crumby but it was delicious! Nice and salty. Thanks for the taste!
lynn (The Actors Diet) says
oh dear, if you’re not a cook…i don’t want to think what i’m not!
[email protected] says
I love that glass and that granola looks great. Enjoy your evening!
kelsey says
bummer on the flop! I haven’t made bars in OH SO LONG. I haven’t baked a single thing unless forced to. I cannot wait to see montana pictures!!
Sarah (Running to Slow Things Down) says
Your granola bars still look amazing to me! Too bad they didn’t stick together for you. Although I’ll bet they’re amazing crumbled on top of yogurt. 😀
So jealous that you’re going to Montana! How exciting! 😀
Allie (Live Laugh Eat) says
🙂 You need some sugar in that granola bar girl!
Hannah says
Taste is all that matters anyway. And not many people are as good Assemblers as you are – hold onto that with pride, I say!
sarah says
Oy. An English Muffin? I have long thought that you need more Jewish food in your life. Now I’m convinced. I’ll send you some recipes.
Meagan says
The smoked salmon and creme just gave me some inspiration. Thanks Kath!
Mary @ Bites and Bliss says
If you’d like to send the somewhat-failed granola bars somewhere, feel free to send them this way! 😛
Chelsea @ One Healthy Munchkin says
I had that same kind of experience with making granola bars! But at least crumbled bars make really good granola. 😉
Laura (Starloz) says
have perfect is smoked salmon, i love it
Justeen @ Blissful Baking says
smoked salmon and cream cheese on a bagel is such a tasty meal!! we served it with crackers as an appetizer for christmas and it was DELICIOUS!
Anne P says
You should try my 5 minute no bake PB granola bars 🙂 Just be generous with the wet ingredients and skimp on the dry ones – they are AMAZING.
http://www.fannetasticfood.com/recipes/no-bake-peanut-butter-granola-bars/
Dawn Hutchins says
That English Muffin has me drooling! What brand is that?
Lisa says
I am the same way. I am an expert at organizing, cleaning, chopping, preparing. But less skilled in other aspects. That’s why the bf and I work so well together cooking. He likes to cook in the skillet and he’s great at it. I prepare everything for me and he cooks it!
tt in nyc says
I make granola bars all the time and have never used an egg- the best is to take the mix of oats/nuts/dried fruit etc…..and then using a can of sweetened condensed milk as the “glue” but if you’re not into that I’ve used five dried apricots soaked in hot water and then blended together with a bit of honey and some peanut butter and used that as my “glue” and it worked really well too…….
Jessica says
I love that you still posted the recipe and were honest about it!
The last time I tried to make granola bars I had the same problems 🙁
Very good granola, but the whole “cutting into bars” part was so crumbly I just ended up with more granola.