Yar-Bars

Have you ever been in a store that sells individually wrapped "bars" that are, in fact, really good but cost you a months salary? These bars are often called "energy bars" or "goodness bars". Well, I have enjoyed these goodness bars when I have broken down and spent the money on them but about a year ago I decided that I would take a stab at making similar bars at home for a quarter of the price.

My recipe changes (slightly) each time that I make them (as it depends largely on what I have in the fridge/cupboard) but the basic ingredients stay the same. The bars or "yar-bars" (don't know where this came from) are loved by all that taste them and they are relatively easy to make.

1 bag small white marshmallows
2 tbsp butter
Approx 2 cups of either Special K cereal or Rice Crispies
Approx 2 cups Corn Flakes
1/2 cup dried cranberries (you could use dried blueberries or dried cherries)
1/4 cup flax seeds
1/4 cup toasted slivered or sliced almonds (more if you like)
1/4 cup diced dried mango
1/4 cup diced prunes
1/4 cup diced dried apricots
1/4 cup chocolate chips

* You could use other things like pumpkin seeds or diced dried apple etc


In a large (non-stick if possible) pot, melt the 2 tbsp butter over medium heat

when the butter is melted, add the entire bag of small marshmallows, stir constantly until marshmallows are melted (do not turn the heat too high as the marshmallows will burn).

Add all of the cereal and mix into marshmallows

Add all of the other ingredients BUT save the chocolate chips until the very end so that they don't melt too much.

Once all of the ingredients have been mixed in the mixture will be very thick and hard to "mix"

Take the mixture out with a metal spoon (if you run the spoon under hot water before transferring the mixture, you will find that mixture doesn't stick quite as much as it normally does) and press into the buttered dish.

Push the mixture down into the pan so that the final bars are quite compressed. Once the mixture is in the dish and pressed down, cover with a layer of saran wrap and refrigerate. Once the bars have cooled they are fairly easy to cut up into appropriate sizes.

This is such a good snack and depending on what you add to the bars you can increase the health factor and the kids still seem to like them because the first ingredient is marshmallows. 'Nuf Said.