"No Bake" Apple Bars

Well... I was on my "no bake energizing and not too fattening recipe kick", when I found this Betty Crocker gem and thought - hey! Might as well try it! I am glad I did. My husband actually LOVES them and he has been having them as his "dessert", which makes me so happy!

Here is what we will need:

• 1 1/2 of dried apples - finely chopped
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans
• 3 cups whole grain Total cereal
• 1/3 cup of honey
• 1/4 cup of golden raisins
• 1 T. of packed brown sugar
• 1/3 cup of peanut butter
• 1/4 cup of apple butter
• 1/2 t. of ground cinnamon
• 1/2 cup of old fashioned quick cooking oats
• 1/4 cup of dry roasted sunflower nuts

1st step:

Line bottom and sides of 8-inch square pan with foil; spray foil with cooking spray. Sprinkle 1/2 cup of the apples and 1/4 cup of the pecans over bottom of pan. Place cereal in resealable food-storage plastic bag; seal bag and coarsely crush with rolling pin or meat mallet. Set aside.

2nd step:

In 4-quart Dutch oven, heat 1/2 cup of the apples, the honey, raisins and brown sugar to boiling over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to medium. Cook uncovered about 1 minute, stirring constantly, until hot and bubbly; remove from heat.

3rd step:

Stir peanut butter into cooked mixture until melted. Stir in apple butter and cinnamon. Stir in oats and sunflower nuts until well mixed. Stir in crushed cereal.

4th step:

Press mixture very firmly (or bars will crumble) and evenly onto apples and pecans in pan. Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup apples and 1/4 cup pecans; press lightly into bars. Refrigerate about 2 hours or until set. For bars, cut into 4 rows by 3 rows. Store covered in refrigerator.

Suggestions: I highly suggest that you chop up or crush the pecans to VERY small pieces, or you may find them falling all over the place instead of sticking.

One of the very nicest things about life is the way we must regularly stop whatever it is we are doing and devote our attention to eating. -Luciano Pavarotti

Here is the link on Pinterest:

http://pinterest.com/pin/505458758148136700/

Enjoy!