MAKE THESE AND THANK ME LATER.

Is it just my kids or could yours snack all day long? It seems like my kids are always hungry. Nugget can finish a great meal and twenty minutes later be asking for a snack. Dude hears that magic word and he comes running too. I'm sure like many of you, I hate buying packaged snacks for my kids, because 1) it can get spendy and 2) its really just a lot of junk disguised in fancy wrapping.

Last week a fellow Mama brought these homemade granola bars of sorts to our ECFE class, and even had the recipe printed off for all of us. Score! Both my kids got to try them, loved them, and were asking for more! They are super easy, so I whipped up a batch at the same time I was preparing dinner tonight. The kids couldn't wait to get their paws on them, so I served them as dessert, ha!

I ate one too, and agree that they are scrumptious. During a season of sugar and cookies galore, its nice to have a home baked treat that is actually healthy and tastes good too.

So, do yourself and your kids a favor and go make these!

Squirrel Tails (I really have no clue why they are named this!)

Ingredients:
1 ripe banana
1/2 Cup applesauce
1 Cup oats
Cinnamon to taste

*If you really wanna step up the health meter, use organic ingredients!

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Thoroughly mash 1 banana in a medium mixing bowl.
3. Mix in 1/2 Cup applesauce (*note: If you reduce the amount of applesauce used the amount of oats will need to be reduced as well.)
4. Mix in 1 Cup oats (the mixture should become sticky and hold together well, not runny. If it appears too runny mix in more oats.)
5. Add cinnamon and mix well.
6. Using a 1 Tablespoon measuring spoon, scoop mixture out and form into bar shape on cookie sheet. They can be close together since the bars do not rise or expand during baking.
7. Bake at 350 degrees for 18-21 minutes, they are done when they come off cookie sheet.
8. Let cool and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.