Nutty for Oats, Bananas and Peanut Butter

I love my peanut butter granola bar recipe as is, but decided to take it a step further by adding 2 ripe bananas to the mix. The bananas add another dimension of goodness, not to mention their healthy benefits. Did you know bananas protect your heart, strengthen bones, and control blood pressure? Good stuff they are! So if you haven't tried the original granola bars yet, go directly to phase 2 and bake these good-for-you, tasty, easy to make little darlings. You won't be disappointed.

Peanut Butter and Banana Granola Bars

Vegetable cooking spray

1/2 stick unsalted butter

2 egg whites

1/2 cup peanut butter- I use creamy, but chunky would work fine

2 small ripe bananas, mashed

1/3 cup Splenda no calorie sweetner

1/4 cup honey

pinch of salt

2 cups old fashioned oats-1 cup ground in spice mill or food processor, the other cup left whole

1/3 cup mini chocolate chips

Pre heat oven to 350 degrees. Prep an 8 x 8 inch pan (I use disposable aluminum) with vegetable spray. Melt butter on stovetop and set aside to cool. In large mixing bowl beat egg whites until frothy. Add peanut butter, Splenda, bananas and honey to the frothy eggs and combine well. Here's a hint I always give- spray the measuring cups that you're using for the honey and the peanut butter with non-stick spray and the contents will slide right out. Next add the cooled butter. Combine everything and you're ready to add the oats. Using a rubber spatula or wooden spoon and some elbow grease, combine oats with all the other ingredients. When incorporated, add the mini chocolate chips. Pour batter (it's kind of thick) into prepared pan, smooth with spatula so it's evenly distributed and bake 25 minutes on middle rack until edges begin to brown. Remove from oven and let cool one hour. They really do need time to set up. Slice into any size pieces you like. I make 12 slices per batch, and as you can see, they disappear fast.