Banana Oat Energy Bars

You can make some of your own energy bars for that end-of-summer bike ride. The fresh-baked taste is hard to beat. This recipe is easy to adapt so you can be creative. Try some of the variations at the bottom of the page if desired.

• 1 large egg
• ½ cup packed brown sugar
• ½ cup mashed banana
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• ½ cup flour
• 1 cup rolled or quick oats
• 2 tablespoons flax (ground)*
• 2 tablespoons wheat germ
• ¼ cup chopped nuts or coconut (I used macadamia nuts)**

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium sized bowl, beat the egg with a spoon and mix in the brown sugar until smooth. Mix in the mashed banana and vegetable oil. Add remaining ingredients and mix just until well combined. Spoon the batter into an 8 x 8-inch baking pan that has been lightly sprayed with baking spray and spread evenly. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until it is lightly browned at the edges. Cut into bars. Wrap them with plastic wrap to keep them from drying out. These will keep for a few days, but are best within a day or two.

*If you have wheat germ but not ground flax seed or vice-versa, you can just use one or the other.

**Variations on the Theme: Throw in some chocolate chips or white chocolate chips in addition to or along with the nuts. You can also add dried fruit as desired. If you throw in some tropical fruit and coconut, try adding ¼ teaspoon rum extract and ½ teaspoon of lime juice!

Cut these into bars and pack along on your next ride!