Evolution of a recipe..and some input needed

I've been trying to recreate a store bought cookie bar and have almost succeeded. I'll explain below and am also hoping for some tips from you all to help me achieve the consistency I'm looking for.

So, this all started when I tasted a bar cookie during refreshment time at church. They were delicious and I could tell had some healthier ingredients in them. I could see sunflower and poppy seeds throughout the bars and was intrigued. I'm always looking for healthier, easy snacks to send in the kids lunchboxes.

I asked the lady who brings in and organizes the refreshments what they were. They are called "Healthy Hermits" and she had bought them from a local grocery store. She explained that all the ingredients were "normal" and ones that I probably had on hand. I tore off the ingredient list from the package (with permission of course :) ) and set out to recreate these at home. Side note: the stores version is almost $5 for a plastic tub container and I knew that I could make them for much less.

My first batch came out more like a cake. We all thought it tasted good but I had cooked the batter in a 9 X 13 pan, which turned out to be much too small and thus created a thick cake. The texture was also much drier than I wanted and a bit too light. The ones I had had at church were very moist and dense.

I made some changes to the second batch and cooked it in a jelly roll pan. These came out better but still weren't quite as moist and dense as I was hoping. So, now I'm getting ready to make a third batch (they really are quite tasty :) and have worked well as snacks) but am somewhat at a loss as to what changes to make.

I'll post the recipe and then my thoughts of what might work to achieve the desired texture, again, any input would be really appreciated.

Healthy Hermits:

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 cup whole grain flour *
1 cup raisin paste (I soak raisins in hot water and then puree them)
1/2 cup canola oil
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup white sugar (or sucanat)
1/2 cup honey
1 tsp vanilla
2 eggs
1 cup oats
1/4 cup almonds or walnuts chopped fine
2 TB sunflower seeds
2 TB poppy seeds
1/4 cup flax seed
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground cloves

Cream sugars with oil. Add in eggs, raisin paste and vanilla. Mix. In separate bowl mix together all dry ingredients. Add dry ingredients to wet mixture. Stir to combine. Pour into greased 15 X 10 inch pan. Bake at 350 until done 15-20 minutes.

*the original recipe called for malted barley flour, I had 6-grain flour on hand so that is what I used.

Here are my thoughts on getting a more dense, moist texture.
Increasing the raisin paste to 1 1/2 cups
Decreasing the eggs to 1
Decreasing the all purpose flour to 1 cup
Heating the sugars, oil and raisin paste to dissolve the sugars & honey before adding in the dry ingredients.

What it's REALLY all about...

I'm actually doing 3 studies consecutively right now. Two on my own and one as part of a group Bible study. They are on three completely different topics yet it is a blessing to see many of the same Truths from God's Word applied in each one of these.

One Truth that I have been challenged by is the fact that while Jesus died for us on the cross, and we can receive the gift of eternal life thru His sacrifice, His ultimate purpose was to glorify His Father. The cross (and everything else in this world) is not ultimately about us; it is all for the glory of God. Is this how I'm living my life? Is my focus in all that I do (including even the basics of housecleaning) to glorify God? Or am I living my life focusing mainly on myself?

This thought reminded me of the song "Much of you" by Stephen Curtis Chapman here are the lyrics....

How could I stand here
And watch the sun rise
Follow the mountains
Where they touch the sky
Ponder the vastness
And the depths of the sea
And think for a moment
The point of it all was to make much of me
Cause I'm just a whisper
And You are the thunder and

I want to make much of You, Jesus
I want to make much of Your love
I want to live today to give You the praise
That You alone are so worthy of
I want to make much of Your mercy
I want to make much of Your cross
I give You my life
Take it and let it be used
To make much of You

And how can I kneel here
And think of the cross
The thorns and the whip and the nails and the spear
The infinite cost
To purchase my pardon
And bear all my shame
To think I have anything worth boasting in except for Your name
Cause I am a sinner
And You are the Savior

I want to make much of You, Jesus
I want to make much of Your love
I want to live today to give You the praise
That You alone are so worthy of
I want to make much of Your mercy
I want to make much of Your cross
I give You my life
Take it and let it be used

To make much of You

This is Your love, oh God
Not to make much of me
But to send Your own son
So that we could make much of You

For all eternity

I want to make much of You Jesus
I want to make much of Your love
I want to live today to give You the praise
That You alone are so worthy of
I want to make much of Your mercy
I want to make much of Your cross
I give You my life
Take it and let it be used
To make much of You

I want to make much of You
Much of You Jesus

Thoughts for 2011

As I think of what I want for this year there are some things from last year that I want to continue and others that I want to ammend. Here is a short list of my goals for this year.

Blogging - While I loved the idea of using my blog to keep accountable in my Bible study I think I was a bit too ambitious on just what I wanted from those posts. This year I would like to once again use this for accountability but on a smaller scale. My goal is to post once a week; however rather than doing a long overview post I will post one or two simple truths, quotes or verses that God has used that week in my life.

Crafting - I do want to keep the same goal as last year of at least one homemade gift (or useful item for our family/home) per month. This month, I have already crocheted a Yoda for my son and a birthday gift for one of our nieces.

Bible Study - My goal is to always have something going. I tend to get off track when I finish one study and am not quite sure where to go from there. I want to have a new study lined up before finishing the one I am working thru.

Family - My goal here is to be more engaged with my children. Many days I tend to get caught up in other things and not be intentional about spending time down on their level interacting in games, crafts, etc.

So there it is, my goals for 2011. There are many other areas that I could list but I'll just keep it to those four ;)

2010 In review

Wow, it's hard to believe that it has been over two months since I've posted on here. Time sure does get away from me. I wanted to give a quick review of 2010 in relation to how I did on my goals.

First, it's pretty clear to see that I didn't make the "once a week" blogging goal. I had good intentions with this but unfortunately those intentions didn't translate into actions.

As for my Bible study goals. I did pretty well with this. I read several books and did a few studies. I admit that towards the end of the year I did slack and I am prayerfully looking to improve on this in 2011.

For crafting goals. I didn't make my "project a month" goal but I have to say I'm quite pleased with all that I did accomplish. I made 3 crocheted dolls (for my nieces that were born in 2010) and one for Keira (since she kept trying to steal the other dolls I was making) :) I also made a couple birthday gifts and 7 pairs of slippers (4 as Christmas gifts and 2 for my own girls). Below are a couple pictures showing 3 of the slippers and all of the dolls I made:








While I didn't make all my goals I have to say that 2010 was a year of much growth for me. I learned so much about God, His mercy, grace & comfort as well as His perfect timing. I'm certainly hoping to experience much more growth this year and have already seen & experienced God working in my life this year. I have set some goals for 2011 and will try to post those either later today or tomorrow.

In closing, Carrie, over at Life on a Back Road asked what word her readers would use to describe their goals for 2011. My word would be diligence. Diligence in seeking after and learning about God, diligence in teaching my children, praying for them and enjoying them. Diligence in caring for my husband, family and home.