Cherries and Chocolate Breakfast Bars

Cherries and chocolate are synonymous with Valentine's Day, but usually not for breakfast! Here's a not too sweet treat to make for a special breakfast before sending the kids off to school. You can make these breakfast bars in advance and store them in an airtight container for several days.

What You Need:

• 2 cups rolled oats
• 1 cup pecan pieces
• ½ cup honey
• ¼ cup vegetable oil
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1-2 tablespoons of toasted flaxseed
• 1 cup dried cherries
• ½ cup of chocolate chips

What to Do:

1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
2. Grease a 9x9-inch baking dish and line with parchment paper. Sit this aside.
3. Pour the oatmeal and pecans onto a half-sheet pan and bake for about 6 minutes to lightly toast.
4. Let the oats and pecans cool until easy to handle and pour them into a large bowl.
5. Add flaxseed, honey, vegetable oil, vanilla, cinnamon, cherries and the chocolate chips into the bowl and stir until well combined.
6. Pour the mix into the baking dish, place a sheet of wax or parchment paper on top and flatten the mixture by pressing down on the paper to smooth and compress the bars.
7. When you're done, discard the paper.
8. Bake for 25 minutes.
9. Allow to cool completely before cutting into nine squares.

This tasty and healthy treat is a sweet and tempting way to get your kids' Valentine's Day started. Easy to make days in advance gives you a chance fit sweet thoughts into a busy schedule.