Bird-watching Bars

Ready in 30 mins Makes about 30 pieces

2 cups rolled oats

¾ cup sesame seeds

¼ cup whole flax seeds

1 cup pumpkin seeds

1 cup sunflower seeds

1 cup raisins or other dried fruit

120g butter

½ cup raw sugar

1/3 cup golden syrup

1/3 cup peanut butter or hazelnut butter

Preheat oven to 180C and grease a 30cm x 24cm slice tin.

Combine the rolled oats and sesame, flax, pumpkin and sunflower seeds in a roasting dish, spread out evenly and roast until lightly golden (about 15 minutes). Tip into a large mixing bowl, allow to cool and then add the raisins or other dried fruit. Combine butter, sugar, golden syrup and nut butter in a pot and stir constantly over a medium heat until butter has melted and sugar has dissolved. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to lowest simmer and cook uncovered for 5 minutes, stirring to prevent catching. Add to dry ingredients and stir to combine evenly. Press into prepared tin and refrigerate 2-3 hours until set before cutting into bars or squares. Stored in an airtight container, it will keep for several weeks.

ANNABEL SAYS: Our supermarkets have been invaded by commercial muesli bars but these are expensive and often have an inordinate amount of sugar in them. This bar is an easy, inexpensive and delicious alternative — and you know exactly what’s in it. You can use any mixture of seeds and grains to a total of five cups and other dried fruit instead of raisins. If you don’t like nut butter, use sweetened condensed milk to hold the mixture together.