Healthy Breakfast Bars – My Way!

Ingredients

8 cups old fashioned oats
2 tablespoons baking powder
2 teaspoons salt
2 tablespoons cinnamon
1 cup raisins, do not drain (soaked till plump at least 30 minutes ~ SEE Scotch whiskey, or juice in WET INGREDIENTS below!)
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 1/2 cups finely chopped walnuts (TOASTED dry in an iron skillet)
4 eggs, beaten
1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin (not pie filling)
2 cups milk
3 cups brown sugar (NOT hard-packed)
2 tablespoons vanilla
1/2 cup scotch whiskey (substitute bourbon, or apple juice ~ FOR SOAKING RAISINS, ABOVE)

Grease two 9“ x 13“ Pyrex pans.
Preheat oven to 325°F.
Combine scotch whiskey (or apple juice), vanilla, and RAISINS, in a microwave bowl ~ microwave for 1 minute and soak till plump (about 30 minutes) ~ do not drain!
Combine dry ingredients (except raisins) in large bowl, stirring well.
Combine remaining wet ingredients in a large bowl, or an 8 cup measure. Whisk thoroughly for a uniform, lump-free mixture.
Pour wet ingredients, including undrained raisins, into dry ingredients. Stir well.
Pour into greased pans and bake for 30 minutes at 325 degrees. (Bake pans one at a time, or together side by side on the same rack ~ rotate pans after 20 minutes.).
Cool completely and cut each pan into 25 squares ~ I cut mine with a pizza cutter! Wrap individually in plastic wrap ~ bars stay fresh and moist for two weeks! Freeze after wrapping individually, if desired, for a once a month cooking (OAMC) breakfast adventure!
NOTE: Dried cranberries, cherries, apricots, dates, and/or coconut (or a combination) can be substituted for the raisins to make a different bar.