Healthy Bars - cooking recipe

Ingredients

3 Tbsp. butter, soft
2/3 c. firmly packed brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 3/4 c. bran - wheat, oat or rice
1 c. buttermilk
1 c. all-purpose flour
2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 c. chopped walnuts
3/4 c. raisins
2 c. figs or prunes, cut into 1/2-inch chunks

Preparation

Spray a 13 x 9-inch baking pan with no-stick spray.
Cream the butter and sugar.
Add eggs and combine.
Add the bran and buttermilk and sift in the flour, soda and salt.
Stir just until well mixed.
Stir in nuts and fruit.
Bake until edges are lightly browned, about 20 minutes.
Test with clean straw to make sure center is done.
Cool completely in the pan on a wire rack.
Cut into bars and wrap each bar in foil, for carrying on hikes.
These travel well if treated with some care (don't put them on the bottom of your pack).
They keep well but should be frozen if made far in advance.