This is the recipe I used to make for your Dad (and you guys for snacks) ALL THE TIME.  I varied the ingredients, based on what we had in the pantry.

Ingredients

• 3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
• 2 cups of crispy brown rice cereal 
  • substitutions: Rice Krispies, any other last bits of cereal you have in the pantry
• 1/2 cup sesame seeds
• 3-6 cups dried fruit (I tend towards to lower end but the original recipe calls for 6 cups)
  • options: chopped dried apricots, raisins, dried cranberries
  • options: I would often add up to 3 cups of nuts/seeds
• 1 cup protein powder (I usually used vanilla)
• 1 cup toasted wheat germ
• 2 cups brown rice syrup (one 16oz jar) 
  • substitutions: agave or light corn syrup
• 1 cup peanut butter
• 3 t vanilla extract
• 1 t cinnamon

Instructions

• Preheat oven to 350º
• Spread oats, cereal, and sesame seed (also wheat germ if you don't buy toasted) in a 13x9 pan.
• Bake, stirring occasionally, until oats are toasted, about 15 minutes

 

• Chop apricots, transfer to large bowl (I used my stand mixer).  Add other dried fruit, protein powder, and wheat germ (if not toasting).  Toss to mix.
• Add toasted oat/cereal mixture and mix.
• Grease 13x9 pan.

 

• In heavy saucepan, over medium-high heat, bring rice syrup to boil.
• Reduce heat to low, stir in peanut butter, vanilla, and cinnamon.
• Quickly pour syrup mixture into oat mixture and stir well.  (the stand mixer makes this SO much easier but can be done by hand)
• Immediately spread into 13x9 pan and press until level.  Work fast!

 

• Allow to chill until firm (on counter or in fridge)
• Cut into bars of your size choice.  Wrap in plastic wrap or use snack sized ziplock bags.  
• Can be refrigerated for up to four weeks or frozen for longer..