Bar or big cookie?Mr. Tidbit finds himself surprised by several things today. First, he could have sworn that Keebler -- or parent Kellogg -- already was making an item like new Keebler Granola Fudge bars, based on a combination of whole-grain rolled oats, crisp rice and whole-grain barley.

Keebler certainly wasn't, and even Kellogg, with its many kinds of Special K, Nutri-Grain and Fiber Plus bars, seems to have come no closer than its Special K protein snack bar, which isn't very close at all.

The Granola Fudge bars, bar-shaped and full of granola, do seem to have been inspired more by Keebler's Fudge Shoppe cookie line than by anything like Special K.

Mr. Peanut butter?Seems like Planter's peanut butter has been around forever. (Mr. Tidbit can easily picture jars of Planter's peanut butter featuring Mr. Peanut and his monocle -- those images are in Mr. Tidbit's mind only because, like Mr. Peanut, Mr. Tidbit goes back a ways.) But for all practical purposes, Planter's peanut butter -- creamy or crunchy -- is new.

AL SICHERMAN