Glorious Granola

Granola is glorious, and it makes some great holiday gifts!

This first started when I made some granola and protein bars for my Hubby and his men when they were out in the field training. Then I had the idea to just make some more granola and use it as holiday gifts! Its a little better than baking cookies or sending cookies or bars in a jar (those are awesome ideas though!) especially for the heath conscious, granola seemed like a good bet!

I made some protein bars and granola bites for my Hubby and I made regular loose granola for gifts. All three were very easy and the recipes, after adapted, don't call for crazy hard-to-find ingredients either. Score!

~Chocolate Peanut Butter Granola Bites~

(From How Sweet It Is)

Makes about 24 bites

2 c. dry rolled oats (not quick cooking)

1/4 tsp. salt

1/4 c. wheat germ*

1/4 c. ground flaxseed (by the oats in the store)

1/3 c. chopped almonds

1/2 c. chopped peanuts

1/3 c. chocolate chips, chopped

1/2 c. natural peanut butter

1/4 c. honey + a bit more

Preheat the oven to 325 F. In a large bowl combine the oats, flax, wheat germ, salt, nuts and chocolate chips and stir to combine. Add peanut butter and mix with 2 spoons, coating as much as you can. You can do this with your hands so it creates more of a "dough". Add in honey slowly and mix to coat thoroughly. If the granola will not stick together, add in more honey, 1 tsp. at a time until it does. Be sure to really mix the granola together as best you can.

Spray a mini muffin tin** with non-stick spray. Using an ice cream scoop, cookie scoop, or tbsp., scoop balls of granola into the tins, making sure they stick together as best they can. Bake for 25 min., checking every 10 min. or so to make sure it is not burning. Remove from oven and let cool completely - this is a must to ensure the granola sticks together. When completely cool, gently twist or use a spoon to remove the granola from the tins.

*I may have used all wheat germ or all flaxseed. I can not remember. So, it would have been 1/2 c. of either wheat germ or flaxseed. Use whatever you have on hand.

**At the time I did not have a mini or regular muffin tin so I just used my cookie scoop and scooped out the granola onto a sprayed cookie sheet. I made sure they were really close together so that they kept their shape. It worked out well.

These were good, you could really taste the peanut butter and the chocolate chips. My type of granola if I am going to eat some! Hubby said they must have been good because they disappeared quickly.

~Chocolate Pumpkin Protein Bars~

(Adapted from Snack Girl)

1/4 c. whole wheat flour

1/4 c. ground flaxseed

2 c. rolled oats (no quick cooking)

1 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 c. peanut butter

1 tbsp. cocoa powder

1/4 c. maple syrup

1/4 c. canned pumpkin

1/4 c. sugar

2 tbsp. pumpkin seeds (pepitas)

3 tbsp. prunes, chopped

Preheat the oven to 350 F. Coat a 9 in. x 12 in. pan* with cooking spray. Combine the flour, flaxseed, oats, baking powder, and salt in a large bowl. In a smaller bowl, add the maple syrup, pumpkin, and sugar. Mix the peanut butter with the cocoa powder in another bowl, then add to the pumpkin and syrup mixture. Stir to combine. Add the wet into the dry and stir until well combined. Stir in the chopped prunes and pepitas. Evenly press the granola batter into the prepared pan. This may require some work as the batter is on the dry side, you will have to press and distribute the batter evenly in the pan to ensure even cooking.

Bake the bars for 15 min. and no more! The will be done after the 15 min. Allow to cool, then cut into bars with a sharp knife.

*I used a glass loaf pan to make my bars and it worked nicely.

This were very chocolatly and you could taste the peanut butter as well. They were a little more filling than the granola bites for sure! They were also less crunchy. Very different, but good none-the-less. Again, Hubby said they were gone in a flash!

I did make one other recipe to send with Hubby, but they were not very photogenic and they were probably my least favorite of the bunch.

Now, onto the granola that I sent as gifts to the family! I made two different types...

~Maple Pumpkin Granola~

(From Sunflower Days)

1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice

1/4 tsp. salt

1/2 c. maple syrup

1/2 c. raisins

1/2 c. craisins

1/3 c. sliced almonds

1/3 c. pecans, chopped

1/3 c. macadamia nuts, chopped

3 c. rolled oats (not quick cooking)

Preheat oven to 300 F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. In a large bowl add the nuts, fruit, and oats. Sprinkle over cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, and salt. Mix to combine. Pour maple syrup over the oat mixture and stir until well combined. Spread out on the baking sheet and bake for 30 min. Remove from oven and break up the mixture with your hands. Allow to cool completely then place into sealed containers. Can be kept at room temp. or in the fridge. 

This granola was my favorite. I love me some fruit in my granola. I like anything sweet in my granola for that matter! The maple and the pumpkin flavors come out quite nicely.

~Nutty Vanilla Granola~

(From Noble Pig)

4 c. old fashioned oats (not instant)

1/2 c. sliced almonds

1/2 c. walnuts, chopped

1/2 c. pecans, chopped

1/2 c. sunflower seeds

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 c. brown sugar, packed

1/2 c. honey

1/3 c. vegetable oil

3 tsp. vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 375 F. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. In a large bowl mix the oats, nuts, sunflower seeds, cinnamon, and salt. Set aside.

In a saucepan, combine brown sugar, honey, and oil and bring to a boil over med. heat. Remove from heat and slowly stir in vanilla. (not to quickly or it will burn) Pour the hot liquid over the oat mixture. Stir and toss until thoroughly mixed. 

Spread granola evenly on the baking sheet and bake until golden brown, 18-20 min. stirring occasionally  to ensure even baking. Really watch it carefully so it does not burn. Transfer granola to a large bowl and let it cool, stirring occasionally. Once cool, place in a sealed container. 

Again, another good granola. This one was Hubby's favorite so I made a little extra and kept it so that I could use it as a quick breakfast paired with some greek yogurt. Hubby is not a fan of dried fruit, so this one was right up his alley! It has a very nice flavor and the nuts give it wonderful crunch and texture.

The packaging....complete with a bow on top!

These two loose granola recipes were packed in plastic containers, labeled with cute labels, tied up, and shipped out to my family, Hubby's family, and Aunts and uncles as Christmas presents. I sure hope they enjoyed them as much as we did!

ENJOY!

Day 11: 12 Days of Cookies Countdown

Moving along....moving along!

Here is day 11 of the "12 Days of Cookies" adventure. This is a new recipe for me this holiday season. I really like the Trader Joe's Candy Cane Joe-Joe's that only come out during the Christmas holidays. They are basically an oreo, but with the edition of candy cane pepperminty-ness in the cream filling. They are addicting!! The combo of peppermint and chocolate is really a good one. I was craving something similar, and this is what I found:

~Choco-Peppermint Cookie Bars~

(adapted from Serious Eats)

1/2 c. flour

1/2 c. unsweetened cocoa powder

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

1 stick (1/2 c.) unsalted butter, softened

1/4 c. packed dark brown sugar

1 lg. egg

1 c. semisweet chocolate chips

1 c. coarsely chopped hard peppermint candies

Preheat the oven to 375 F with the rack in the middle of the oven. Line a 13x9 in. cookie sheet with foil, making sure to cover the edges as well. Butter the foil or spray with cooking spray.

Whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and slat in a small bowl. Beat together the butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg until combined. Slowly mix in the flour mixture and mix until just combined. Stir in the chocolate chips and peppermint candy. Spread the dough evenly in the pan and bake until slightly puffed about 20 min. Cool completely on the pan, then transfer to a cutting board and cut into bars. 

Note: This recipe did not fill the pan all the way. I just spread it evenly onto about 2/3 of the pan.

These cookie bars were okay, not quite the same as Joe-Joe's, but they did meet the chocolate and peppermint quota for sure! They were a little dry for a cookie. Maybe the addition of some sort of frosting? Make them a little more oreo-esqe? I would give them a try if you have never had the chocolate-peppermint combo before, tis quite wonderful!

ENJOY!!

Sweet Sweetness

Dessert time ahead!

I had the opportunity to make some desserts! I made them for a friend of the Hubby...and found out that Rice Krispie Bars were a favorite, so those were made, along with another variety, Scotcheroos.

~Easy Rice Krispie Bars~

(can be found on most rice krispie cereal boxes; slightly adapted)

4 tbsp. butter, cubed

1 10 oz. bag marshmallows, about 40

2 tsp. vanilla

6 c. rice krispie cereal

In a large pot, big enough to hold the 6 c. of cereal, melt the butter over low heat. Once melted, add the marshmallows, stir regularly until completely melted. Remove from heat and add the vanilla and stir to combine. Add the cereal and stir until evenly coated with marshmallow mixture. Pour into a greased 9 x 13 in. pan. Let cool. 

The Scotcheroos recipe can be found here. They have the addition of peanut butter in with the rice krispies, and over the top is spread a mixture or semi-sweet chocolate chips and butterscotch chips, i.e. Scotcheroos.

Ooooh! I also got myself a treat too! I went to Fresh Market and got some Toffe-Chocolate Covered Pretzels. I loves me some chocolate covered pretzels! White or Milk, it makes no difference, but these ones had toffee bits sprinkled on top, and boy-o-boy do I like toffee! Perfect salty-sweet combo. If you ever get a chance to try them, do! I think I might research a recipe, cant be to hard, or experiment for myself to make some at home! Yeah!!  Now I just need an appointment to make them for.....

ENJOY!

Ummm, yeah....

So I am really really bad at this "updating" thing that comes along with having a blog. BUT....I am going to make up for it with an AWESOME lemon bar recipe! As for my excuse for not blogging...Life has gotten in the way...work, friends, hubby, etc. and an upcoming move! (more on that later)

Here is the recipe!

~Awesome Lemon Bars~

(recipe courtesy of Paula Dean)

Crust

2 c. AP flour

2 c. powdered sugar (plus more for dusting)

Pinch of Salt

1 c. (2 sticks) butter at room temp.

Filling

4 eggs

2 c. sugar

6 tbsp. AP flour

6-8 tbsp. fresh lemon juice (about 5 good sized lemons)

Preheat the oven to 350 F. Lightly grease or spray a 9 x 13in. pan. Make the curst by combining the flour, powdered sugar, salt and butter. Cut in the butter to make a crumbly mixture. Press crust into the pan evenly, making sure to get the corners. Bake for 20 min. 

Meanwhile, make the filling by combining the eggs, sugar, flour and lemon juice and whisk to combine. Pour over the baked crust and return to the oven to bake for 25 min. longer. When done, remove from oven and let cool before dusting with powdered sugar. Cut and ENJOY!

Is it a Holiday?

Wow, what a day...wait, what day is today? Oh yeah, it's THANKSGIVING!!! Sure don't feel like it, at least to me. It was such an odd day. Started out that the hubby and I had plans to go to a family friends for Turkey day dinner, but those plans got changed, okay no problem...lets just roll with the flow. Well, we woke up, went to the gym...came home and hard core cleaned the house with the expectation of my In-laws spending the weekend. Okay, what's next? Right, I need to go to the grocery store to pick up some last minute items...okay, in the car over there and when I get there found out that they had closed up for the day...dang! Its the towns only grocery store, you would think they would stay open later that 3:00. Oh well, went to CVS that was open...didn't get everything that I needed, but made due... So, in the car on the way home and I get a call from my hubby who says that he has to go into work earlier than expected, okay...dang! Can't have a mini Thanksgiving with just the two of us in the afternoon! I tell him that I will have food for him when he gets home, but im hungry! I tell him I might eat, and I do...I made Turkey Meatballs (Yummy!) and stovetop stuffing. I also made some spicy turkey sausage when my hubby got home cuz I ate a good deal of the meatballs...I had more of them and less of the stuffing.

~Easy Turkey Meatballs~

1.25 lbs. Ground Turkey

1 egg

1 c. Italian seasoned bread crumbs

2 tbsp. ketchup

2 tsp. oregano

2 tsp. parsley

2 tsp. onion powder

2 tsp. garlic powder

1 tsp. garlic salt

Preheat oven to 400 F. Combine all the ingredients in a large bowl and mix to combine. Roll into golfball sized balls and place onto a greased baking sheet. Bake for 20-25 min. or until the meatballs register 180 degrees on a thermometer.

The hubbs got home and started eating, and then he started to feel a little sick...must have been the lack of food all day and then quickly eating really dense food...and the energy drinks that he said he had at work. Bummer man! I don't want him to be sick! So we waited a while and then had dessert! (I was going to make apple pie, but I couldn't get some ingredients due to the grocery store being closed) I made Special K Bars or Scotcheroos as they are also known by. Then I baked up one pie crust that I prepared the other day, and made Mom's Chocolate Pie that is now firming up in the fridge! I also stared some Wild Rice in the microwave that will cook for a while, then sit and steam overnight...can't wait for Thanksgiving Round II tomorrow!! Sans turkey, but hey, thats fine with me!!

~Scotcheroos~

(aka Special K Bars)

1 c. light corn syrup

1 c. granulated sugar

1 c. creamy peanut butter

6 c. rice krispies cereal (or Special K)

1 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 c. butterscotch chips

In a medium sauce pan (large enough to hold all 6 c. of cereal and be able to stir) combine the corn syrup and sugar. Bring to a boil over medium high heat stirring occasionally to prevent burning. When the mixture comes to a boil, remove from heat and stir in peanut butter. Once the peanut butter has melted and combined, add in the cereal. Stir to coat completely. Spread mixture into a 9in x 10in baking dish spayed with cooking spray. Let sit. Meanwhile, in a small sauce pan, melt the chocolate and butterscotch chips over LOW heat stirring constantly to prevent burning. Once melted and combined, pour over peanut butter cereal mixture and spread to cover. Let cool. Cut into bite sized bars and ENJOY!!

On the docket for tomorrow:

1. Finish Wild Rice

2. Finish and Bake Apple Pie

3. Do whatever else that may need to be done...

In the time being, here are some picture and some recipes that I am sure everyone is waiting for!

Pie Crust and Apple Pie Recipe coming soon!!

Mom's Chocolate Pie Recipe here.

More Good Yummy Things to Bake!!

I made some thing NEW!! Yesss!

So, I was going to make some White Chocolate Citrus Cookies, but then I realized that I did not have an orange to zest and I had just bought some white chocolate chips just to make them! So, not wanting to waste, but not wanting to go out and buy more stuff, I opened the recipe box and found this one that used white chocolate chips!

Polka-Dot Cookie Bars

Yeah, they are a bar versus a cookie, but thats okay with me! I like most things that are sweet! So, here is the recipe that I used, slightly modified, and I will deem them:

~Black & White Cookie Bars~

1 c. (2 sticks) butter or margarine, softened

3/4 c. sugar

3/4 c. packed brown sugar

2 eggs

1/2 tsp. almond extract

2 1/4 c. flour

1/3 c. baking cocoa

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

1 pkg. (10 oz.) vanilla chips, divided

In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugars. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in extract. Combine flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt; gradually add to the creamed mixture. Set aside 1/4 c. vanilla chips; stir remaining chips into the batter. Spread evenly into a greased 15 in. x 10 in. x 1 in. baking pan. Sprinkle with reserved chips. Bake at 375F for 18-23 min or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool before cutting. (I doubled this recipe and used a slightly different pan; they were thicker so I had to increase the baking time slightly.)

These were a hit!! Enjoy!