Granola Bars

Yummy! My sister sent me the link to these granola bars.

It looked pretty easy, and the ingredients were almost identical to my favorite granola bars that are $5 a box. I'm eating lots of snacks these days (breastfeeding makes me hungry) so a cheaper snack option sounded good.

I made them Friday evening when I was home alone with the baby. They came together quickly and I just left them in the fridge overnight before cutting (rather than putting them in the freezer as suggested). I didn't measure precisely as I figured that granola was more like cooking than baking and thus probably forgiving. I'll definitely be making these again!

Notes and Next Time

• I left out the flax seed (since the baby was sleeping and I didn't want to wake her up by grinding them). I'd add them next time.
• My favorite granola bars (from Cascadian Organics) are basically the same but have rice puff cereal added. I'll do that next time as I think it'll make the bars lighter..
• Other nuts and fruit would be good. I'm thinking dried blueberries and hazelnuts, apricots and pecans.

Ingredients/Recipe

Chocolate Cranberry Almond No-Bake Granola Bars

1.5 cups whole oats

1/2 cup dried cranberries

1/2 cup coarsely chopped and toasted almonds

2 x 1/4 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips

1/4 cup ground flax

big sprinkle cinnamon

1/2 cup brown rice syrup

1 tsp butter-

1 tsp real vanilla extract

Directions:

coarsely chop almonds. toast on a baking sheet in oven until fragrant and toasty.- heat syrup and butter in small sauce pan over medium-heat until bubbling. stir frequently and let boil for a couple of minutes.- while waiting for syrup to bubble, mix all dry ingredients - once syrup has boiled for a few minutes, stir into dry ingredients.- press mixture firmly into greased (sprayed) small square cake pan. sprinkle with remaining chocolate chips, press firmly - put pan in freezer until totally chilled and firm. pop entire thing onto cutting board and cut into 12 pieces with big knife. store in refrigerator.

Crockpot Oatmeal

So, I've been meaning to make crockpot oatmeal for like the past 6 months? 1 year? something like that. Last night, I finally did it! I dumped the steel cut oats, water, salt and some cinnamon in the pot, turned it on and went to bed. It was warm in the morning. I think it was a bit overcooked, but overall, tasted like steel cut oats. I added brown sugar, milk, and walnuts to mine. I have enough now to have oatmeal every morning at school as long as I remember to pack some to reheat in the microwave.

Notes and Next Time

• Make sure to make extra - not just cause extra is good but because our crockpot is big. I wouldn't want to make a smallish batch and have it all glued to the bottom.
• Maybe put it on low for only 8 hours instead of 10?
• adding dried fruit while it's cooking might be nice

Ingredients/Recipe

• 2 cups steel cut oats
• 8 cups water
• salt
• cinnamon