Yogurt Blueberries

This is a nice healthy snack and very delicious!

Ingredients:


Fresh blueberries, 2 cups
Yogurt, 24 oz. You can use any flavor. I chose vanilla.


Directions:


Place blueberries and yogurt in a bowl. Stir.


Cover cookie sheet with wax paper.


Stick a blueberry with a toothpick, dip and swirl with yogurt. Once  the blueberry is covered with yogurt transfer to cookie sheet.

When all the blueberries are covered place cookie sheet in freezer for 15 minutes. It does not take long to freeze.


I transferred the blueberries to a zip lock baggie and kept in the freezer.


Enjoy!

5 Ingredient Peanut Butter Granola Bars (How Sweet It Is)

makes 12-16 granola squares

4 cups rolled oats

2 tablespoons chia seeds (these are optional, I just love the texture they give)

1/2 cup unsalted peanuts, chopped

3/4 cup natural peanut butter, melted

1/2 cup brown rice syrup (honey works too!)

add ins:

chocolate chips

wheat germ

flaxseed

dried fruit (I made some with cherries!)

other nuts

seeds
coconut

Preheat over to 350.

In a large bowl, combine oats, chia seeds and peanuts. Add brown rice syrup (or honey) and mix to combine. Add melted peanut butter and mix until moistened. This works as a perfect, simple granola bar, but you can also throw in any add-ins at this time. Fold them into the dough. You may need to get in there with your hands and work the granola dough! If dough is still too dry (this can depend on your ingredients) add more peanut butter or syrup (or honey) 1 tablespoon at a time until moistened.

Press dough in a greased (non-stick spray) 9 x 13 baking dish. Bake for 25 minutes.

These would also work as a great no-bake granola bar, but I liked how they came together and the chocolate chips melted as they got warm. If you want to make no-bakes, simply press the dough into the pan and refrigerate for 60 minutes.

Oatmeal Cookie (Cleverly Inspired)

My friend made these cookies and shared them with us at the park. So delicious AND healthy. The kids loved them. She didn't add chocolate chips but added almonds. So good and can't wait to make these. 

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar

1 cup butter or margarine, softened 

1 teaspoon vanilla 

1 egg 

2 cups quick-cooking oats 

1 1/2 cups Gold Medal® all-purpose or unbleached flour 

1 teaspoon baking soda 

1/4 teaspoon salt 

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips (6 oz) 

1 cup chopped nuts, if desired (I didn't)

Heat oven to 350°F. In large bowl, stir brown sugar and butter until blended. Stir in vanilla and egg until light and fluffy. Stir in oats, flour, baking soda and salt; stir in chocolate chips and nuts. 


2 Onto ungreased cookie sheet, drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls about 2 inches apart.

3 Bake 9 to 11 minutes or until golden brown. Cool slightly; remove from cookie sheet to wire rack.

Crispy Honey Nut Granola Bars (Once Upon a Chef)

I am still looking for  a good granola bar recipe.  I am going to give this one a try. I will let you know how it turns out!  


Makes 12-16 granola bars


Ingredients

1½ cups old fashioned rolled oats 
1 cup chopped walnuts
½ cup sliced almonds
⅔ cup shredded unsweetened coconut (available at Whole Foods or natural food markets)
½ cup honey
3 tablespoons light brown sugar 
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1½ teaspoons vanilla extract 
¼ teaspoon salt
1 cup crisp rice cereal, such as Rice Krispies

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a baking sheet with heavy duty aluminum foil.  

2. Spread the oats, walnuts and almonds onto prepared baking sheet. Place in the oven and toast for 7 minutes.  Add coconut and toss well, then place back in the oven to cook about 6-8 minutes more. Keep an eye on it towards the end; you want the coconut to turn golden but not burn.

3. In the meantime, combine the honey, brown sugar, butter, vanilla extract and salt in a small saucepan and place over medium heat. Stir with a whisk until the brown sugar is completely dissolved. Turn off heat and set aside.

4. Once the oat mixture is done, remove it from the oven and reduce heat to 300 degrees. Combine the the oat mixture, honey mixture and rice cereal in a large bowl and toss well. (Reserve aluminum foil.)

5. Use the reserved foil to line a 9 x 13-inch baking dish, then spray foil with nonstick cooking spray. Turn granola bar mixture out into the prepared baking dish and spread evenly, being careful not to press down too hard. Bake for 20 minutes (be sure heat is reduced to 300 degrees). Remove from the oven and cool completely, about 1-1½ hours. Use the foil overhang to tranfer bars to cutting board, then use a large knife to cut into rectangles. Store in a single layer in an airtight container for up to a week (do not stack the bars or they will stick together and fall apart).