Homemade Granola Bars

I am trying to do better at making things at home for multiple reasons (cheaper, healthier, no preservatives or chemicals...) and I usually need snacks to sustain my studying time without breaking my focus by making a meal. Or, it is used as a work snack or even when I am starving instead of devouring a whole bag of chocolate.  I found the following website in my searching for granola bars: http://momonamission.me/?p=2175. This recipe is delicious, mostly because the peanut butter and honey mixture is something my sweet tooth likes. Although this recipe is great as is, I like to change it up by adding different things. So, here is the recipe with optional add-ins and suggestions. I hope you enjoy! 

No Bake 5-Ingredient Granola Bar

 

Ingredients:

 

1/2   Cup    Brown Sugar, Firmly Packed

1/2   Cup    Honey

1/2   Cup    Peanut Butter (Adams non-hydrogenated is my favorite)

2      Cups   Cheerios

2      Cups   Oats (Old Fashioned are much better than Instant, which has a glue like aftertaste)

 

 

Optional Ingredients to mix in or press on top: Dried Fruit, Nuts, Cocoa Powder (no need to add more sweet to this), Coconut, Chocolate Chips/M&M...

 

 

Instructions:

 

1. In a small pan, mix Brown Sugar and Honey.

2. Heat and stir until boiling.

3. Remove from heat and stir in Peanut Butter.

4. Add any optional stir-in ideas: Cocoa Powder, Nuts, Dried Fruit, and Coconut...

5. Pour in measured Cheerios and Oats and mix well.

 

Tip: Try to have all the ingredients ready ASAP as it doesn't mix as well once it starts to cool.

 

6. Press firmly into a greased 9x13 pan.

7. Press on top any optional ingredients: Chocolate Chips/M&M...

8. Cool and cut into desired sizes.

 

Tip: Wait long enough for it to stick together, but not too long that it becomes too difficult to cut.

 

9. You can freeze these bars individually and thaw on the day you want to eat.

10. Or, store in an airtight container for 3-5 days.

 

 

 





Potato Soup from our Christmas Party

POTATO SOUP  (obtained from Betsy Brannon Green’s Copycat)

P.S. This is used in the book as a remedy for morning sickness…J

P.P.S. I can’t find my original copy, so I went from memory for our party. It seemed to work out.

1: 5 Lb Bag           Potatoes

2: 10 Oz Cans      Chicken Broth

1: 8 Oz Block       Pepper Jack Cheese, shredded

1: 10 Oz Can        Cream of Chicken

1: 10 Oz Can        Cream of Celery (or other flavor)

1: 16 Oz Tub        Sour Cream

1: Pint                   Half & Half

                                Ham, cubed (my personal addition)

 

Cut up potatoes and cook them in both cans of the chicken broth until they are no longer hard. Do not drain. Add shredded cheese and melt. Once the cheese is melted add the cream of soups, sour cream and half and half (and ham if you would like more of a main dish). Heat the soup through and enjoy.