Granola Cereral

Want a healthy way to eat your oats without making them into mush by cooking them? Why not try granola?

Ingredients:

2 cups oats
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
1/4 cup wheat grem
1/2 cup coconut, unsweetened
1/4 cup sesame seeds
1 cup almonds, sliced or whole chopped
1 cup raisins
1/2 cup honey
1/4 cup oil
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. sea salt
1/2 tsp. ginger


Mix all oats, seeds, nuts and coconut in a 9x13 baking dish or cookie sheet...

Soak raisins, drain, and add to mixture.

Mix remaining ingredients in a saucepan and bring to a boil or just before it.

Pour over your grain/seed mixture. Mix well.

Bake in 350 oven stirring every 10 minutes until golden brown. About 30 minutes.

Continue to stir while cooking to prevent from sticking together. Store in air tight container. Serve with milk, or eat dry for a snack.

Mia's Mound Bars

I am trying to eat less sugar, but I really like having snacks to take on the go when I'm running out the door. So I can up with this recipe. It's wheat free, processed sugar free, and the nuts are a good source of protein. Not to mention that if you love chocolate this is a good way to get your fix without the guilt!

Ingredients:

1 cup almonds, whole, raw (I like to cook them on 160*F for like 15 minutes to help with digestion)
1 1/2 cups dates
4 tab. coconut, unsweetened
1 tab. cocoa powder, unsweetened
1 tab. vanilla
1 - 1 1/2 Tab. coconut oil


Place almonds in food processor and blend until finely chopped. Place ground nuts in a bowl.

Blend dates in food processor until chopped fine.

Put the rest of the ingredients and the nuts in the processor and blend until well mixed. If mixture is too dry you can add a little extra coconut oil. If it's to wet, you can add a little more chopped almonds.


Line a pan with wax paper. Press mixture into the wax paper and fold over sides pressing together firmly as you go.

Place in the refrigerator for 15 to 20 mins.

Remove from refrigerator, unwrap, and cut into bars.

Place in plastic container or wrap individually in plastic wrap for on the go. Store in the refrig or freeze for longer use! Enjoy! :)

Oatmeal Raisin Lara Bars

Ingredients:

1/2 cup raisins
6 Tab. oats
1/2 cup walnuts
Pinch salt
1/4 tsp. vanilla
Orange Zest (optional)

Directions:

Place everything in food processor.

Chop until combined.

Press into wax paper.

Refrigerate. Then cut into bars. Store in the refrigerator. Note: I like to wrap the bars in plastic wrap and store them in the freezer so they last longer. Plus they make good snacks for when you're on the run.

Homemade Soft Pretzel Bites w/ Cheese Sauce

I found the recipe for these on the Two Peas and Their Pod website. They are perfect for any kind of party or just for fun plus they just taste sooo good!!!

Soft Pretzels:

1 1/2 cups warm water
2 tablespoons light brown sugar
1 package active dry yeast (2 1/4 teaspoons)
3 ounces unsalted butter, melted
2 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt
4 1/2 to 5 cups all-purpose flour
Vegetable oil
3 quarts water
3/4 cup baking soda (I added a lot less...like 1/4 cup instead of 3/4)
1 whole egg, beaten with 1 tablespoon cold water
Coarse sea salt

For the cheese sauce:
½ Tablespoon unsalted butter
½ Tablespoon all-purpose flour
½ cup milk
8 ounces Cheddar cheese, grated

Directions:
Combine the water, sugar, yeast, and butter in the bowl of a stand mixer and mix with the dough hook until combined. Let sit for 5 minutes (till it begins to bubble).

Add the salt and flour and mix on low speed until combined. Increase the speed to medium and continue kneading until the dough is smooth and begins to pull away from the side of the bowl, about 3 to 4 minutes. If the dough appears too wet, add additional flour, 1 tablespoon at a time.


Remove the dough from the bowl, place on a flat surface and knead into a ball with your hands.


Oil a bowl with vegetable oil, add the dough and turn to coat with the oil. Cover with a clean towel or plastic wrap and place in a warm spot until the dough doubles in size, about 1 hour.

While dough rises:

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.

Bring the water to a boil in a small roasting pan over high heat and add the baking soda.

Remove the dough from the bowl and place on a flat surface. Divide the dough into 8 equal pieces, about 4 1/4 to 4 1/2 ounces each.

Roll each piece into a long rope measuring 22 inches and shape. Cut the dough into one inch pieces to make the pretzel bites.

Boil the pretzel bites in the water solution in batches. We did about 15 bites at a time. Boil for about 30 seconds. Remove with a large slotted spoon. Place pretzel bites on a baking sheet that has been sprayed with cooking spray. Make sure they are not touching.

Brush the tops with the egg wash and season liberally with the salt.


Place into the oven and bake for 15 to 18 minutes until golden brown.
Remove to a baking rack and let rest 5 minutes before eating. Serve with cheese sauce.


To make the cheese sauce:
Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add the flour and cook 1 minute. Whisk in the milk and cook until slightly thickened.

Remove from heat and stir in the Cheddar cheese until smooth and all of the cheese is melted. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.



*If you want to make cinnamon and sugar pretzel bites-instead of adding salt, sprinkle the bites with cinnamon and sugar.


For the frosting mix-soft cream cheese-about 3 T, powdered sugar, a teaspoon of vanilla extract, and a little bit of milk. Whisk together. Add more milk if it is too thick, if it is too thin, add more powdered sugar. I don't measure. I just guess until the consistency is right.*