Homemade Granola Bars

These are my new FAVORITE things to make.  SO easy and so much better than the ones in the stores.  AND without all the preservatives and fillers.  If I lived closer to you, I'd give you a sample.  SO GOOD!

 GRANOLA OAT BARS:

1c raw cashews

4T coconut oil (melted)

4T honey

2c fresh medjool dates

3c thick oats

Place ingredients in food processor and blend for about a minute.  Pour contents into a bowl and mix in desired 'add ins' with clean hands.  (Trader Joe's sells the cheapest coconut oil...it's SO good)

My favorite granola bars have:

(and you can be creative, mixing in whatever you like)

1c chopped pecans

1/2 bar dark Belgian chocolate
(finely chopped)

1c shredded coconut

Place mixture in a large, glass baking dish (11x9) and press down with hands.  Stick in the freezer for about 10 minutes...cut into bars and place back in freezer for another 10 minutes.  Remove from freezer and place in individual snack bags and they keep best in freezer.  This pan above makes about 15 bars, perfect for my 3 school kids for 5 school days.  

YUM!

Bon Bon

SNICKERS POPCORN

I'm in charge of the combined mutual tonight.  We're doing "Winter Fun in the Snow" with lots of 'adapted for snow' games.  I saw this recipe on Pinterest and thought it would be a great snack for the kids after they come in from the snow, with hot chocolate of course.  It came out really good, as you can see from the picture below...I'd definitely make this again.

SNICKERS POPCORN

• 8 quarts air popped corn (about 2 cups of kernels)
• 1 cup salted butter
• 2 cups light brown sugar, packed
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup light corn syrup
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 cup salted peanuts
• 30 “Fun Size” Snickers bars coarsely chopped
• 3 oz melted semi sweet chocolate (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 200°
2. Over medium heat boil butter, brown sugar, salt and corn syrup for 5 minutes.
3. Remove from heat and stir in your baking soda.
4. Pour over your popcorn and stir to coat evenly.
5. Transfer to waxed paper lined counter and sprinkle peanuts on top. Stir until all is coated evenly.
6. Transfer popcorn into a large roasting pan and bake for 1 hour 15 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes.
7. Remove from oven and stir in your coarsely chopped Snickers. Return to oven for 3 more minutes so the Snickers begin to melt slightly into the popcorn.
8. Remove from pan and transfer popcorn back to wax paper to cool.
9. Drizzle melted chocolate on top of popcorn if desired. 
10. Let set and store in an airtight container.

BON BON

White Trash

(white trash...get it???)

I'm feeling snacky.
And I like the name of this stuff.
And when in Rome, right?!

WHITE TRASH

4 c. Golden Grahams

4 c. Cheerios

4 c. Crispix

1 can peanuts

1 can mixed nuts

1 bag pretzels sticks

2 lbs white chocolate plus 2 tbs cooking oil

or

2 lbs almond bark (I like the almond bark)

I also like to add dried cranberries.

Use one of the bigger bags (of craisins).

Melt almond bark over double boiler (or 2 minutes in microwave).

DO NOT OVERCOOK.

Stir frequently while melting.

Immediately pour over dry ingredients, mixing thoroughly.

Spread out on wax paper. When cool break into smaller pieces.