Homemade Granola Bars

So in keeping with the kid friendly cooking theme from yesterday, I thought I would add homemade granola bars. I find that sometimes kids will eat stuff, if they are the ones to make it. As strange as it sounds, my kids are picky when it comes to eating just about anything. One day they will eat nothing but 1 thing. The next day, they hate it. What is a mother to do? Have them help you cook and just maybe they will eat what they are cooking. It is worth a try, right? Plus you can sneak in some talk about fractions and counting, and any other teaching moments you can think of!

Now, these granola bars are very yummy and very easy to make. I know that granola bars are not that expensive, and very handy to have on hand. But sometimes, it is just fun to make your own. See what different variations you can make.

Homemade Granola Bars

1/2 c butter or margarine
1/3 c sugar
1/3 c honey
1/4 c flour
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp cinnamon
2 c rice crispies cereal
2 c quick oats
1 c dried fruit
1/2 c slivered almonds

* Heat oven to 350 degrees
* Coat 9x13 pan with cooking spray and set aside.
* Melt butter in a large pot on low heat.
* Remove from heat and whisk in the sugar, honey, flour, vanilla, and cinnamon
* Add remaining ingredients and mix well
* Transfer to baking sheet using waxed paper and the palms of your hands.
* Press granola firmly into pan
* Pack it evenly and flat.
* Bake for 20 minutes.
* Allow to cool for 1 hour in the pan then cool completely on wire racks before cutting into bars.
* Makes 24 bars.

Homemade Tootsie Rolls

Growing up, I remember my mom doing some pretty fun things with food. One of my favorites was homemade Tootsie Rolls. They always tasted so much better than the store bought ones and were a family favorite to make. I think it was mostly because you had to play with it to make it! Now what kid does not like that?

Homemade Tootsie Rolls

2 pkg liquid chocolate (3 Tbsp cocoa + 1 Tbsp melted margarine = 1 pkg. chocolate)
1/2 c light Karo syrup
3/4 c powdered milk
3 c powdered sugar
2 Tbsp margarine
1 tsp vanilla

* Butter hands
* Roll out and work like clay until well mixed
* Wrap in waxed paper and store in refrigerator

Masterpiece Sandwiches

With the cold weather still hanging around, it is tough to find new fun things for the kiddos to do. So try this quick and easy trick to make lunch a little more fun.

Masterpiece Sandwiches

Paper cups each filled with a few Tbsp of milk
Food coloring
New paint brushes
White Bread

* Add a few drops of food coloring to each cup of milk. (Use this as a great teaching experience with colors.)
* Using the colored milk and NEW paint brushes, paint pictures and designs on the bread.
* Toast lightly and use the slices to make your favorite sandwiches.

If you do not want to get out the paint brushes and are looking for another easy and quick way to put some fun into lunch, grab your cookie cutters and make your sandwiches into different shapes. I do not know what it is, but a star PB&J will go so much faster at this house than just a regular one!

Have fun!

Black Forest Upside-Down Cake

This is a fun recipe to try since you make a cake from your crock pot. Yeah, you read that right, your crock pot! It is a great way to have your chocolate fix with out having to turn on your oven. This is especially great in the summer when your house is just too hot! This recipe is also not that bad. It has 4 grams of fat and 213 calories per serving. Which, when compared to those really yummy Warm Delights from Betty Crocker (10 grams and 360 calories per serving), it really is a better choice. I think I can justify that every now and then!

Black Forest Upside-Down Cake

6 egg whites
1/2 cup applesauce
1 cup water
1 (18.25 ounce) Chocolate cake mix, dry (Betty Crocker Super Moist Butter recipe is a good one, but any will do)
1 (20 Ounce) can light cherry pie filling
Fat free whipped topping (optional)

* Preheat your crock pot on high
* Spray crock pot with cooking spray (Baker's Joy!)
* In a large mixing bowl, beat egg whites, applesauce, and water with a hand mixer until soft peaks form.
* Gently fold the cake mix into the peaks.
* Pour pie filling into the bottom of the crock pot
* Pour batter over the filling. Do not stir!
* Place a paper towel on top the crock pot and place the lid over the towel to cover. Cook on high for 2 hours or until a knife inserted in the middle comes our clean.
* Turn off the crock pot, and if possible take the crock out.
* Remove the paper towel and lid. Let sit for 10 minutes. Run a knife along the edges to loosen the cake.
* Place a large serving plate with an edge upside down on top the the crock, and holding the crock and the plate firmly together, flip the cake upside-down. It will be hot and steamy, so be careful!
* Serve with fat free whipped topping or ice cream.
* Good served hot, cold or at room temperature.

Sweet and sour chicken

Many of you know how I love to make my own Chinese food. Chinese is something that many people are scared to even try. And I do not blame them with many very good take out restaurants in town. Making Chinese food is no different than any other recipe. It also makes for a great change to the same old routine.

Sweet and Sour Chicken

1 boneless skinless chicken breast half per person (cut into pieces and cooked thoroughly)

1 box of TEMPURA mix

water

veggie oil

* Mix water and 1/2 box of Tempura mix until it makes a batter about the consistency of pancake mix.

* Dip chicken pieces in batter.

* Place battered chicken in hot oil. (I use a deep fat fryer for this, but you can do it in a deep sauce pan on the stove.)

* Cook until battered chicken is light brown. Remove and place on plate with paper towels on it to soak up excess grease.

* If needed, mix more batter to cover chicken.

Sauce:

1/2 c ketchup

3/4 c sugar

2 c pineapple juice

1 tsp salt

4 Tbsp cornstarch

3/4 c water

Pineapple chunks (optional)

* Heat on stove top until thick.

* Serve over rice.

NOTE: The Tempura mix can be found in most grocery stores. Walmart has been known to be less than reliable in carrying this product. So I would check places like Albertsons, Smiths, and any Associated Food Stores. Many of your Oriental Markets will carry this as well, however you will not get the same brand as in the picture. Here is what it looks like:

It is also very good for making your own chicken nuggets. My kids will eat these kind of chicken nuggets over any other. Even my little vegetarian. Go figure.

Broccoli Cheese Soup

Sick, sick, sick, sick, sick! So I got in line {again} to get the cold of the month. Yay me! I would love to make some really good chicken noodle soup, as we all know that chicken noodle soup is the best thing for a cold. But I leave that to my dear sister-in-law, Jamie. Let's hope she will share her fabulous recipe for that with us! {hint, hint}. Anywho, if I can't get Jamie's chicken noodle soup, I go to the next best thing, and it is not canned soup. Nope, it is my favorite soup ever. Broccoli Cheese Soup! Check below for recipes and tips to make your own bread bowls at home! Here is to hoping we all get better soon!

Broccoli Cheese Soup

6 c potatoes, cubed
2 c carrots, cut
2 c celery, chopped
1 c onion, chopped
2 1/2 c water
2 10 oz packages chopped broccoli
1/2 c butter
1/4 -1/3 c flour
2 c milk
1 Tbsp dry mustard
6 chicken bouillon cubes
1/2 tsp pepper
1 lb package Velveeta

* Steam veggies in water for about 20 minutes
* Add broccoli and cook until tender.
* Melt butter with flour (enough to make light to medium white sauce)
* Stir in milk, bouillon cubes, and seasonings.
* As sauce thickens, add cheese until it melts.
* Add veggies and any remaining water from steaming.

* This recipe will freeze well!

Holy Cats, that is 2 recipes that has broccoli as a main ingredient. Who woulda thought?

Bread Bowls

Nothing goes better with some hot soup than a yummy bread bowl! I love them, and hate running to the store every time I get a craving for soup and bread bowls, so here is what I do. I will give you two options to make them from home.

The first one is a great recipe from scratch!

Bread Bowls

2T yeast
1 C warm water
1T sugar

* Mix together set aside

6 C flour
1 C boiling water
1T shortening
1 egg white
2 tsp salt

* Mix everything but flour.
* Then add flour mix and add yeast mixture
* Knead, divide into baseball size balls
* Put on greased pan
* Spray rolls and cover.
* Let rise 1/2 hr or till double in size
* Bake 450° 30 minutes turn to 350° cook for 20 more minutes

The second one is a cheater's method, still great!

* Buy a package of frozen bread loaves in the freezer section at the store. (I buy the sourdough, if I can find them!)
* Defrost and cut into halves or thirds depending on the size bowl you want.
* Allow to rise like it says on the bag.
* Cook for 25 min like it says on bag.

Now go and enjoy some yummy soup in your homemade bowls!

Broccoli Salad

I am in a salad kind of mood. And that got me thinking. You know when you get asked to bring a salad to a family or friend get together, and all you can think of is "do I bring a green salad, maybe topped with tomatoes and a few other veggies, finished off with a new bottle of Hidden Valley Ranch, or do I start cooking the pasta and go buy the Italian dressing now?" Yep, that is what comes to my mind, either a green salad, or a pasta salad. Both are good in their own rights, but I like to get out of the "same old" salad mode. So today I will post 2 of my favorite salads. I have a lot of favorites, but today I chose these two.

The first one is what made Jason start to eat broccoli after a life long feud with the vegetable. I took this to a party at his house when we were dating before his mission. And to this day, he loves the stuff. It has become a regular at family parties. It is super easy to make, and makes quite a lot. I am sure it will become a family favorite of yours as well.

Broccoli Salad

5 cups fresh broccoli, chopped into bite sized pieces.
1 cup red grapes
1 cup sunflower seeds
1/2 cup baco bits, (or cooked diced bacon if you are that ambitious)
1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
1/2 c red onion chopped (optional)

* Toss everything in a large bowl.

Dressing

1 cup mayo
1/2 cup sour cream
6 Tbsp sugar
2 Tbsp red wine vinegar
1/2 tsp salt

* Mix well and pour over salad

See, I told you it was easy!

Cuki Salad (Cucumber Salad)

This one, my good friend Natalie introduced me to. It is Cucumber Salad (lovingly nicknamed "Cuki Salad"). It is a refreshing, light, not your momma's pot luck, type of salad. Give it a try, I am sure you will not regret it. And to be honest, I was super surprised when my kids downed half of the salad. Yeah, it is kid friendly! It is awesome if you use your own home grown cucumbers too. (Start thinking about your garden! hint hint!)


Cucumber Salad

4 medium cucumbers, peeled and diced, or sliced super thin
1 (8 ounce) container vanilla low-fat yogurt
1 (8 ounce) container reduced-fat sour cream
1/2 cup diced onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 Tbsp dried dill weed
salt and pepper to taste


* Drain cucumbers for a few minutes on paper towels.

* In a serving dish, stir together the yogurt, sour cream, onion, garlic, and dill.

* Add cucumbers, and gently mix to coat. Season with salt and pepper.

* Refrigerate for a couple of hours before serving for best flavor

No Bakes

Why? Well I just made some and they are a quick and easy chocolate fix that does fill you up, so you can only eat a few. Or if you are Jason, you eat a lot and end up being sick! Either way, you still get chocolate, and most everything is from my food storage, so yea food storage!

No Bakes

2 cups sugar
1/4 cup dk baking cocoa
1/2 cup milk (I use fresh, but you can use canned as well)
1/4 lb butter
1 tsp vanilla
1/4 cup peanut butter
3 cups oatmeal

* Mix sugar, cocoa, butter and milk in a saucepan.
* Melt over high heat and bring to a boil.
* Hard boil (or a rolling boil) for 1 minute (this is VERY important, only let it boil for 1 minute. If you let it boil longer, the cookies will not turn out!)
* Take saucepan off heat and stir in peanut butter.
* Add vanilla and oatmeal last.
* Let sit for about 5-10 minutes in sauce pan.
* On a cookie sheet lined with tin foil or parchment paper, separate into cookies. (I use my ice cream scoop. It is a great cookie maker)
* Put in fridge for about an hour or so. Over night is best.

Hawaiian Skewers

With all the snow and cold we have been having, I often reflect on the wonderful trip to Hawaii! I love that place. It was so nice to lay on the beach, hear the ocean lap the shore line and just soak in the sun. Yeah, I really miss it. Amazing enough too, Ms. Kenzi asks when we can go back almost on a weekly basis. For heaven's sakes, she was only 3 when we went, how can she remember it so well? I guess Hawaii has just that great of an impact on you. So onto the recipe. Here is a great dinner that you can enjoy now and make you think of warmer weather!

Hawaiian Skewers

Marinade:

6 Tbsp soy sauce
6 Tbsp brown sugar
4 Tbsp pineapple juice
2 T sesame oil
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp garlic powder

* Combine all ingredients in a shallow dish.

1 boneless, skinless chicken breast per person (up to 4. Any more and you will need to double your marinade)
Pineapple
Mushrooms
Green Peppers
Anything else you would like on the skewer

* Cut chicken into 1 inch cubes and place in marinade. Cover and place in fridge for at least 4 hours.
* Cut remaining ingredients into bite sized pieces just before you plan to grill.
* Assemble skewers anyway you like.
* Place on grill and sprinkle a little bit of granulated sugar on skewers.
* Grill until chicken is completely cooked.

*** Excellent with rice of any kind ***

Random Quick Tips of the Day

Just some random tips that I have picked up along the way...

If your recipe calls for eggs and shortening, crack eggs into the measuring cup you plan to use for the shortening first. The residue left by the eggs will allow the shortening to slip out of the measuring cup very easily.

Buttermilk can be made at home!

(1 cup milk to 2 tsp lemon juice)

Baker's Joy is a great tool for flowering a pan for a cake or brownies. I never use anything else.

NEVER EVER wash your aluminum pots, pans, and cookie sheets in the dishwasher. They will lose their shine and will turn dull. Trust me, I know it sucks to wash by hand, but I still have cookie sheets that look brand new and they are 9 years old.

When making sugar cookies, use powdered sugar instead of flour on your counter to roll out your dough. It will make the cookies taste sweeter and work just as well as flour.

Do not add vanilla to anything you are currently cooking. The heat will make it cook right off and it will do no good. Wait until the mixture you need it in has cooled past boiling.

An ice cream scoop is a great way to separate your cookie dough into equal sized cookies.

Check back for more quick tips and recipes!

Texas Brownies

2 cups flour
2 c sugar
1/2 c butter
1/2 c shortening
1 c water
1/4 c dk unsweetened cocoa
1/2 c buttermilk (1/2 c milk + 2 tsp lemon juice)
2 eggs
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp vanilla

* In a large mixing bowl, combine flour and sugar
* In a saucepan, combine butter, shortening, water and cocoa. Stir and heat until boiling.
* Pour boiling mixture over flour and sugar.
* Add buttermilk, eggs, baking soda, and vanilla
* Mix with a wooden spoon or at high speed on electric mixer.
* Pour into a well buttered cookie sheet
* Bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes or until brownies are done in the center.

Frosting:

1/2 c butter
2 Tbsp cocoa
1/4 c milk
3 1/2 cup powdered sugar
1 tsp vanilla

* Combine butter, cocoa and milk. Heat to a boil.
* Take off heat and mix in vanilla, and powdered sugar. Stir until smooth.
* Pour over warm brownies

*** Share with your neighbors!!! ***

Super Cheesy Bacon Potatoes

1 lb uncooked bacon
2 potatoes per person you are serving
1 stick butter
1 yellow onion diced
1 lb of cheese (at least)
Lemon Pepper

*You can use a large pot on the stove, or a dutch oven.
*Throw bacon in to pot and cook until bacon is crispy
*While bacon is cooking, wash and cut potatoes into bite size pieces. You can leave the skins on.
*Take bacon out and cook potatoes, butter, and onion in the bacon grease
*If there is not much grease, 1/2 can of sprite will be needed
*Add cheese, crushed bacon, and lemon pepper to taste when potatoes have cooked thoroughly.

Slow cooked BBQ Pork Ribs

3+lbs of country style pork ribs (make sure that you buy some with little to no fat on them)
2 bottles Jack Daniels BBQ sauce (or your favorite)

*Place uncooked ribs in crock pot.
*Pour entire bottle of sauce on top of ribs.
*Set crockpot to cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 4-6 hours.
*Once cooked, drain 80% of the juice from around the ribs.
*Pour remaining BBQ sauce and heat thoroughly

This is excellent with the "Super Cheesy Bacon Potatoes"