Easy and Yummy Granola Bars

I promise these are yummy and the kids (and adults) love them! My mother-in-law gave this recipe! Enjoy for the summer!
Ingredients
2 cups rolled oats
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup wheat germ
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup raisins (optional) or 3/4 c. mini chocolate chips :)
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup honey
1 egg, beaten
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Directions

1.Preheat the oven to 330 degrees. Generously grease a 9x13 inch baking pan.

2.In a large bowl, mix together the oats, brown sugar, wheat germ, cinnamon, flour, raisins and salt. Make a well in the center, and pour in the honey, egg, oil and vanilla. Mix well using your hands. Pat the mixture evenly into the prepared pan.

3.Bake for 30-33 minutes in the preheated oven, until the bars begin to turn golden at the edges. Cool for 5 minutes, then cut into bars while still warm. Do not allow the bars to cool completely before cutting, or they will be too hard to cut.

Yummy treat with a healthy flair!

I made these little treats tonight for FHE and they were a hit! I think they'd make great after school snacks and I like that they're a bit healthier than the normal "treat". Go ahead and try them (that is if you don't have peanut allergies in your fam)- super easy and let me know what you think!

Peanut Butter Granola Bars
1/3 c. honey
1/4 c. peanut butter
2 Tbsp. butter
1 c. Rice crispy cereal
1 c. rolled oats
1/4 c. dried fruit ( I used raisins)
optional - a sprinkle of mini chocolate chips

Melt down honey, peanut butter and butter until smooth. Add the cereal, oats, and fruit. If you want to add the mini choco chips, WAIT until the mixture is cool. If you just want it chocolatey, then add a sprinkle of regular choco chips when it's hot. These kind of turn out like no-bakes, but healthier!

Drop into mini paper cupcake liners (or just by teaspoons onto wax paper that is on a cookie sheet) and refrigerate for 15 minutes until set. To store, refrigerate in an air-tight container up to 1 week!

Enjoy!

A new yummy!

I made this yummy tonight on a whim when I was looking at recipes that used cream cheese. After reading it, I thought it sounded pretty simple and would be fun to have something a little different for dinner tonight. We thought they were divine! (of course even better with a little sour cream on top of them) Enjoy!

Baked Creamy Chicken Taquitos

1/3 C (3 oz) cream cheese
1/4 C green salsa
1T fresh lime juice
1/2 t cumin
1 t chili powder
1/2 t onion powder
1/4 t granulated garlic
3 T chopped cilantro
2 T sliced green onions
2 C shredded cooked chicken (for extra yumminess, use grilled taco chicken!)
1 C grated pepperjack cheese

small corn tortillas
kosher salt
cooking spray

Heat oven to 425. Line a baking sheet with foil and lightly coat with cooking spray.

Heat cream cheese in the microwave for about 20-30 seconds so it's soft and easy to stir. Add green salsa, lime juice, cumin, chili powder, onion powder and granulated garlic. Stir to combine and then add cilantro and green onions. Add chicken and cheese and combine well.

You can prepare up to this step ahead of time. Just keep the mixture in the fridge.

Work with a few tortillas at a time and heat in the microwave until they are soft enough to roll without cracking. It helps to place them between damp paper towels. Usually 20-30 seconds will do it. If you find yours are cracking when you roll them or are coming unrolled right away, just try heating them longer and try the paper towel thing.

Place 2-3 T of chicken mixture on the lower third of a tortilla, keeping it about 1/2inch from the edges.

Then roll it up as tight as you can. Place seam side down on the baking sheet. Lay all of the taquitos on the baking sheet and make sure they are not touching each other. Spray the tops lightly with cooking spray or an oil mister and sprinkle some kosher salt on top.

Place pan in oven and bake for 15-20 minutes or until crisp and the ends start to get golden brown.

Dip 'em in salsa, sour cream, guacamole, or this dressing.
Courtesy of: http://www.ourbestbites.com/2009/05/baked-creamy-chicken-taquitos.html

My New Love from Last Year......

I received the yummiest caramel sauce recipe from my friend, Stephanie last year. When she said it was yummy, she wasn't kidding. After making some up, she got in her car and drove 15 minutes to my house to hand deliver some to me! Seriously, this is the next best thing to Leatherbys caramel. I just made some this morning to take to my visiting teachers and just the aroma of it reminded me I should share with all my blogging friends! Oh so yummy....... :)

Caramel Sauce

1/2 c. real butter

1 1/2 c. brown sugar

3/4 c. corn syrup (I use light and it tastes great)

1 can sweetened condensed milk

Boil the above mixture for 5 minutes over medium heat stirring CONSTANTLY

Add:

1 tsp. vanilla

pinch of salt

pinch of cinnamon

Let it cool and then pour into containers.

**During the heating process you'll begin to see dark spots and that is normal -- just stir away!

**Also, it's delish on ice cream, but when in contact with something cold, it gets hard and sticky--I don't mind a bit, but just fair warning.

**If it gets firm, you can throw it in the microwave to make soft again for apple dipping!

I get clear plastic containers from the Dollar Store and put the caramel and a few apples (since this is apple season) in a fun autumn paper bag (again from the Dollar Store) with a cute ribbon/raffia on it to give to neighbors and friends. I only make this once a year and it's one of my favorites!