Easy Peasy Granola Bars
It really has been a long time since I last posted anything in this blog. I've been thinking about getting back to writing for a long time, but writer's block got in the way. I don't think it's been lifted, so please bear with me if something you read doesn't make any sense whatsoever!
Lately, I've been "suffering" from I-can-make-that-myself syndrome. What? You already don't know what I'm talking about?? Well, let me explain. It's when you go to the grocery store, look at a pre-made package of a food item and think, "hmmm, I can whip this up at home!"
Maybe this was due to the fact that when you read the ingredients in the packaged foods, you can recognize the first couple that are listed, and then it starts to get cryptic. Azodicarbonamide? Why is that in my bread??
I will also admit this syndrome was fueled by my addiction to food blogs. There are hundreds, if not thousands of food bloggers out there, who venture into amazing food adventures everyday, and succeed! Instant inspiration!
It used to be that the time to make that something at home never came! Or maybe I just lacked the enthusiasm when I got home from the grocery store. Let's go with the first reason. It sounds better. There is a long list of things that I would like to make at home. But, recently, I've started with a few that I try to regularly make at home. Bread and granola (cereal and bars) are two of the things that I've made more than once. And I think I am hooked! The smell of bread baking in the oven - heavenly! Especially since it's getting a bit nippy a bit too soon.
Today's post though, is about granola bars! These are super-simple to make and super-simple to love! What's not to love about oats, almonds, honey and peanuts? And everything on the list, I can pronounce! And so can my kids! You can change up the nuts from almonds to something else that your heart fancies. And you can add dried fruits and/or chocolate chips. So on to the recipe!
Almond and Peanut Butter Granola Bars (recipe adapted from Giada De Laurentiis)
Vegetable cooking spray
1 egg white
1/2 cup chunky peanut butter (I use smooth)
1/4 cup brown sugar (original recipe calls for 1/3)
1/4 cup honey
1/8 cup (2 tbsp) unsalted melted butter (original recipe calls for 1 stick or 1/2 cup, but it is totally unnecessary to use that much!)
2 cups old fashioned oats
1/4 cup slivered almonds (spread on a plate and toasted in the microwave for 1 min at 30 second intervals)
2 tbsp miniature chocolate chips (original recipe calls for 1/3 cup)
Preaheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Spray a nonstick baking pan with vegetable cooking spray (or coat lightly with butter/oil).
Line the pan with parchment paper and coat the paper with cooking spray/oil)
In a medium bowl, whisk the eggwhite until frothy.
Stir in the peanut butter, brown sugar and honey.
Add melted butter.
Add oats and almonds.
Stir to combine the ingredients.
Add chocolate chips, if using.
Spread the mixture on the prepared pan in a 1/4 inch thick layer.
Bake until the edges begin to brown. This took me about 20 minutes. The original recipe calls for 15 minutes, but mine seemed soft so I baked a bit longer.
Remove from the oven and let cool. Cut in to squares or long rectangles.
These store well in an air-tight container for about a week. They never really last that long in my house. Hope you get around to making these. The whole process takes less than 10 minutes to prepare and the baking time. Thanks for reading! Bread post is next!
It really has been a long time since I last posted anything in this blog. I've been thinking about getting back to writing for a long time, but writer's block got in the way. I don't think it's been lifted, so please bear with me if something you read doesn't make any sense whatsoever!
Lately, I've been "suffering" from I-can-make-that-myself syndrome. What? You already don't know what I'm talking about?? Well, let me explain. It's when you go to the grocery store, look at a pre-made package of a food item and think, "hmmm, I can whip this up at home!"
Maybe this was due to the fact that when you read the ingredients in the packaged foods, you can recognize the first couple that are listed, and then it starts to get cryptic. Azodicarbonamide? Why is that in my bread??
I will also admit this syndrome was fueled by my addiction to food blogs. There are hundreds, if not thousands of food bloggers out there, who venture into amazing food adventures everyday, and succeed! Instant inspiration!
It used to be that the time to make that something at home never came! Or maybe I just lacked the enthusiasm when I got home from the grocery store. Let's go with the first reason. It sounds better. There is a long list of things that I would like to make at home. But, recently, I've started with a few that I try to regularly make at home. Bread and granola (cereal and bars) are two of the things that I've made more than once. And I think I am hooked! The smell of bread baking in the oven - heavenly! Especially since it's getting a bit nippy a bit too soon.
Today's post though, is about granola bars! These are super-simple to make and super-simple to love! What's not to love about oats, almonds, honey and peanuts? And everything on the list, I can pronounce! And so can my kids! You can change up the nuts from almonds to something else that your heart fancies. And you can add dried fruits and/or chocolate chips. So on to the recipe!
Almond and Peanut Butter Granola Bars (recipe adapted from Giada De Laurentiis)
Vegetable cooking spray
1 egg white
1/2 cup chunky peanut butter (I use smooth)
1/4 cup brown sugar (original recipe calls for 1/3)
1/4 cup honey
1/8 cup (2 tbsp) unsalted melted butter (original recipe calls for 1 stick or 1/2 cup, but it is totally unnecessary to use that much!)
2 cups old fashioned oats
1/4 cup slivered almonds (spread on a plate and toasted in the microwave for 1 min at 30 second intervals)
2 tbsp miniature chocolate chips (original recipe calls for 1/3 cup)
Preaheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Spray a nonstick baking pan with vegetable cooking spray (or coat lightly with butter/oil).
Line the pan with parchment paper and coat the paper with cooking spray/oil)
In a medium bowl, whisk the eggwhite until frothy.
Stir in the peanut butter, brown sugar and honey.
Add melted butter.
Add oats and almonds.
Stir to combine the ingredients.
Add chocolate chips, if using.
Spread the mixture on the prepared pan in a 1/4 inch thick layer.
Bake until the edges begin to brown. This took me about 20 minutes. The original recipe calls for 15 minutes, but mine seemed soft so I baked a bit longer.
Remove from the oven and let cool. Cut in to squares or long rectangles.
These store well in an air-tight container for about a week. They never really last that long in my house. Hope you get around to making these. The whole process takes less than 10 minutes to prepare and the baking time. Thanks for reading! Bread post is next!
