Delicious Granola Bars

Mom (who my children know as "Oma") came to visit a while ago and made some granola bars for the children. They liked them so much they asked for some "Oma Bars" over March break. I found out mom had used the Crosby's Molasses recipe for "Peanut Butter and Molasses Granola Bars" and changed it a little. I did the same thing and here they are:

Here is the recipe that made them:

Peanut Butter and Molasses Granola Bars

Ingredients:

• 3 cups quick rolled oats
• 1 cup bran
• 1 cup unsweetened coconut
• 1 cup sunflower seeds or sesame seeds or a combination of the two
• ½ cup chocolate chips
• ¼ cup chopped nuts
• ¼ cup wheat germ
• ½ cup fancy molasses
• ½ cup vegetable oil
• ½ cup brown sugar
• ½ cup peanut butter
• 1 tbsp 2% milk
• 2 tsp vanilla
• ¾ tsp baking soda

Directions:

1. Mix oats, bran, coconut, seeds, chocolate chips, nuts and wheat germ together in large bowl. Set aside.
2. Combine molasses, oil, sugar and peanut butter in a 2 liter saucepan and cook over medium low heat until sugar dissolves and mixture is smooth. (Stir constantly.)
3. Combine the milk, vanilla and baking soda and add to the molasses mixture. Stir for one more minute. Remove from heat.
4. Pour molasses-milk mixture over granola mixture and stir until dry ingredients are moist. Wet your hands and press the mixture into a 15 x 10 inch (2L) pan.
5. Bake at 275°F (140°C) for 20 to 25 minutes. The edges will start to brown and the bars will be slightly puffy. They will sink as they cool.
6. Let cool, cut into slices (I cut it into 27 pieces).
7. Store in the refrigerator.

No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Bars

I saw these and I knew right away I needed to make them. They came to me via a facebook post from a friend. She shared them from "High Protein Foods" on facebook. Don't your friends always know just what you need?

I must apologize to "High Protein Foods" because I am totally swiping their image but this is the most direct way to show you these wonderful, delectable, totally easy treat. Seriously. I had them made and my kitchen cleaned up in about 15 minutes. I swapped vegetable oil for the coconut oil because I had to have them NOW and I don't have coconut oil. I waited about 20 minutes for them to solidify enough to cut and had one. Amazing! I cut and pasted this from here. Go there. Tell them how wonderful their bars are. Enjoy!

The Best No-Bake Bars You'll Ever Eat! Clean and healthy as always.

It's still a dessert so eat in moderation!

1 cup natural peanut butter
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup unrefined coconut oil (be sure to use unrefined for the coconut flavor)
2 cups dry oats (not instant)
1 C shredded coconut
1/2 C chopped walnuts (optional)
1 1/4 cups dark chocolate chips
1 t vanilla extract

Melt peanut butter, honey and coconut oil over medium-low heat. Once melted, remove from heat and add oats, shredded coconut, chocolate chips and vanilla. Stir until chocolate is entirely melted. Pour into a 9x13 pan and cool in the fridge. When it's set, cut into bars and enjoy. Store in the fridge. If they last that long!!!!!

Peanut Butter Fudge

Had a craving for some fudge, so I whipped up some of this right after supper. It is fairly quick and easy. Took about 1/2 hour from start to finish (that is, eating it!).

Peanut Butter Fudge Recipe
2 cups granulated sugar
3 Tbsp. butter
1/2 cup milk
pinch salt

1/2 cup smooth peanut butter
1/2 cup marshmallow creme (I used 8 large marshmallows, melted in the microwave when it was time for the creme to go in.)
1/2 tsp. vanilla

Combine sugar, butter, milk and salt in large heavy saucepan. Heat and stir on medium until sugar is dissolved and mixture begins to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low. Boil slowly, uncovered for about 8 minutes, stirring twice, until mixture reaches soft ball stage (about 235 degrees F, 113 degrees C, on candy thermometer) or until small amount dropped into very cold water forms a soft ball that flattens on its own accord when removed. Remove from heat. Let stand for 10 minutes.

Stir in peanut butter, marshmallow creme and vanilla. Pour into greased 8 x 8 inch pan. Spread evenly. Cool. Makes about 1 1/2 lbs. Cuts into 64 pieces.

Enjoy!

Chocolate Confetti Squares

Tonight I wanted a little something for dessert so I found Chocolate Confetti Squares in the Company's Coming 150 Delicious Squares recipe book. Page 28. These were the perfect squares to please my sweet-tooth tonight! They were super easy to make, had only 4 ingredients and they were created, cooled and eaten all within one hour!

They had chocolate and peanut butter to hold the marshmallows together so they were a delight to eat, too. They were very messy if you eat them slowly with your fingers - they are not like M&M's... These DO melt in your hand! The family and I all thought they were awesome, and since marshmallows were on sale this week, even better!

Peanut Butter Bars

This looked like a simple recipe for things I love - peanut butter and chocolate. How could I go wrong? So I made them. They are "Peanut Butter Bars" from p. 82 of "Company's Coming 150 Delicious Squares".

They were simple to make and they look and smell wonderful. However, the comments I left in the margin of the book were "Looks nice. Not very exciting to eat. Too smooth. Crust is rather pasty in the mouth." I don't really know if I can suggest a way to improve them - maybe add chocolate chips to the crust, I suppose. Enough chocolate fixes almost anything!

Tomorrow my parents come for a visit so I may not be back until Monday, unless I whip up something so wonderful that I just have to share it with you!