Granola Bars

4 cups rolled oats

2 cups whole wheat flour

1 cup raw sugar or brown sugar

1/2 cup wheat germ*

1/2 cup milled flax seed*

1 TBS cinnamon

1 1/2 tsp salt

1 1/2 cups dried fruit**

1 1/2 cups chopped nuts**

3 eggs, beaten

1 cup olive oil

1 cup honey

1 TBS real vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350. Grease half sheet pan.

In a large bowl mix all dry ingredients. Make a well in the center pour in eggs, oil, honey, and extract. Mix until until combined. Pat tightly into pan (this is important to avoid super crumbly bars).

Bake 30-35 minutes until edges begin to brown. Cool 5 min. Cut into bars or use cookie cutters for fun shapes.***

Store cooled bars in an airtight container.

Notes:

This recipe is very forgiving. Have fun and experiment.

*Can use 1 cup wheat germ or 1 cup milled flax rather than half & half. If milling your own flax, put 1/4 cup whole flax into your blender or coffee grinder to yield 1/2 cup milled.

**This is the fun part. You can mix up your fruit and nuts as long as you are adding 3 cups total. My favorite combinations are:

~1 cup chopped almonds, 1 cup chopped dried pineapple, 1 cup coconut, +1 1/2 tsp coconut extract, no cinnamon

~1 cup chopped dried cherries, 1 cup chopped almonds, 1 cup chocolate chips (when using chocolate, I like no more than 1 cup, more feels like a candy bar)

***Cut bars while warm or they will be difficult to cut. If you use cookie cutters the leftover bits are delicious with yogurt or milk.

original recipe

Breakfast in a Cup

These are tasty and simple. I like to make extra and freeze them to be reheated later for a quick snack/breakfast. In the microwave they reheat in just 1 min.

Breakfast in a Cup

recipe adapted from Kids Cooking ISBN 1-4127-2469-4

3 cups cooked quinoa (or rice)

4 oz (1 cup) shredded cheddar cheese, divided

1 can diced green chilies

1/3 cup milk

3 eggs, beaten (2 also work, but I prefer 3)

1/2 t ground cumin

1/2 t salt

1/2 t black pepper

Combine 1/2 the cheese with everything else in a bowl. Evenly divide mixture into 12 greased muffin cups. (Can use paper muffin cups, but make sure to spray with cooking spray when using chilies.) Sprinkle with remaining cheese. Bake 400 for 15 min. or until set.

Variation: Leave out chilies, cumin, salt and pepper and add 1 cup crumbled, cooked breakfast sausage.

Note: Quinoa has the highest protein values of any grain. It has a bit of a nutty taste and is delicious. You can use it as a substitute for rice in many recipes. It cooks quickly. You cook it like rice; 1 part grain - 2 parts water. Soak your quinoa for 12 hours before cooking. (Start it in water before bed if you are cooking ti in the morning, start in the morning if you are going to cook at dinner.) It will sprout the grain and all of the nutrients will sky rock. The protein levels even go up.

Hello Breakfast

I am a big fan of mixes that cut down on prep time in the kitchen. I however do not want to give up on deliciousness or nutrition. I also value REAL food. Here are 2 of my favorite mixes:

Wheat Germ Buttermilk Waffles

3/4 cup wheat germ

1 TB milled flax

4 1/2 TB buttermilk powder

2 t baking powder

1 t baking soda

1/2 t salt

1 cup whole wheat flour

Beat 3 eggs, add 1 cube melted butter and 1 1/2 cup water. Cook waffles in hot greased waffle iron.

Variation: Leave out the buttermilk powder and the water and add 1 1/2 cups buttermilk.

Note: I like to fill up several bags at the same time and shake them a bit to combine. The buttermilk powder can lump if you don't mix it in well. This mix also looks lovely in a pint jar as a gift. (If you do, make sure to include the instructions to wisk the dry ingredients together BEFORE adding the liquids.)

Whole Grain Pancake Mix

(inspired by Great Harvest pancakes)

1 1/2 cup dry milk

4 cup whole wheat flour

2 cup rolled oats

1/4 cup brown sugar

4 t baking powder

1 t salt

3/4 cup milled flax (optional)

Mix together and store in an airtight container. Measure out 1 1/2 cup dry mix and add it to 1 beaten egg, 1 cup water and 1 T oil. Cook on med/high heat buttered skillet. I love these so much that I eat the cold leftovers plain.

VARIATION:
Banana Pancakes
1 egg (lightly beaten)
1 cup water
1 banana mashed
2 cups mix

Mix 1st 3 ingredients, then gently mix in the pancake mix just until combined. Cook on med/hot heated buttered skillet.