home made granola bars

Home Made Chewy Granola Bars

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Home Made Chewy Granola Bars

When looking for a granola bar recipe I knew I needed it to be incredibly easy since I’ll have to make it often, also I needed it to be something that the boys can still grab on their own while I’m either still in bed or getting ready for the day or whatever!

 

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These Granola Bars can be individually wrapped and stored in the fridge.

We used peanut butter instead of almond butter, mostly because I had peanut butter.  But ether works great in these.

This recipe does have honey in it. At this point, I think I’m ok with local honey for the boys, in moderation. I did add a little less than the recipe calls for, mostly because I’m trying to change the boys expectations of things being so sweet!

And for the next batch I think I’ll double the recipe and use a sheet pan instead of an 8 x 8. I don’t think the boys would mind them being thinner (the first batch came out really thick)  and my oldest wished they were shaped like the store kind  (more rectangular) ?

Anyways, after getting over the shape of them, the boys loved them!

I forgot to take a picture and the first batch is already gone!!!

But we just made the second batch so here’s some pics of the process!

 

Chewy Granola bars home made

 

home made chewy granola bars

 

This time we used sunflower seeds instead of almonds (because that’s what we had).

 

 

Now that they are thinner.. I did notice they crumbled pretty easily.. so I want to figure out a way to bind them a little better.. next batch! ?

 

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Print Recipe
 Chewy Granola Bars
An alternative to those sugar and preservative filled bars my boys live.
home made granola bars
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Keyword recipe, sugar free
Prep Time 10 minutes
Passive Time 1 hour
Servings
bars
Ingredients
Keyword recipe, sugar free
Prep Time 10 minutes
Passive Time 1 hour
Servings
bars
Ingredients
home made granola bars
Votes: 0
Rating: 0
You:
Rate this recipe!
Instructions
  1. Combine all ingredients together in a mixing bowl. Add more honey if needed.
  2. Line your pan with parchment paper. You can use an 8x8 pan or a sheet tray with an edge if you want thinner ones. Another option is to just roll them in balls.
  3. Place in freezer until solid, about an hour. Once frozen cut into bars. wrap each one with parchment paper to keep from sticking together. Store in the fridge or the freezer.
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  • Update: We have made these a lot! The best thing about them is you can change this recipe around in lots of ways.. just use whatever you have in the kitchen today! And as for shape, we’ve tried thicker, thinner, we even rolled them in granola balls (big hit around here) they are all great!

 

For more articles from our kitchen check out these recent posts:

 

Applesauce in the Instant pot

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Applesauce in the Instant Pot!

Applesauce could not be easier using the Instant Pot and it is soooo delicious!

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First off we are blessed to live close to a lot of great Apple Orchards. The Apple Hill Growers are an annual family outing for us. And we always bring home our favorites, This year we grabbed Apple pie (to be baked later), Apple Cider, and a box of apples!

And then made our Applesauce in the Instant Pot!

I started by peeling all of the apples.

If you don’t mind the skin you should totally skip this step!! This step was definitely the most work, but since my little guy will be eating it I decided it was necessary!

Then just a quick ruff chop and throw them in the pot! chopped apples

I had a lemon so I squeezed some juice to preserve color and brighten flavors..(this is especially helpful if you have to stop in the midst of making this, to attend to two hyper boys and a fussy babe)

Add 1/4 – 1/2 cup water

and your favorite seasonings.

Applesauce is awesome because you can really add any flavors, seasonings you want to.

Want to pack in as much health benefits as possible? Here’s some easy ideas.

Butter (healthy fats)

Pink Salt ( trace minerals)

Cinnamon

cloves

nutmeg

Local Honey (great for seasonal allergies) ** Not appropriate for little guys under a year though.

instant pot seasoned applesauce

place lid on and seal.

Set on Manual for 3 minutes!   The Pot will come to pressure then cook for 3 minutes. Let it natural release completely. Turn off the pot, so it doesn’t stay on keep warm.  (depending on how many apples you do at a time, this will take about 15-20 minutes) Walk away and let it cool off.

Then my other favorite kitchen appliance comes in super handy. If you have an immersion blender you can blend the apples up right in the pot!

immersion blender in the instant pot

They aren’t very expensive so grab one on amazon before you make your first batch of applesauce.

You can store your applesauce however you want. Usually I put some in a mason jar for my bigger guys. home made applesauce

And my awesome squeeze station pouches for the baby ( I freeze most of these)

And there’s always the old standby ice-cube trays for the freezer, This is perfect for applesauce because I love to add applesauce to baby’s meal if what I have fresh for him needs a little more! 🙂

Either way, it is yummy and just wonderful! I have discovered I enjoy applesauce best when it’s still warm so don’t forget to pour yourself a nice helping while you put the rest away! 🙂

Happy Instant Pot to you all!

Deanna Grace

Print Recipe
 Applesauce in the Instant Pot
My favorite fall home made snack or side! Applesauce is just a cozy delicious treat and it's easier than ever in the Instant Pot.
Votes: 0
Rating: 0
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Course Instant Pot
Cuisine Instant pot
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 3 minutes
Passive Time 20 minutes
Servings
Ingredients
Course Instant Pot
Cuisine Instant pot
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 3 minutes
Passive Time 20 minutes
Servings
Ingredients
Votes: 0
Rating: 0
You:
Rate this recipe!
Instructions
  1. Peal apples (if desired) and chop.
  2. Place apples, water, and seasoning in the Instant pot.
  3. Seal lid and set on Manual (High Pressure) 3 minutes. And that's it!
  4. Once it's done cooking, turn the IP off and let it natural realease until the pin drops and you can open the lid. ( Or whenever you get back to it. )
  5. Blend until as smooth as you like it. The immersion blender is awesome for this. But if you don't have one you can transfer the apples to a blender and blend that way. Be careful if the apples are still hot.
  6. You can add so many things to applesauce. try: Nutmeg or cloves Butter (for healthy fats) Local Honey (great for seasonal allergies) Not appropriate for babies less than a year though. a pinch of Pink Salt ( for minerals)
Recipe Notes

Applesauce in the instant pot ~ Loveandscribbles.com

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pineapple ice cream

Sugar Free Snacks-Pineapple Whip

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Sugar Free Snacks – Pineapple Whip

 

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One thing I’m pretty serious about along this nutrition journey is that I don’t want my kids to feel like they “miss out” because they can’t have the sugar and junk. So I am determined to find fun, exciting snacks and treats that are still healthy! This Pineapple Whip is super easy to make and absolutely refreshing and delicious

Note: technically these shouldn’t be considered “sugar-free” snacks since they have honey in them.. maybe more like refined sugar free? ?

 

Pinterest is an amazing tool! So many creative people to follow!

This recipe was quick and easy to make and the whole family LOVED it! Oh and we didn’t have coconut milk so I just used Almond Milk and it was still wonderful!

 

 

 

 

 

 

We have started keeping pineapple in the freezer as often as possible so whenever we want to make this, it’s ready to go!

Print Recipe
 Frozen Pineapple Whip
Refreshing, naturally sweet, creamy like pineapple ice cream
pineapple ice cream
Votes: 0
Rating: 0
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Rate this recipe!
Course Dessert
Cuisine Dessert
Prep Time 20 minutes
Passive Time 10-24 hours
Servings
servings
Ingredients
  • 1 Fresh Pineapple peeled, cored, cut into chunks and frozen (6.5-7 cups)
  • 1/2 cup Nut milk Almond, coconut, cashew.. really whatever you have (more may be needed to reach desired consistancy)
  • 1-3 TBsp Honey (optional)
Course Dessert
Cuisine Dessert
Prep Time 20 minutes
Passive Time 10-24 hours
Servings
servings
Ingredients
  • 1 Fresh Pineapple peeled, cored, cut into chunks and frozen (6.5-7 cups)
  • 1/2 cup Nut milk Almond, coconut, cashew.. really whatever you have (more may be needed to reach desired consistancy)
  • 1-3 TBsp Honey (optional)
pineapple ice cream
Votes: 0
Rating: 0
You:
Rate this recipe!
Instructions
  1. peel, core, and cut pineapple. lay pieces out on parchment paper on a cookie sheet in a single layer. Place in freezer until frozen completely. (any where from 10-24 hours)
  2. Place frozen pineapple chunks in the food processor and blend with the milk. scrape down the sides and add more milk if it isn't creamy enough. Taste and add honey if the Pineapple isn't sweet enough on it's own! Enjoy!
  3. Serve and enjoy right away!
Recipe Notes

Frozen Pineapple Whip -- my kids call it Pineapple ice cream! 🙂 

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Need a Ninja to whip this up?

 

We love the Ninja!

 

Next up, I wanted to replace the granola bars that my guys eat everyday! They have 8 grams of sugar in a tiny little bar and I’m not quite sure how the nutrition value really stacks up…..

You can see my recipe here.

 

A Journey Through Nutrition-Talking Kids & Nutrition

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Let’s talk Nutrtion!

 

 

We are beginning a somewhat new journey in the nutrition we provide for our kids.
Before I start listing some of the things we are changing let me tell you the why.

Recently it has become very clear that we need to make some major changes in our kids diets.

 

Here’s a little intro video (Don’t be scared, it’s the real me, no makeup or filters at all) ?

Basically: For a while now we have known that especially our oldest son is very sensitive to sugar and the artificial dyes that are in a lot of foods. But this past couple of weeks has totally proven that these ingredients among other fake stuff really messes with our kid’s brains, bodies and the ability to focus, listen, and even just control themselves.

 

So we began by throwing out all the candy!! And I started searching Pinterest and all over the internet for recipes and blogs on the subject.

Our plan is to really focus on sugar and dyes.

Follow my board here for yummy sugar free recipes to try! I’ll try to update each pin as we try them, with what we think of them!  https://www.pinterest.com/loveandscrib

 

My Mom found this great blog with some ideas to help us detox from all the junk.. not just in the food we were eating but also in just the atmosphere around us.

Foodrenegade — How to detox kids daily in 5 easy steps!

Little by little we hope to make a difference with all of this! Summer is a great time to focus on nutrition since we have soooo many great ways to include fresh fruit and veggies in our meals and snacks every day! I have to admit that I get into a rut when it comes to what vegetable sides I serve with dinners… but THIS summer I plan on making sure we mix it up.. a lot! Already I’ve added roasted brussels sprouts, fresh green beans, and Grilled eggplant.

It’s tough to convince the boys at first look or bite but I am not giving up!! We do our best to have them take at least one bite of everything..  and given enough tries, in many cases they eventually decide that they enjoy the foods they were so sure they hated!

 

So here we go!

If you want to tag along for the ride you are always welcome or if you’ve already made steps to replace many of the foods your family enjoys please share what has worked for you!

 

Just a girl, mommying the best she can (and praying through it all)

Deanna Grace

 

 

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