Healthy Snack Bars

This kid-friendly snack is made with healthy ingredients like peanuts, raisins, applesauce, bran and oatmeal. These bars remind me of a breakfast cookie; nutrition on the run. I love them for a snack or quick pick-me-up when I get hungry. I adapted this recipe from one that I clipped out of "Woman's Day Magazine" years ago when my son was a child. Blessings...

Recipe:

1 cup quick-cooking oatmeal
1/2 cup unbleached flour
1/3 cup unprocessed bran
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. salt, optional
1/4 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup unsweetened, natural applesauce
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup chopped peanuts
1/2 cup raisins (other dried fruit could also be used)

1. Combine oats, flour, bran, soda, cinnamon and salt; set aside
2. In a large bowl cream butter and sugar. Beat in egg, applesauce and vanilla until combined.
3. Stir in oat mixture; mix well. Stir in peanuts and raisins using a spoon.
4. Pat evenly in a greased 9 x 9-inch pan. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 17 to 20 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.
5. Cool on wire rack. Cut into bars.

Yield: 20 bars
118 calories each
1.7 gms. fiber

Spiced Couscous

Couscous is an excellent accompaniment to just about any kind of meat, fish or poultry dish, and it is very fast and easy to prepare. Because the grains are so small they cook in a boiling liquid, off the flame, in about five minutes. Couscous can be purchased in pre-packaged form or it can be found in the health food section of most markets in the bulk-food bins. This flavorful spiced variation with raisins and cashews was in a Bon Appe'tit Magazine years ago. For our Easter meal yesterday, I did not add the cashews because the salad had cashews in it and I didn't want to overdo a good thing. The sweet and savory spices were a wonderful combination with our ham. Blessings...

Recipe:
2 tbsps. butter
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. ground cardamom
1/8 tsp. ground cloves
2-1/4 cups chicken broth
1/2 cup raisins
1-1/2 cups couscous (1 10-oz. box)
1/4 cup chopped toasted cashews, optional

1. Melt the butter in a 3 qt. saucepan over low heat. Add spices and cook 2 minutes stirring occasionally.
2. Add broth and raisins. Bring to a boil. Mix in couscous, cover and remove from heat. Let sit 5 minutes. Add nuts, if using, stir and serve.

Yield: 6 servings

Trailside Oatmeal Treats

This recipe is a variation of a traditional treat; good old-fashioned oatmeal chocolate chip cookies. I got this recipe from my Mom many years ago when my Grandma was still alive and, I believe, I was still a teenager. Oh, goodness, that was a while ago! I remember, very clearly, being in the kitchen with Mom and Grandma when the cookies came out of the oven and the three of us enjoying a snack together. I can not remember if any of my siblings were around or not, probably not, as not one of them loved to be in the kitchen like I did. I was always under my mom's feet, so to speak, when it came to cooking. I do hope you are making memories with some wonderful kid-friendly recipes like this one and the children in your life. Blessings...

Recipe:

1-3/4 cups unbleached flour

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup chunk peanut butter (we only eat creamy and it works great, as well)

1 cup sugar

1 cup packed brown sugar

2 eggs

1/4 cup milk

1 tsp. vanilla

2-1/2 cups uncooked quick-oatmeal (not instant)

1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips

1/2 cup raisins, or more chocolate chips

 

1. Stir together flour, soda and salt; set aside

2. In a large mixing bowl beat butter, peanut butter and sugars until creamy.

3. Beat in eggs, milk and vanilla.

4. Stir in flour mixture and oats. By hand, stir in chocolate chips and raisins.

5. Drop dough by tablespoons onto ungreased baking sheets or baking sheets lined with parchment paper.

6. Bake in a 350 degree oven for about 15 minutes or until done. Cool on wire racks.  

Note: I don't have a clue how many the recipe makes for sure; I've never paid attention to that detail and I didn't write it down from Mom's recipe card. Oh, dear, but I do know there are 134 calories in each one, and worth every one!

 

Raisin Cashew Drops

This candy recipe combines raisins and cashews in delicious chocolate for an easy dessert or gift. Older children could make this recipe for mom for a special homemade gift of love; the kind of gift that touches a mom's heart. For all the mom's out there, I do hope your heart is touched by your family on this special day of celebration. Blessings...

Recipe:

2 cups (12 oz.) semisweet chocolate chips
1 can (14 oz.) sweetened condensed milk
1 tbsp. light corn syrup
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 cups coarsely chopped or broken cashews
2 cups raisins

1. In a heavy saucepan over low heat, melt the chocolate chips with the milk and corn syrup, stirring constantly until smooth. Remove from the heat; stir in the vanilla until blended. Stir in the cashews and raisins.
2. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto waxed paper-lined baking sheets. Refrigerate until firm, about 2 - 3 hours.
3. Carefully remove from waxed paper and store in an airtight container. Chocolate is the best at room temperature.

Yield: 2-1/2 pounds

This recipe comes from Taste of Home Annual Recipes Cookbook 2009