no bake granola bars

These bars are so easy and really tasty.  I got the recipe from here and slightly adapted it.
Ingredients

* 2 1/2 cups puffed rice cereal
* 2 cups rolled oats
* 1/2 cup raisins
* 1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
* 1/2 cup agave
* 1/2 cup peanut butter
* 1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions

1. In large bowl, combine cereal, rolled oats and raisins; set aside.
2. In small saucepan, combine brown sugar and agave.
3. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly.
4. Stir in peanut butter and vanilla; blend until smooth.
5. Pour over cereal mixture; mix well.
6. Press into ungreased 13″x 9″ pan.
7. Cool; cut into 24 bars.

mOMent: Structure can be helpful when learning a new skill.  Freedom is helpful when creativity is called upon.  What will you employ today, more freedom or more structure?

nature valley & raisin

Ingredients:

1 C cooked old-fashioned oatmeal

1 nature valley ‘oats ‘n honey’ bar

1 T raisins

1 t butter

Directions:  Mix butter with oatmeal and garnish with crumbled nature valley granola bar and raisins. Enjoy!

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easy homemade granola

This is one of the best recipes I have ever had.  It was so good that my husband was a little upset when I gave away our last bag of the granola to visiting family members.  I have to admit that I used this recipe because one of the recipe maker’s names is Renato…It was a sign, right?

Adapted from:  http://www.amateurgourmet.com/2009/01/easy_homemade_g.html

Easy Homemade Granola
from “Baked: New Frontiers in Baking” by Matt Lewis and Renato Poliafito

Ingredients:
2 cups rolled oats
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon vegetable oil
1/4 cup honey (I used brown rice syrup)
1/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/3 cup whole almonds
1/3 cup whole hazelnuts
1/3 cup golden raisins (I used thompson raisins)
1/3 cup dried cherries (I omitted these, as I had none in the house)

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

In a large bowl, toss the oats with the cinnamon and salt.

In a medium bowl, stir together the oil, honey, brown sugar, and vanilla. Whisk until completely combined.

Pour the honey mixture over the oats mixture and use your hands to combine them: Gather up some of the mixture in each hand and make a fist. Repeat until all of the oats are coated with the honey mixture.

Pour the mixture onto the prepared baking sheet. Spread it out evenly, but leave a few clumps here and there for texture.
Bake for 10 minutes, then remove from the oven and use a metal spatula to lift and flip the granola. Sprinkle the almonds over the granola and return the baking sheet to the oven.

Bake for 5 minutes, then remove from the oven and use a metal spatula to lift and flip the granola. Sprinkle the hazelnuts over the granola and return the baking sheet to the oven.

Bake for 10 minutes, then remove from the oven. Let cool completely. Sprinkle the raisins and cherries over the granola…

Om,
Renata

mOMent: Sharing is caring…remember that old adage?  Who can you share with today?  What will you share?