Granola Bars Recipe

I've been searching to find a great granola bar recipe. After many months of experimenting I've finally come up with a recipe everyone likes. And now I get to share it with you.

Warning: These are very addictive granola bars!


Chewy Granola Bars

Ingredients:
8 cups rolled oats
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/3 cup butter, softened (can use margarine)
1 cup honey
2/3 cup packed brown sugar
4 cups assortment (chocolate chips, dried fruit, nuts, raisins, etc.)

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Lightly grease Jelly pan (18 X 13 inches).

2. In large mixing bowl combine the oats, flour, baking soda, vanilla, butter, honey, and brown sugar. Stir in assortment.

3. Lightly press mixture in the prepared pan. Bake at 325 degrees F for 22-25 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool for 10 minutes then cut into bars. Let bars cool completely in pan before removing or serving.

Granola bars in picture have dried cranberries, white chocolate chips, and dark chocolate chips. My kids current favorite is milk chocolate chips with M&M's. Be creative, have some fun with this recipe.

Check out other great recipes at Tasty Tuesday and Tempt my Tummy Tuesday

Birthday Breakfast

My oldest son just turned seven and for his birthday we did the unheard of in our household, I added chocolate chips to the waffle batter! I didn't stop there, I put ice cream on top and then covered it with strawberries and chocolate. My son was delighted!

Ice Cream Waffles
Favorite waffle mix
Chocolate chips
Ice Cream
Strawberries
Chocolate topping

Make waffles by following directions on package and adding chocolate chips to the batter. Scoop ice cream on top of warm waffles. Spoon strawberries on top and drizzle with chocolate syrup. Then eat quickly before the ice cream melts!


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Tasty Tuesday

Tempt my Tummy Tuesday

Peanutty Chocolate Banana Bread Recipe

This is definitely my favorite banana bread recipe. The perfect combination of peanut butter, chocolate, and bananas! I love to double this recipe and freeze the extra loafs—that is, if I can hide them before the family eats them all. This recipe comes out of a recipe book put together by my husband's church before we met. It was submitted by Laura Littlefield.

Peanutty Chocolate Banana Bread Recipe

2c. all-purpose flour
1c. sugar

1 Tbsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt

1c. ripe bananas, mashed
(about 2 medium)
1/3c. milk
1/3c. peanut butter
3 Tbsp. vegetable oil
1 egg
1c. chocolate chips, divided
1/3c. peanuts, chopped
(optional)

Preheat oven to 350°F. In mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Add bananas, milk, peanut butter, oil, and eggs; stir until dry ingredients are moistened. Don't overmix. Stir in 3/4 cup chocolate chips.

Spoon batter into well greased loaf pan. Sprinkle peanuts and remaining chips evenly over batter. Bake 1 hour or until center is done. Cool completely before slicing.

My adjustments: This makes a huge loaf! I have started splitting the batter between two bread pans. I drop the cooking time down to about 35-40 minutes. When I want to give this as a gift to neighbors or friends I make mini loafs (adjust time to about 30 minutes).

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Tasty Tuesday

The Best Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe

When I was in elementary school I made a goal that I have never forgotten-I would find the Best Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe.

It was the custom for all the kids to bring cookies and cupcakes and yummy goodies for bake sales and class treats. I remember how the other kids mother's made such soft chewy cookies and how mine were hard and didn't look nearly as good. I decided that someday I would make the best chocolate chip cookies, and that my kids would be known for bringing the best chocolate chip cookies for the bake sales and the class treats.

I took this goal very seriously and experimented with a variety of recipes through junior high, high school and into my college years.

Then one day a nice neighbor happened to bring me a plate of cookies. These cookies were rich, chewy, and looked as if they had come from a bakery. Not only did she make me these cookies and make them for every get together she ever went to, but she gave me the recipe.


The first time I tried the recipe I was very worried - what if only my friend can make them this good and mine don't taste as good? - but to my relief the recipe was easy to follow and mine turned out great as well. Through the years since then I have made them for many get togethers and for my children and received many compliments.

I knew I had found my recipe and I have looked forward to school starting for my children so I could proudly send them to school armed with the best chocolate chip cookies.

Here is the recipe I spent years searching for:

Mrs. Fields Chocolate Chip Cookies
2 c brown sugar
1 1/2 c sugar
1 lb of real butter
3 eggs
2 Tbs vanilla
1 1/2 Tbs baking soda
1 1/2 Tbs salt
6c flour
4c chocolate chips
2 c nuts (optional)

Preheat oven 350 F. Beat sugars until smooth - important! Add butter, cream together well. Add eggs and vanilla, mix. Add dry ingredients (dough will be stiff). Add chocolate chips and nuts (optional). Spoon onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for 8-10 minutes. No longer! Cookies will be doughy when you take them out. Let cool for about 10 minutes on the cookie sheet before transferring to plate. This recipe is huge - can cut in half or freeze some of the dough for another day.


One last note:My kids love it when I substitute half of the chocolate chips with M&M's

Check out other inspiring recipes at:
Tasty Tuesday

Tempt my Tummy Tuesday