Granola Bites!! (And back to school. :( )

Hi!!! Sorry, I haven't made a post in awhile. We just went back to school on, what, tuesday??? But here is a granola recipe from my favorite blog, another lunch!!

Ingredients:
2 1/2 C. quick oats
1/2 C. crisp rice cereal
1/2 C. mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 C. brown sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 C. canola oil
1/4 C. honey
1/2 tsp. vanilla
* optional: ground flax seed and/or wheat germ (I use 3 heaping Tbs. or so of each).

Directions:
Mix all ingredients (except for the chocolate chips - keep those out for now) really, really, really well. I start with a wooden spoon and then usually end up using my hands too. Take your time to make sure everything is really blended. Taking your time also allows the wet ingredients to sort of soak into the dry components. If your mixture seems dry after mixing then you may need to add a little more oil and/or honey - a teaspoon at a time - until it starts to clump up a little.
It may be hard to tell, but can you see how some of the granola mixture is starting to cling and ball up a little here?


When your granola mixture gets to this point, not too wet, not too dry, then stir in the chocolate chips.

Holding the mini muffin cups, scoop the granola mixture in and form the mound compactly. I use a rounded tablespoon to help form them, a small cookie scoop would work too. You need to use both hands to press the granola and support the muffin cup at the same time. Line them up on a baking sheet to place in the oven.


Press the remaining granola into your baking pan (if you are making bars). Make sure your baking pan has been sprayed well with non-stick spray!  Press mixture firmly, compacting it as well as you can.

Baking:
350 degrees.
Granola bites: 12-15 minutes.
Granola bars: 17-22 minutes (keep an eye on them!).
They are ready to remove from oven when the tops are golden.  If they don't cook long enough they may not hold their shape. If they cook too long they will get too dry (not to mention they can burn) and may not hold their shape.  (I've found granola bars to be finicky.)

Let the granola bites cool completely. Just leave 'em alone for a few hours so they can set. Then, they are done! So easy.

5 Minute Brownies!!!

Today it came to me to do a dairy free, nut free, and egg free snack/dessert. I consider it as an end of the summer treat. OK!!

4 tablespoons flour

4 tablespoons sugar

2 tablespoons cocoa

Dash of salt

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

2 tablespoons water

1/4 teaspoon vanilla

Whisk together dry ingredients in a large coffee mug. Add oil, water and vanilla and mix thoroughly.

Microwave on high for 1 to 1 1/2 minutes. It should not be quite set in the center. Cool a couple of minutes and (why not?) eat right out of the mug. For extra decadence, dump it on a plate and serve with vanilla ice cream. 

Me and my friend always used to make these when she came over. They are really good, and if you want you can take out the cocoa powder and make Vanilla brownies!!!! I usually omit the salt, but if you don't want him to feel left out then salt away!!! . .

                                                                 U

Egg Salad!!!

Today I made egg salad!!! It's really good!!! This is what I used:
6 hard-boiled eggs
2 stalks of celery
2 tablespoons of mayo
1 tablespoon of mustard
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon dried dill weed
salt and pepper to taste

Add everything together and mash!!!! Then stick in the fridge. We are serving this with Ta-cos! I can't stress how good this tasted!!!! SO up next, and dairy free easy dessert!

Crepes!!! (Chocolate Crepes!)

YAY!!! Today I'm making chocolate crepes for breakfast!!!! This recipe is from Jamie Cooks It up! So here you go!

Chocolate Crepes

Yield: 12 Crepes

1 C flour

2 T cocoa powder

1 T powdered sugar

1 1/2 C milk

2 large eggs whites

1 whole egg

1 t oil

dash of salt

1. Blend all ingredients together in a blender until smooth.

2. Heat up a medium sized pan and spray with cooking spray.

3. Pour about 1/4 of the batter into the pan. Swirl the pan slightly so the batter flows to the outer edges of the pan.

4. Cook for about 2 minutes and then flip it to the other side and cook for another 2 minutes.

5. Serve with any of the following...whip cream, strawberries, raspberries, nutella, chocolate sauce...what ever suites your fancy my friends.

This sounds yummy!! Now to go eat it. So have a great day!!

Pancake Variations! (#2)

I know i haven't posted a recipe in a while, so I will post two recipes today. The first one is a recipe for Chocolate Pancakes:

CHOCOLATE PANCAKES

2 cups flour 3 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 cup sugar (less may be used, to taste) 1 cup milk 4 teaspoon butter, melted 2 eggs 4-6 teaspoons cocoa Note: For fluffy pancakes, separate the egg yolks from the egg whites. Beat the whites until they hold stiff peaks and fold gently into the batter. Combine dry ingredients. Add remaining ingredients and stir only until mixed.Preheat a non-stick skillet until sizzling hot (a drop of water will "dance" on the surface). Brush lightly with oil or butter. Pour pancake batter onto hot skillet; flip once when bubbles begin to form along edges. When lightly browned on both sides, remove pancake using a spatula and stack with pats of butter between each pancake. Keep warm in oven until ready to serve. Serve with vanilla syrup, if desired. These freeze well and can be reheated in the microwave for a quick breakfast. !!! So there you go. Chocolate Pancakes for all!!!!

Crepes again!!!

Hi!!! Happy Sunday! Today I will be making crepes again, but a different recipe. And you can also make chocolate crepes by adding cocoa powder!!
This recipe is from Jamie cooks it up!

Crepes

Time: 20 minutes

Yield: 15 medium sized crepes

Recipe from Better Homes and Gardens

Mix all ingredients together WELL. Or, you can put everything into a blender and let it mix for 2-3 minutes.

2. Heat a skillet over medium heat. When it's nice and hot, spray it with cooking spray and pour some into the pan. Twist the pan around in a circle until the batter covers the bottom evenly.

3. Cook until the bottom starts to become golden brown. Lift up the edge with a fork and flip it over.

4. Cook on the other side until it's golden brown as well.

5. Fill as desired and serve!

If you want chocolate crepes, just add 2 tablespoons of cocoa powder!!!

Zucchini Bread!!!

Hi everyone!!! Today for a snack I'm making Zucchini Bread with no nuts. The recipe is from:

Eat, Drink & Be Chinaberry. So here it is:

Beat: 4 eggs

2 C sugar

1 C oil

Add: 2 C grated zucchini

Mix together and add:

2 C flour

1 tsp salt

1 tsp baking soda

2 tsp baking powder

3 tsp cinnamon

Add: 2 tsp vanilla extract

Bake in 2 greased and floured loaf pans for 1 hour at 350 degrees. YUMMMMMM!!!!!!

Thank you and all hail the giant lord ZUCCHINI!!!!

Dinner Time!

Tonight for dinner, we are making Stuffed Jumbo shells, with Baked Zucchini with Mozzarella. Both recipes from the Jamie Cooks it up! blog. Here are both recipes. My mom prepared the Stuffed Jumbo shells, and I made the Zucchini!!!!!

Baked Zucchini with Mozzarella

Time: 20 minutes

Yield: 6 servings

2 medium sized (or about 5 small) zucchini

Johnny's Garlic Spread Seasoning

salt 

2 C shredded mozzarella cheese

1. Slice your Zucchini into 1/2 inch rings.

2. Lay them out flat on a large cookie sheet. Sprinkle with Johnny's Garlic Seasoning and a bit of salt.

3. Bake in the oven at 350 for about 10-15 minutes or until crisp tender.

4. Take the hot pan out of the oven and sprinkle the zucchini with cheese. Turn the oven to broil, throw that cookie sheet back into the oven and let the cheese get all bubbly and a bit browned. This should only take about 3-5 minutes. Be careful here. Broiling things in the oven can get out of control in a fast hurry. Keep a close eye on these beauties or they will be charred black. And, this might surprise you, but most folks don't enjoy food that has been charred black. If your family does...by all means, charr the heck out of them. 

But, in my opinion, I don't like them charred to heck, but golden brown. :^)

 

Now for the Stuffed Jumbo Shells!!! and I noticed this is a rather long post!

Stuffed Jumbo Shells

Yield: 12 servings
1 package (12 oz) Jumbo Shells
4 C ricotta cheese
2 C shredded mozzarella cheese
1 C shredded Parmesan cheese
2 eggs
1 T dried parsley
¾ t dried oregano leaves
½ t salt
¼ t freshly ground black pepper
2 Marinara Sauce



1. Cook the pasta according to package directions.
2. In a large bowl combine all ingredients but the Marinara Sauce and the pasta.
3. Spoon about 2 T of cheese filling into each of the cooked shells.
4. Pour about ½ C marinara sauce in the bottom of TWO 9x13 pans. This recipe works best if the shells are not stacked on top of each other. That’s why I use 2 pans, instead of layering them in one pan.
5. Place the stuffed shells over the top of the sauce. Pour the remaining sauce over the top of the shells.
6. Cover one pan with foil and bake at 375 degrees for 45 minutes. Cover the other pan with foil and freeze for later.

Yum! Now eat!!!!!!!!!!

Pancake Variations! (#1)

Happy Tuesday!!!!! Today I'm making Oatmeal pancakes from the Jamie Cooks it up Blog!!!!

Oatmeal Pancakes

Yield: about 12 pancakes

Time: 15 minutes

2 1/2 C milk

1/3 C oil

2 eggs

1 t salt

2 1/2 t baking powder

2 C oatmeal

1 C whole wheat flour

1. Place all ingredients in your blender and give it a whirl. Make sure all of the ingredients are blended up smoothly.

2. Let the batter stand for 2-3 minutes to thicken.

3. Cook on a hot griddle and serve with butter and maple syrup.

For Butterscotch pancakes, use butterscotch chips, or peanut butter and syrup. That's what I put on mine, and it was DELICIOUS!!! Yum!! Well, That's todays recipe! Bye-Bye!

Crepes! I luv me some Crepes!

I'm about to make crepes, but before I get into that, I would like to say, that on Friday night, I made my first Hollandaise Sauce! From the Joy of Cooking. Then we served it up with Steamed artichokes, and it was awesome!!! Now for the crepes. I got the recipe from allrecipes.com. 

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1/2 cup water
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons butter, melted
• Makes 2 crepes

Directions

1. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour and the eggs. Gradually add in the milk and water, stirring to combine. Add the salt and butter; beat until smooth.
2. Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium high heat. Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle, using approximately 1/4 cup for each crepe. Tilt the pan with a circular motion so that the batter coats the surface evenly.
3. Cook the crepe for about 2 minutes, until the bottom is light brown. Loosen with a spatula, turn and cook the other side. Serve hot.
4. Top with whatever floats your boat, like cream cheese or fruit. 

    And then you are done! Pig out, eat it! YUM!!! I topped mine with Vanilla and Caramel Ice cream and Powered Sugar.

About me!

Hi Everyone! I'm an 11 year old girl who was born to cook. I live with my 13 almost 14 year old brother, my mom, my dad, and my 3 cats. I love blogs like Another Lunch, Jamie cooks it up, Style Rookie and Make something Happy. Its my first blog, evah, and It will be the best! Woo-hoo! So here it goes, let's get this party on the road!