Granola Bars

One bowl, one pot, one pan is all it takes to makes these delicious granola bars. These might not be the lowest calorie granola bars out there but they are definitely packed full of healthy goodness and are a perfect alternative to store bought.

Preheat oven to 350F. In a food processor, blender or by hand crush peanuts and almonds.

In a large bowl, toss together crushed almonds and peanuts, oats, wheat germ, sunflower seeds, pepitas, coconut and cinnamon.

 Spread mixture in a 9x13 pan.

Toast in oven for 15 to 20 minutes, tossing every 5 minutes so mixture toast evenly. Let mixture cool.

Put mixture back in bowl and add cranberries, flax seed and chia seed. Toss.

Line the 9x13 pan with saran wrap or wax paper. Set aside.

 In a medium sauce pan, add brown sugar and honey. Bring to a boil on medium heat.

Add butter and return to a rolling boil for 1 minute.

 Add honey mixture to oat mixture and stir quickly.

When oat mixture is almost completely coated in honey mixture, add chocolate chips and mix once or twice more.

 Add entire mixture to prepared pan and it spread out.

Add another piece of saran or wax paper on top and firmly press the mixture into the pan evenly. If mixture is too hot, place a towel on top. Let cool for about one hour.

Once cooled, flip onto a cutting board and remove saran wrap or wax paper. Cut into desired sizes.

To individually wrap: Cut off a piece of saran wrap about 12 inches long. Place 3 bars on the top edge.

Take the edge of the saran and roll bars over. Add 3 more bars at the bottom and repeat.

Cut wrap width wise and length wise to separate each bar. Fold over lose ends.

Tada!

 Homemade Granola Bars

3 cups oats

2/3 cup peanuts

2/3 cup almonds

3/4 cup wheat germ

1/3 cup sunflower seeds

1/3 cup pepitas (pumpkin seed)

1/3 cup coconut

1 tbsp cinnamon

2 tbsp flax seed (optional)

2 tbsp chia seed (optional)

1 cup dried cranberries or raisins

1/2 cup honey

2/3 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup butter

1/3 cup chocolate chips

Cornflake Quiche

 Mmm, who doesn't love quiche? Unfortunately with the pastry crust, we can't afford to love it too much but by eliminating that it can be quite a healthy dinner or even breakfast dish. The one key ingredient to give it that "quichey" taste is a flavorful Swiss cheese.

Place cornflakes in a bag and crush with hands.

Lightly grease and 8x8 pan. Sprinkle about 2/3 of crushed cornflake evenly in pan.  

Chop up broccoli and onion. Mushrooms and pepper would also be great in this dish. I also had some dill lying around so I added that.

Lay chopped vegetables on top of cornflakes. Add preferred precooked meat.

In a bowl, whisk together eggs, egg whites, flour, milk, dry mustard, salt and pepper.

 Pour mixture over vegetables/cornflakes/meat.

Sprinkle cheese and remaining cornflakes on top.

Bake at 350F for 35-45 minutes or until center is cooked.

Cornflake Quiche

1 1/3 cups cornflakes

1/2 onion

1 small floret of broccoli

1 tbsp dill (optional)

1/2 cup mushrooms, chopped (optional)

1/2 bell pepper (optional)

2/3 cup precooked meat (ham, sausage etc.)

4 eggs

2/3 cup egg white

1 1/3 cup milk or unsweetened soy/nut milk

1/3 cup whole wheat flour

2 tsp dry mustard

Pinch of salt and pepper

1 cup Swiss cheese

Thin Crust Whole Wheat Pizza Dough

This is a super easy recipe with delicious results. This recipe is also great for the BBQ, just lay dough right on the grill, cooking 3 or so minutes each side and then topping with minimal, precooked toppings.

In a medium bowl, mix yeast flour and salt.

Add oil and applesauce. Mix.

Form a well and add warm water. Mix until dough starts to form.

Lay dough and floured surface and knead for about 3 minutes. 

Place dough back in bowl, cover with a towel and let rise for 1 hour (it won't rise a huge amount)

On a pizza stone, baking sheet or other surface, form dough into a sausage shape and begin gently stretching dough from all ends trying not to tear it.

Stretch until unable to stretch anymore. This will not be a perfect pizza shape as you can see.

 Bake at 375F for 5 -8 minutes then switch oven to broil setting (maintaining same temperature) and broil for 2-3 minutes or until golden.

Top with favorite toppings and precooked meat. Bake at 375F for about 12 minutes or until cheese is completely melted. Enjoy!

Pizza Dough

1/3 cup white flour

2/3 cup whole wheat flour

3/4 tsp instant yeast

1/4 tsp salt

1 tsp oil

2 tbsp applesauce

1/3 cup + 1 tbsp water

Ch-ch-ch-chia Pudding!

This pudding is easier than instant pudding and much better for you. Chia seeds have many health benefits and are packed with Omega 3 fatty acid. The end product has a texture of tapioca and berry seeds. 

Add chocolate milk to a bowl (see below for chocolate milk alternative recipe).

Add Chia seeds.

Mix well. The seeds tend to float so make sure they are all submerged in the milk.

Put in fridge for an hour or, mixing at least once.

Chia Pudding

1/2 cup almond, soy or regular chocolate milk

2 tbsp chia seed

No chocolate milk? No problem

1/2 cup almond, soy or regular milk

1 tbsp cocoa powder

2 tsp sugar or sugar substitute

2 tbsp chia seed

How To Video:

Crunchy Salmon and Dill Potatoes and Green Beans

Crunchy Salmon

Lay foil on a baking sheet, add a large fillet of salon.

Cover and bake for 15- 20 minutes at 375F. (Until just about cooked)

Put cornflakes in a plastic and crush with hands.

 

Add nutritional yeast, egg white and mustard. Mix.

 Remove salmon from over, spoon on mixture. Leave uncovered. Broil for 3-5 minutes (watch carefully!)

Crunchy Salmon

1 fillet of salmon

1 1/2 cups cornflakes

1/3 cup nutritional yeast

2 tbsp egg white

2 tbsp mustard

Dill Potatoes and Green Beans

In a double boiler, steam potatoes, green beans and dill.

Heat a frying pan, add garlic and margarine. Saute. Add potatoes and beans. Toss until slightly brown.

 

Dill Potatoes and Green Beans

15+ baby potatoes, halved

1 cup green beans, in thirds

3 tbsp fresh dill

1 tbsp margarine

Enjoy!

Everything Cookies

Everything cookies aka hunter cookies aka deliciousness! I don't know what it is about these cookies but we are so addicted to them. I make a batch every few days and the fact that they have no butter and therefore are low in fat and have about 50 calories each,  they are also guilt free! I rarely measure the ingredients when making this recipe so they always turn out just a bit different and over the years I have made several versions. Here's the latest version.

In a food processor add bananas, pumpkin puree, egg white, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, applesauce, brown sugar and sugar substitute.

 Blend until pureed.

Transfer to a large bowl. Add flour and mix.

Add oats and rice krispies. Mix.

Using a grating blade or a cheese grater, grate apples.

 

Add carob chips, cranberries, apple and any other mix ins! Mix.

Drop onto cookie sheet. They can be put fairly close as they don't expand much. Bake at 350F for 15 -20 minutes.

Enjoy!

Everything Cookies

1 1/2 - 2 bananas

1/2 cup egg white

1 1/2 cups canned pumpkin puree

1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 cup applesauce

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 cup sugar substitute

1/2 cup brown sugar

3 cups whole wheat flour

2 cups rolled oats
2 cups rice krispies

1 1/2 cup dried cranberries

3/4 cup carob or chocolate chips

1/2 cup of any other mix ins*

Makes 70 small cookies.

*Mix ins suggestions: sunflower seeds, coconut, pepitas, chopped nuts, raisins or any other dry fruit.

 Here is another variation on the cookies: