Fruit and Walnut Granola Bars

There are so many ways to enjoy food and I find with all of our dietary issues within our home we do the best on a simple plan. A best friend of mine was away for work and happened to come across a cookbook that the hospital was selling. Looking at it she knew right away that this was my type of cooking. I am so glad she did. The cookbook is called Wholesome Temptation which are recipes and Nutrition tips from the dietitians and chefs of Cancer Treatment Centers of America. I never thought I would say this, but I think this is one of my favorite cookbooks. The recipes are simple and easy to digest. I am so thrilled and I hope to share many more recipes from this book with you.

The recipe I will share tonight is Fruit and Walnut Granola Bars. AMAZING! Sorry, I do not have pictures as I did this at the last minute and felt the need to share. These are super easy to make and will become a regular snack for me when I need a pick me up. I hope you enjoy!

Fruit and Walnut Granola Bars

-Chef Judith Hallisey

Ingredients:

1 Large Egg
2 Large Egg White
1/2 c. Truvia ( I used organic sugar)
1 tsp. Cinnamon
2 tsp. Vanilla
2 c. uncooked old fashioned oats
1 Tbs. unbleached flour
1/2 c. golden raisins
1/2 c. dried cranberries
1/2 c. toasted and chopped walnuts

Method:

1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2) Whisk together eggs in large bowl.

3) Add Truvia, cinnamon, vanilla.

4) Stir in oats, flour, fruit, and walnuts

5) Spread in a greased baking pan ( I used parchment paper)

6)  Bake until golden brown. ( I baked mine for 12-14 mins)

7) Cool and cut into bars. (I made 15 bars)

Note: These can be made gluten free by using GF Oats and rice flour.

Chewy Oatmeal Cookies

One day I was in the mood for some oatmeal cookies. With the fall season coming in, there is something about oats that remind me the cooler season. Kind of funny I know. So I was searching though an old recipe holder and found this one. I believe it is from an old Crisco can, I'm not sure though. They turned out perfectly chewy. Hope you enjoy.

Ingredients:

3/4 c. Crisco or All-Vegetable Shortening
1 1/4 c. Firmly packed brown sugar
1/3 c. Milk ( I used soymilk)
1 Egg
1 1/2 tsp. Vanilla
3 c. Quick oats
1 c. All purpose flour
1/2 tsp Baking soda
1/2 tsp. Salt
1/4 tsp. Cinnamon
1 c. Raisins ( I used dried cranberries)
1 c. chopped Walnuts

Method:

1) Heat oven to 375 degrees and grease baking sheets or line them with parchment paper.

2) Combine Crisco, light brown sugar, egg, milk, and vanilla in a large bowl or stand alone mixer.

3) Combine oats, flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.



4) Slowly combine dry mix with wet at a low speed.

5) Stir in raisins and nuts.

6) Bake one baking sheet at a time at 375 degrees for 10-12 minutes, or until lightly browned.

7) Cool on a cooling rack.

Makes about 2 1/2 dz.

Breakfast Cookies

As I attend to my girls every morning I often don't have any time to get breakfast for myself. By lunch time I am starving and who knows what I will eat. So, I saw this recipe for breakfast cookies off of the cooking channel. I thought that is exactly what I needed to make sure that I get some kind of nutrition in the morning while rushing around the house. I hope you enjoy them. I think they are super yummy.

BREAKFAST COOKIES

INGREDIENTS

• 3/4 cup whole-wheat pastry flour
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1/4 cup canola oil
• 1/4 cup dark brown sugar

• 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
• 1 egg
• 1/4 cup (1 small jar) strained carrot baby food
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup rolled oats
• 1/2 cup bran cereal flakes
• 1/3 cup craisins
• 1/3 cup walnut pieces

METHOD

Place rack in center of oven and preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

1) Whisk together flours, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt in a medium-sized bowl. 

2) Combine butter, oil and sugars in the bowl of a stand mixer and mix on high speed, scraping down sides if necessary, until sugars have dissolved and mixture is light in color, about 1 minute. 

3) Add egg, carrot puree and vanilla and beat an additional 30 seconds. Add flour mixture and beat an additional 30 seconds. 

4) Add oats, flakes, raisins and walnuts and mix over low speed just until incorporated. Dough will be slightly sticky and less cohesive than traditional cookie dough.

5) Line a large cookie sheet with parchment paper. Using between 3 to 4 tablespoons of batter, form a ball and place on cookie sheet. Repeat with remaining batter, leaving about 3 inches between cookies. 

6) Wet hands and use palm of hand to flatten cookies until about 1/4-inch thick. 

7) Bake for 12 minutes, until cookies are fragrant but still soft. Let cookies cool slightly, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Flourless Peanut Butter Cookies

Here is a shout out to my friends and family who eat gluten free food! I was watching the food network one afternoon and happened to see this recipe made. I am always looking for new and easy gluten free recipes that taste yummy. Here is the recipe and I am not sure who created it, but it is found on the foodnetwork.com.

Ingredients:

1 c. Peanut Butter
3/4 c. Sugar
1 large Egg
1 tsp. Vanilla
1/2 c. Chocolate chips

Method:

1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2) Mix all ingredients until they are combined really well. I stirred in the chocolate chips.

 3) Spoon 1 TBS. of batter about 1 inch apart onto an ungreased baking sheet.

4) Flatten the top of each cookie with a fork. If the fork sticks, then dip in water and continue to crosshatch.

5) Bake about 10 minutes. SWITCH PANS FROM BOTTOM TO TOP 1/2 WAY THROUGH.


6) Transfer to cooling rack.


NOTE: If you do not switch the pans they WILL burn. Lesson learned. The very first picture is what they should look like. :)