Elise's Granola Bars

I'd been looking for a yummy homemade granola bar recipe and my friend, Elise recommended this one, it's great!

In large mixing bowl combine:

1 c flour
4 c oatmeal (add another 1/2 c if you don't want nuts, chips, fruit, etc)
1/2 c milled flax
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda

In microwaveable bowl melt:
1/3 c brown sugar
2/3 c marg/butter
1/2 c honey
Then stir in 1 tsp vanilla
(consider substituting maple syrup or molassas for part of this, haven't tried it yet, but sounds good)

stir well, then combine with dry ingredients. then add any or all of the following:

1-1 1/2 c mini choc chips (i use half mini m&m's)
1 c rough-chopped nuts (i like almonds)
1/2 c coconut (for chewiness)
1/2 c raisins
etc...

coat everything well. press into 9x13" pan and bake 20 minutes @ 325. after removing from oven, press down firmly (with large metal spoon) or they'll crumble. let cool at least 15 minutes, better if completely cool. cut and store or serve.

Oat and Jam Bars

1 cup flour
1 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup butter
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup fruit jam (strawberry, blackberry, apricot, etc.)

Cream butter and sugar. Combine flour, oats, baking powder and salt separately. Add to butter/sugar mixture and mix well. Measure out 2 cups of mixture and press into an 8x8" pan. Spread jam over pressed mixture then gently press remaining crumbs on top. Bake 375 degrees for 20 minutes. Allow to completely cool before cutting and serving.

Kid Friendly Salmon

4 Servings

2 tablespoons vegetable oil, plus more for brushing
4 tablespoons soy sauce
Juice of 2 lemons
1/2 onion, finely chopped
2 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
Freshly ground pepper
4 5-to-6-ounce wild salmon fillets, skin removed

Combine 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, the soy sauce, lemon juice, onion, brown sugar, garlic, sesame oil, and pepper to taste in a bowl or large resealable plastic bag. Add the salmon and turn to coat; refrigerate for at least 3 hours, preferably most of the day.

Preheat the broiler and line a broiler pan with foil. Place the salmon on the foil (reserve the marinade) and brush with vegetable oil. Broil for 5 to 7 minutes, or until the salmon is opaque. Meanwhile, strain the marinade and simmer in a saucepan over medium-low heat until slightly reduced. Serve the salmon with the sauce on the side.

Banana Shake

2 bananas, sliced
2 cups milk
2 cups nonfat vanilla yogurt
1/2 cup pineapple juice
1 T honey
a handful of ice

Process all ingredients in blender until smooth. Serve immediately.

Alton Brown's Homemade Corn Dogs

My husband has made these once on a campout and once for our sons birthday and they have turned out amazing! Totally worth the effort!

1 gallon peanut oil
1 cup yellow cornmeal
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons kosher salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 tablespoons (approximately 1 large) jalapeno pepper, seeded and finely minced*
1 (8.5-ounce) can cream-style corn
1/3 cup finely grated onion*
1 1/2 cups buttermilk
4 tablespoons cornstarch, for dredging
8 beef hot dogs

*Kyle took the onion and jalepeno and just stuck them in the food processor which saved a little time chopping (and saved his hands from jalepeno burns!)

**Also you could probably get 2 packages of hot dogs (total 16) out of this recipe, it makes a ton of batter.

Special equipment: 8 sets chopsticks, not separated (*For regular sized hot dogs, we separated the chopsticks and they held up fine. However if you're using larger sized sausages, you won't want to separate them.)

Pour oil into a deep fryer or large heavy pot and heat to 375 degrees F. In a medium mixing bowl, combine the cornmeal, flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and cayenne pepper. In a separate bowl, combine the jalapeno, corn, onion, and buttermilk. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients all at once, and stir only enough times to bring the batter together; there should be lumps. Set batter aside and allow to rest for 10 minutes.

Scatter the cornstarch into a dry pie pan. Roll each hot dog in the cornstarch and tap well to remove any excess.

Transfer enough batter to almost fill a large drinking glass. Refill the glass as needed. Place each hot dog on chopsticks, and quickly dip in and out of the batter. Immediately and carefully place each hot dog into the oil, and cook until coating is golden brown, about 4 to 5 minutes. With tongs, remove to cooling rack, and allow to drain for 3 to 5 minutes.

Also for those of you who don't have major frying capabilities, I found a recipe for oven corn dogs by Emeril. I haven't tried it, so I have no idea if it's good. But it would be interesting to try.

Banana Sushi (Rachael Ray)

Ingredients
* 4 slices whole wheat bread, crusts removed
* 2 bananas, peeled and ends trimmed
* 1/2 cup smooth peanut butter, apple butter or Nutella, whichever you prefer or have on hand

Preparation
1. Lay two slices of bread on the counter next to each other, slightly overlapping one over the other to create one big, rectangular piece. Press the slices together at the seam and use a rolling pin to gently flatten them.
2. Gently spread your favorite spread evenly over both of the bread pieces and lay a whole banana in the middle. Carefully roll up the bread around the banana.
3. Slice each log into six pieces that are 1-1 1/2-inches thick. Repeat with the remaining bread slices, spread and banana and serve.

Bottom-of-the-Box Cereal Sundae (Rachael Ray)

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup cornflakes or Cheerios from the bottom of the box (really any cereal will do)
• 1/2 cup mixed berries of your choice
• 1/2 cup vanilla yogurt

Preparation
In a small serving glass, layer the ingredients beginning with the berries, yogurt, cornflakes or Cheerios and repeat another two times to finish with the Cheerios or cornflakes on top.

Dinosaur Punch

Ingredients

• 4 cups grape juice
• 6 oz. can frozen lemonade
• 2 cups chilled ginger ale

Preparation
Combine all the ingredients in a large punch bowl and serve immediately.

Peanut Butter Play-Doh

Ingredients

• 1 cup peanut butter
• 1-1/2 cups instant powdered milk
• 3 tbsps. honey

Preparation
1. Mix all the ingredients well with a mixer until smooth.
2. If the "clay" is too moist, add a little powdered milk. If too dry, add a little honey.
3. Once you have the consistency right, the mixture can be used just like regular play-doh. Best of all, it can be a tasty treat when your children are done playing with it.

Cheesy Breadsticks

Ingredients

• Refrigerated garlic bread sticks
• Shredded mozzarella cheese
• Small jar of pizza sauce (or use your own)

Preparation
1. Bake the bread sticks per the instructions on the package.
2. Once they're baked, remove them from the oven and sprinkle with mozzarella cheese while they're still hot.
3. Let them cool and then serve with the pizza sauce for dipping.

Fruit Kabobs

Ingredients
Various fruits you can stick on a skewer (strawberries, grapes, bananas, apples, mandarin oranges, pineapple, blackberries, blueberries, cantaloupe, etc.)
Flavored yogurt

Preparation
1. Cut fruit into bite size pieces then stick them on skewers.
2. Serve with yogurt for dipping.

Fruit Pizza

Ingredients

• Pita Bread
• 1 (8 oz) pkg. Cream Cheese
• 32 oz. Marshmallow Fluff
• Variety of sliced fruits (i.e. strawberries, melon, blueberries or pineapple or whatever you like)

Preparation
1. Place the cream cheese and the marshmallow fluff in a mixing bowl and blend with a mixer until smooth.
2. Next cut the pita bread in half lengthwise so the inside of the bread becomes the pizza "crust.”
3. Then spread the cream cheese/fluff mixture evenly over the top of the pizza.
4. Then top pizza with whatever fruit you like.

Tostada Faces

Ingredients

• Round flat corn tortillas
• Taco filling or refried beans
• Grated cheddar cheese
• Shredded lettuce
• Olive slices
• Diced tomatoes

Preparation
Spread a layer of taco filling or refried beans on a tortilla then arrange the toppings to create faces as follows:
1. Use the lettuce for "hair"
2. The cheese for a "beard"
3. The olives for "eyes"
4. The tomatoes for the "nose" and "lips"

Frozen Bananas

Ingredients

• Bananas
• Honey
• Granola, Nuts, or Sprinkles
• Plastic Wrap
• Popsicle Sticks

Preparation
1. Peel the bananas and then cut them in half cross-ways.
2. Insert a popsicle stick in one end of each banana half.
3. Place the honey and the granola/nuts/sprinkles on separate shallow plates...
...then roll the banana halves in the honey...
...then in the granola/nuts/sprinkles.
4. Wrap each half in plastic wrap and place in the freezer until well-frozen. And enjoy!

Creamy Salsa Dip & Veggies (Rachael Ray)

Ingredients
* 1 cup mild salsa, any brand
* 1/2 cup regular or reduced fat sour cream
* 12 carrot sticks, store-bought or cut by a grown-up helper (GH)
* 12 celery sticks
* 12 cherry or grape tomatoes
* 12 sugar snap peas

Preparation
1. Make the dip: stir together the salsa and sour cream. Scrape the dip into a small bowl. Put the small bowl in the middle of a big plate.
2. Arrange the veggies all around the dip and serve.

Crispy Edamame

I am always looking for new ways to serve vegetables (due to the on-going picky-eating battle in my house), and I found this idea on allrecipes. The edamame turned out fantastic! Even my kids liked it! Score for mommy!

Ingredients:
1 (12 ounce) package frozen shelled edamame (green soybeans)
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese (I just used the canned stuff because I didn't have fresh Parmesan and it turned out fine)
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Place the edamame into a colander and rinse under cold water to thaw. Drain.
2. Spread the edamame beans into the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish. Drizzle with olive oil. Sprinkle cheese over the top and season with salt and pepper.
3. Bake in the preheated oven until the cheese is crispy and golden, about 15 minutes.

*Picture taken off of allrecipes.com

Blender Wheat Pancakes Go "Deceptive"

This is one of my new favorite foods to make for my picky kids. It's got wheat, protein, and veggies in it!

Blend Together:
1 Cup Wheat Flour
1 Cup Milk

Add:
2 Eggs
1/2 Cup Cottage Cheese
1/4 Cup Oil
1/4 to 1/2 Cup Sweet Potato Puree
2-3 Tablespoons Ground Flax Seed
Blend Together

Add:
1 teaspoon Baking Soda
1/2 teaspoon Baking Powder
1 teaspoon Vanilla
2-3 Tablespoons Brown Sugar
Blend together, then cook on a heated, oiled griddle.

I also like to add blueberries to the batter to throw a little fruit in!

Popovers
I found this recipe in Nick Jr. Magazine, it's a really easy one to do with kids, and they turn out great!

Ingredients:
Cooking spray (like Pam)
3 large eggs or 4 medium eggs
2 Tablespoons butter melted
1 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup All-Purpose flour

Directions:
Spray muffin tin generously with Pam (they will stick if you don't use enough). Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Crack eggs in mixing bowl and beat with wire whisk. Add salt, milk, and melted butter and mix. Add flour and whisk until batter is smooth and without lumps. Fill muffin tin cups 3/4 way full. Bake at 450 degrees for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes lower oven temp to 350 degrees and continue baking for 15-20 more minutes or until popovers are golden brown and puffy. Do not open oven during baking time or the popovers will not "pop." Serve with butter and jam or syrup.

"To eat these things, said my uncle 'You must exercise great care. You may swallow down what's solid...but...You must spit out the air!"
Theodore Seuss Geisel from Seuss-isms, Random House, 1997

Fun Kid Recipes

Here's some fun recipes to try with your kids on a rainy day. (Sorry the picture isn't very good!)

Letter Pretzels (from Kinder-Krunchies Healthy Snack Recipes for Children)

Dissolve 1 Tablespoon yeast in 1/2 cup warm water.
Add 1 teaspoon honey and 1 teaspoon salt.
Add 1 1/2 cups flour and knead.

Roll into snake-like pieces and then form letters (for young children form letters on wax paper over a letter guide).

Brush with either beaten egg or butter and then sprinkle with salt.

Bake 10 min. at 425 degrees.

Variations: I brushed the dough letters with butter and then sprinkled them with garlic salt, then when they were done baking I sprinkled parmesan cheese on top. You can also omit the salt and try cinnamon sugar. Either way, they turn out yummy!

* This recipe only made about 3 letters for us, so if you have lots of kids be sure to double or triple it!


Egg Boats (also from Kinder-Krunchies Healthy Snack Recipes for Children)
(This one is super easy, it's basically deviled eggs with a sail!)

Hard boil eggs then peel and cut in half.

Remove yolk and mix with mayonnaise, pickle relish, salt and pepper.

Cut paper triangles and allow child to decorate them with crayons or markers.

Tape toothpicks to the backs of the "sails."

Put yolk mixture into the eggs and stick the sails in.

"Sail it into your mouth." (Ha ha! I know, totally corny, but it comes straight from the book!)