Healthy Applesauce Oat Muffins

I'm always looking for healthy things to give my kids for snacks that they'll actually eat without complaining.  These Healthy Applesauce Oat Muffins were eaten by the kids without a single complaint.  My daughter walked down the stairs while they were baking and commented that something smell really good.  They even stay nice and moist until the next day.

1 cup rolled/old-fashioned oats
1 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/2 cup milk
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
4 tablespoons butter or coconut oil, melted
1/3 cup sugar
3/4 cup whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup dried cranberries or raisins, optional

Preheat the oven to 375. Line a 12-cup muffin pan with paper liners. In a medium bowl, stir together the oatmeal, applesauce, milk, egg, vanilla, butter and sugar; set aside. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt (and cranberries or raisins if using). Make a well in the center of the dry ingredients and pour in the applesauce mixture. Stir until just combined. Pour the batter evenly among the 12 muffin cups. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Remove the muffins to a rack to cool completely.

Recipe from Mel's Kitchen Cafe.

Linked on The Weekend re-Treat.

Easy No-Bake Chewy Granola Bars

Mornings start early around here.  Sometimes a little too early.  We're out of the house by 9 (at the latest), but usually by 7:30 (if not earlier!), 7 days a week.  Sleeping in is being able to sleep until 7.  Yep, that's how we sleep in around here.  Between getting kids dressed, hair done, lunches made, chores done and things gathered up, there isn't much time for breakfast before we're out the door.  That's where these awesome Easy No-Bake Chewy Granola Bars come into play.  A granola bar in one hand and a piece of fruit in the other = breakfast.  And once in a while they even make an appearance as an afternoon snack.

1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup honey
2/3 cup brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups crisp rice cereal
4 cups granola (I love to use Susan's Granola)
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 cup mini chocolate chips

Combine crisp rice cereal and granola in a large bowl; set aside.  Combine butter, honey, brown sugar and salt in a medium sized sauce pan.  Cook over medium-high heat until the mixture comes to a boil.  Reduce heat to medium and boil for 2 minutes.  Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.  Pour over granola mixture and mix until the granola mixture is well coated.  Press into a greased 10 x 13-inch cookie sheet.  Sprinkle with chocolate chips and lightly press to make stick.  Let cool completely and cut into 16 bars.

Recipe adapted from Lauren's Latest.

Linked on Weekend re-Treat and Pin It Thursday.

Easy Roasted Red Pepper Hummus

With summer just around the corner, I'm on the look out for snacks and meals that won't heat up the house.  This Easy Roasted Red Pepper Hummus is a perfect snack or meal for the summer time, or anytime.  Now if only I could get the kids to eat more than 1 or 2 bites of it...

I served my Easy Roasted Red Pepper Hummus with pita crackers (A. Maze. Ing!).  Because the kids don't dig hummus (what's the matter with them!?), I shared some with a neighbor.  She couldn't stop raving about it and said her babysitter loved it as well.  

1 (15 ounce) can garbanzo beans, drained with liquid reserved
2 tablespoons tihini
2 tablespoons fresh squeezed lemon juice
1/8 teaspoon cumin
1/3 cup roasted red pepper
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 cloves garlic

Place all ingredients (except liquid from the beans) in the bowl of a food processor.  Process until smooth, adding liquid from the bean, as needed, to reach desired consistency.  Store in the refrigerator.

Recipe from The Royal Cook - an original!

Linked on Show Me What Ya Got, Sweet and Savory Saturdays, Pinworthy Projects, Finding the Pretty & Delicious, Manic Monday, Party in Polka Dots and Efforts and Assets.

Candy Popcorn

Growing up I had a great-aunt that I loved to spend the afternoon with on Sundays.  I would dress up in her old fancy dresses, we'd play games, chat, and make Jell-O popcorn balls.  I LOVED the Jell-O popcorn balls, but sometimes I wanted the popcorn not in a ball.  If only the popcorn wasn't so sticky.  This Candy Popcorn solves the sticky problem for when I don't want the popcorn in a ball.  It has the flavor that I love without the sticky that I don't always want.  I think that makes this Candy Popcorn pretty much perfect!

1 (3 ounce) box gelatin (I used lime for St Patrick's day :))
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup butter
3 tablespoons light corn syrup (for the longest time I though light corn syrup was reduced calorie corn syrup :))
8 cups air popped popcorn with any unpopped kernels removed

Preheat oven to 300 and grease a large cookie sheet.  Place popcorn in a large bowl and set aside.  Combine gelatin, sugar, butter and corn syrup in a medium sized pan.  Cook over medium heat until butter is melted and it comes to a boil.  Let it boil for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, then pour over popcorn and stir until the popcorn is well coated.  Pour popcorn onto prepared cookie sheet and bake for 10 minutes.  Let popcorn cool, then break into pieces.

I love recipes that can be customized to match a holiday.  Switch out the flavor of gelatin to match any holiday.  Some ideas are
Red - Valentines or Christmas
Orange or Purple - Halloween
Green - St. Patrick's or Christmas

Recipe from my friend Jen.

Dirt Cups

Once in a while I make an attempt at being "SuperMom".  This was one of the noble attempts, and honestly, it worked!  The kids, especially the little ones, were highly impressed.  For some reason the older ones are much more difficult to impress.  Or at least getting them to admit they're impressed.  I think my baby was the most impressed.  Mom actually let him eat worms and dirt!  That's not something that happens everyday.

6 (9 ounce) clear plastic cups
4 cups chocolate pudding (I double the recipe for Hasty Chocolate Pudding to use)
18 chocolate sandwhich cookies (like Oreo), crushed
12 candy gummy worms

Divide the chocolate pudding between the cups - about 3/4 cup pudding in each cup.  Divide the cookie crumbs between the cups, then top with 2 candy gummy worms.

* You could layer the pudding and cookie crumbs as well.

Linked on Manic Monday, The Busy Bee's and Whisk Away Wednesday.

Hasty Chocolate Pudding

There is no better pudding than homemade, if you ask me.  I usually make vanilla pudding, but once in a while I'll make chocolate.  This Hasty Chocolate Pudding is the best homemade chocolate pudding I've ever made!  It's quick - cooks in the microwave! - and easy.

 

1/2 cup white sugar 
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder  

3 tablespoons cornstarch 

2 teaspoons vanilla extract 
2 cups milk

Combine dry ingredients in a microwave safe bowl and whisk until smooth.  Slowly whisk in the milk, making sure there are no lumps.  Place in the microwave and cook on high for 3 minutes; stir.  Cook in additional 1 minute increments (2 to 4 more minutes) until the pudding is thick and shiny.  Add vanilla and stir well.  Place plastic wrap on the surface of the pudding (to prevent a film from forming) and refrigerate until cold.

Recipe from All Recipes.

Linked on Whisk Away Wednesday, Six Sisters' Stuff, Show & Tell Saturday, Sweet as Sugar Cookies, Pamela's Heavenly Treats, Hello Weekend, Sunday FUNday and Tatertots and Jello.

Susan's Granola

I like new words.  I remember being in 3rd grade and having a substitute teacher.  Her name was Miss Evans and I thought she was super cool.  Super cool because we had the same last name.  And also super cool because she taught me a new word.  Facetious.  I felt so cool using such a big word.  I still use it with my kids when I want to sound smart.  It's strange to me that no matter how smart I really am, or how much schooling I have under my belt, the kids think I'm no smarter than a rock.  My 11 year old doesn't believe a thing I say.  Sometimes I tell her to call Granny when she doesn't believe me on something.  She still thinks Granny is smart.  I thoroughly enjoy the look on her face when Granny tells her I'm right.  Not exactly in those words, though. 

Earlier this year I learned another new word (I learned several new words between 3rd grade and now, but that would be a lot of words to put in a single post!).  This new word was introduced by my husband. Conundrum.  I used to call my mom and tell her I had a dilemma.  She would tell me that dilemma should have been my middle name.  Susan Dilemma, instead of Susan Beth.  After figuring out what conundrum meant, the sweet hubs wouldn't tell me, he said I had to figure it out myself, I called my mom and told her I had a conundrum.  And she knew exactly what I meant.  I told her I was offended that she knew what the word meant and I had gone my entire life in ignorance.

And then this summer my friend Rachie moved into the neighborhood.  She didn't teach me any new words, just reintroduced a couple of old words to my vocabulary.  Rad and dude.  My friend Rachie, she's rad.

This granola is pretty rad too.

6 cups uncooked oatmeal (not instant)
1 1/2 cups shredded coconut
3/4 cup wheat germ
2 cups chopped nuts (I used almond and pecans)
1/2 cup oil
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 cup water

Combine oatmeal, coconut, wheat germ and nuts in a large bowl.  Combine remaining ingredients in a small bowl and whisk until well combined.  Pour over oatmeal mixture and mix well.  Pour onto a large baking sheet and bake at 300 for 1 hour, stirring after every 15 minutes.

Recipe from The Royal Cook - an original.

Linked on Sweet as Sugar Cookies and Serendipity and Spice.

Soft Pretzels

There nothing my kids like for a snack after school than a Soft Pretzel.  Being the nice, super way cool, mom that I am (if you wouldn't mind telling my kids I'm nice and super way cool, that would be fantastic! :)) I made these Soft Pretzels for an after school snack for them.  They all loved them and devoured them in record time.

Don't forget to enter the giveaway for 2 free movie tickets and a box of General Mills cereal that I have going on right now!

2 1/2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon sugar
2 1/4 teaspoons instant yeast
1 cup very warm water

Topping:
1/2 cup warm water
2 tablespoons baking soda
Coarse salt (optional)
3 tablespoons butter, melted

In a large bowl combine the flour, salt, sugar and yeast.  Mix to just combine.  Add the water and mix well.  Add more flour, a little bit at a time, if needed, to form a soft, smooth dough.  Knead the dough for about 5 minutes, until it is soft and smooth, and not overly sticky.  Place dough in a lightly greased bowl and cover and let rest/rise for 30 to 60 minutes.  Preheat oven to 500 F.  Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper or grease them.  Place dough on a lightly greased work surface and divide into 8 to 10 equal pieces of dough (depending on how large you would like your pretzels) and lest rest, uncovered for 5 minutes.  While the dough is resting, combine the 1/2 cup warm water and the baking soda in a small, flat bottomed plate, pan or bowl that is just large enough to dip the pretzels in, and mix until dissolved.  Roll each piece of dough into a long, thin strip and shape into a pretzel.  Dip each pretzel into the baking soda mixture (the baking soda didn't dissolve completely for me, so I stirred it before dipping each pretzel).  Place each pretzel on a prepared baking sheet about 2-inches apart and sprinkle lightly with coarse salt, if using.  Let rest rest for 10 minutes, uncovered.  Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until they're golden brown.  Brush the baked pretzels with melted butter and serve warm.

Recipe from Mel's Kitchen Cafe.

Linked on Tatertots and Jello and Nifty Thrifty Things.

Pumpkin Cookie Dough Dip

I'll let you in on a little secret.  This Pumpkin Cookie Dough Dip is healthy!  Did I mention it's also delicious and doesn't taste healthy?  Well, it is, and it doesn't.  My kids loved dipping the little graham crackers into the dip and eating it.

1/2 cup pureed pumpkin
1 (15 ounce) can white beans or garbanzo beans, drained and rinsed well
1/2 cup quick oats
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/4 teaspoons salt
1/4 teaspoons baking soda
2/3 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons coconut oil (or other oil or butter)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons milk, if needed

Combine all ingredients in the bowl of a food processor except milk and process until smooth.  Add milk, 1 tablespoon at a time, if needed for consistency.  I sprinkled the dip with a few mini chocolate chips because we love Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies so much and served it with graham cracker sticks.

Recipe adapted from Chocolate Covered Katie.

Linked on Sweet as Sugar Cookies.

Where are Grandpa's Dentures?

Have you ever seen Meet the Robinson's?  You know the part where the grandpa is searching for his teeth?  For some reason, these "Grandpa's Dentures" remind me of that part of the movie.

If your kids, grandkids, or even you, are like my kiddos, this is the perfect snack for you!  When I buy snacks for my kids, I buy the stuff I would have loved as a kid.  But for some reason, my kids are still just as bored with their snacks as I was with mine.  They definitely weren't bored eating Grandpa's Dentures!  They all loved them, and they weren't too hard to make.  Bonus!  They were even tasty.  Double bonus!

1 red apple, cut in half and cored, then sliced
peanut butter
miniature marshmallows

Take each apple slice and pat dry with a paper towel.  Spread one side of each apple with peanut butter.  Place marshmallows along the outer edge (by the peel) of half of the apple slices.  Top with another apple slice with the peanut butter side down on the marshmallows.

Enjoy!

Linked on Tatertots and Jello.

Cinnamon Applesauce

For Johnny Appleseed day at school, my sweet little 6 year olds class made Cinnamon Applesauce.  She had been looking forward to the day all week.  The little sweetheart even asked if she could take extra apples to class, just in case some of the other kids forgot theirs.  On the day her class was making the Cinnamon Applesauce, my little princess woke up with a tummy bug.  She was crushed that she wouldn't be able to go and get some applesauce.  I told her not to worry, I would be happy to make her some homemade applesauce.  There was only one problem.........She informed me there was a "secret" ingredient and neither of us knew what it was.  I used my mad mommy skills and found out the "secret" ingredient.  And then I ran into problem #2.  I couldn't find the "secret" ingredient.  I tried 2 different stores and then decided to improvise. 

The Cinnamon Applesauce was fantastic!  It made the house smell delicious and the smile on my little princesses face was priceless.

16 apples, cored, peeled and sliced
1/2 cup Fire Jolly Ranchers, wrappers removed

Place apples in a crock pot and cook on high for 4-5 hours, stirring occasionally.  Mash apples with a potato masher and add candies.  Cook another 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Serve warm or cold.

Recipe adapted from Miss Christensen.

Linked on Sweet as Sugar Cookies.

Microwave Cinnamon Apples

It seems like I'm always looking for quick, easy, and healthy snacks. These Microwave Cinnamon Apples are the perfect fit! My kids love cinnamon applesauce, but I don't like how sweet the store bought stuff is. Why do they have to take something so good and ruin it by adding so much sugar? Microwave Cinnamon Apples is my way of getting the best of both worlds - yummy apples and cinnamon without added sugar or other sweeteners.

My kids love Microwave Cinnamon Apples and ask for them for breakfast or a snack at least once a week. The kids love them and they are healthy. I think that makes them just about a perfect food. :)

2 apples, peeled, cored and sliced
1 teaspoon cinnamon

Place apples and cinnamon in a microwave safe bowl and stir until apples are coated with cinnamon. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and poke a few holes in the top to let the steam escape. Place in the microwave and cook on high for 1 minute. Remove apples from the microwave and carefully remove the plastic cover. Stir apples and re-cover. Cook for 1 minute longer (Different microwaves will vary the cooking time. I like my apples tender, but not mushy.)

Recipe from The Royal Cook - an original!

Linked on Sweets for a Saturday.

Strawberry Cheesecake Smoothies

Strawberry cheesecake in a smoothie?  It's true!  Totally not kidding.  Strawberry Cheesecake Smoothies are fantastic!  But then, I don't think strawberry cheesecake anything could be anything but fantastic.  We made these awesome Strawberry Cheesecake Smoothies for dessert last night and before the kids even finished their smoothies, they requested them for breakfast this morning.  Yeah, they really are that good.

1 cup vanilla yogurt
1 cup milk
2 ounces cream cheese
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 banana, frozen
2 cups strawberries, frozen

Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.  Serve topped with graham cracker crumbs and sweetened whipped cream, if desired.  Makes 2 large smoothies.

Recipe adapted from Cupcakes & Kale Chips.

Linked on Breakfast Ideas Monday, Sweets for a Saturday, Get Your Brag On and Weekend Wrap Up Party.

Strawberry Breakfast Parfait

We love breakfast foods at my house (well, we pretty much just love food :)).  These Strawberry Breakfast Parfaits and so quick and easy and the family loves them.  They aren't just for breakfast, though.  We also make them for an afternoon snack, dessert or a 10 pm snack (like last night :))  And I don't think it hurts that they look so pretty when they're finished.

2/3 cup vanilla yogurt
1/4 cup diced strawberries
3 tablespoons granola (Susan's Granola is fabulous!)

Sprinkle 1 tablespoon granola in the bottom of a glass.  Top with 1/2 the vanilla yogurt, followed by 1 tablespoon granola, then 1/2 the strawberries.  Repeat layers.

Recipe from The Royal Cook - an original!

Linked on Get Your Brag On!, Tatertots and Jello, Breakfast Ideas Monday and Sweet for a Saturday.

Basic Granola

One of my favorite cereals growing up was granola. Even though it didn't have a cool prize in the box. I hate to admit it, but when my mom took me grocery shopping and let me help pick out the cereal, my decision was usually based on the prize. The cereal with the coolest prize usually won. :)

This Basic Granola is fantastic! It's great with milk, in a fruit and yogurt parfait, or just plain. I love that it's not too sweet and I usually have everything already on hand to make it.

7 cups uncooked oatmeal
1 cup wheat germ
1 cup coconut
1 1/2 cups brown sugar
1 cup oil
1 1/2 cups water
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 cup slivered almonds
1/2 cup chopped pecans

Mix thoroughly and bake in a large, shallow pan at 275 for 2 hours (stir after 30 minutes, then every 15 minutes) or until coconut is lightly browned.

Recipe adapted from Gluesticks.

Linked on Sweet for a Saturday and Breakfast Ideas Monday.

Raw Brownie Bites

These Raw Brownie Bites are healthy and fantastic!  The kids weren't too big on them because they are dark chocolatey, but the hubby and I loved them.  They are chocolatey, but not too sweet so I can eat more of them. :)

3/4 cup  pecans
1/4 cup almonds
1 cup Medjool dates, pitted (I got mine at the health food store)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Pinch salt
2 tablespoons cacao powder (I used regular cocoa powder)
2 tablespoons raw cacao nibs (I left these out)

Place nuts and dates in a food processor and pulse until fine.  Add salt, vanilla and cacao and pulse until incorporated.  Add cacao nibs and pulse just until incorporated.  Roll into balls and store in the refrigerator.

Recipe from Wayfaring Chocolate.

Protein Balls (Edible "Cookie" Dough)

These Protein Balls are my new favorite snack.  Not only are the super yummy, they are healthy too!  No sugar, oil, or anything like that added.  The entire family likes them too.

1/3 almond butter (I buy the almond butter I grind fresh at the store)
1/4 cup shredded unsweetened coconut (I buy it from the bulk section at the health food store)
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1 tablespoon agave or honey
pinch of salt

Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix until well combined.  Roll into balls and store in the fridge.

I sometimes like to add 1/4 cup dried cranberries.  Chocolate chips would be good as well.

Recipe from The Royal Cook - an original!

Linked on Sweets for a Saturday.

Homemade Wheat Thins

Homemade Wheat Thins? How cool is that? My kids (and I) love crackers, so I was excited to try these out. I thought they turned out great. They didn't taste just like the ones you buy at the store, but were a good wheat cracker. The thinner you make them, the better.

1 ¼ cup whole wheat flour*
1 ½ tablespoons honey
½ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon paprika
4 tablespoons butter, cut up
¼ cup water
¼ teaspoon vanilla
salt for topping

Preheat oven to 400. In a food processor bowl combine the whole wheat flour (*start with 1 cup + 2 tablespoons and add the last 2 tablespoons at the end if needed), sugar, salt, paprika and butter. Pulse until you get fine crumbs. Combine water, honey and vanilla and pour over dry mixture. Process until everything is evenly combined. Don't over mix. Form into a ball and cut into 4 pieces.  Cover the dough until ready to use.  Roll one piece at a time as thin as you can and cut into squares. Place cut crackers onto cookie sheet and bake for 5 to 7 minutes, or until light brown and crisp.

Recipe from Home Cooking in Montana.

Olive Penguins

Aren't these Olive Penguins the cutest things ever!?! They are also delicious. Cute and delicious? Can't beat that. Who knew cream cheese and olives were SO good together? One of my new favorite snacks. :)

For preschool with my 3 year old, we were learning about winter. What better snack than cold loving (edible) penguins? She not only love eating them, but also like to help put them together. She was even nice enough to save a couple for her big sissy who was at school when we made them. What a little sweetie!

These Olive Penguins would be super cute for a winter party.

1 can jumbo olive
1 can small or medium olives
1 (3 ounce) package cream cheese
1 carrot, sliced

Take the jumbo olives and cut about 1/4 of the olive off (up and down where the belly of the penguin will be. Feel free to eat the part you cut out. We love olives and didn't let a single piece go to waste :)). Fill each of the jumbo olives with cream cheese. Take each carrot slice and cut a small triangle out. To assemble, place a carrot slice down first with the cut out part to the front. Place a jumbo olive on top of the carrot with the white, cream cheese, side toward the front. Top with a small or medium olive with the cut out circle end toward you. Push a toothpick down through the center to hold the penguin together. Put the carrot triangle in the circle for the beak. Enjoy your cute and yummy snack!

Linked on Get Your Brag On and Meatless Monday.

Cheesecake Dip

Oh my! Looking for something sweet and really tasty to serve at your Super Bowl party? Or just to snack on any old time? This Cheesecake Dip may just be what you're looking for. It is sweet, creamy, and oh-so-yummy. It's tasty on graham crackers, fruit, a spoon.... You get the idea. Oh! And have I mentioned it is also great as a frosting for cake? Well, it is!

1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup sour cream
1/3 cup sugar
1 (8 oz) container whipped topping, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla

Cream all together and chill until ready to serve.

Recipe from my friend Peggy.

Linked on Sweets for a Saturday.