Snack #1

Chewy Granola Bars

Ingredients

4 ½ cups oats
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp vanilla extract
½ cup butter
2/3 cup lite corn syrup
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
2 cups chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Lightly grease on 9x13” pan. In a large mixing bowl, mix together all of the ingredients (minus the chocolate chips). Stir in chocolate chips. Press into pan & bake for 18-22 minutes. Let cool for ten minutes, and then cut into bars.

Amy's Tips:

These are (by far) one of our favorite snacks to have on hand. I individually wrap the bars in saran wrap and keep them in a basket by the door. They are great for snacking on, for breakfast, or to pop in your children’s lunchbox. You can make these with any variety of ingredients so you don’t have to limit yourself to chocolate chips. These can be made with butterscotch chips, white chocolate chips, raisins, dried cranberries, or anything else you might have on hand. Pick your favorite combination and just see if you can keep them for longer than a day!

If you find that the batter is too crumbly (this happens on occasion) you can add a little honey or extra corn syrup to hold it together.

Snack #2

Quick Apple Crisp

Ingredients

5 Granny Smith apples
1 package (9 ounces) yellow cake mix
½ cup brown sugar
½ cup quick cooking oats
2 tablespoons cinnamon
¼ cup butter or margarine melted
Vanilla ice cream or whipped topping (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Peel, core, & slice apples. Place apples in a baking dish. Combine cake mix, sugar, oats, cinnamon, and butter. Mix until crumbly. Sprinkle mixture evenly over apples. Bake for 35-40 minutes or until apples are tender. Serve with whipped topping, if desired.    

Amy’s Tips:

This is my favorite quick recipe to prepare when we have company for dinner. I spoon the mixture into coffee mugs, top with whipped cream, and then sprinkle the tops with cinnamon. It looks really pretty and it is always enjoyed by our guests.

Snack #3

Banana Crumb Muffins

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 t baking soda
1 t baking powder
1/2 t salt
3 bananas, mashed
3/4 cups white sugar
1 eggs, lightly beaten
1/3 cup butter, melted
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/8 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 t ground cinnamon
1 T butter

Preheat oven to 375. Lightly grease ten muffin cups or line with muffin papers. In a large bowl, mix together flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. In another bowl, beat together bananas, sugar, egg and melted butter. Stir the banana mixture into the flour mixture just until moistened. Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups. In a small bowl, mix together brown sugar, flour, and cinnamon. Cut the butter until mixture resembles coarse cornmeal. Sprinkle topping over muffins. Bake in preheated oven for eighteen to twenty minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into center of muffins comes out clean.

Amy’s Tips:

These muffins look like something you would purchase from a bakery with their beautiful streusel topping. I wrap these individually and keep them in a basket by our door to be munched on throughout the day. These are one of our favorite treats!