Peanut Butter Cookie Granola

Peanut Butter + Granola = :)

Dare I say more?

This recipe requires no commentary, no extra words tell you how amazing it is and persuading your to make it-I mean, you'd be crazy to see a recipe containing the words peanut butter and granola and not deciding to make it within 35.39 seconds 

Just Crazy.

So here's the low-down...

melt peanut butter and margarine

til margarine is completely liquified - then add honey and egg white

combine it with a bunch of other random stuff.. 

throw it on a pan and stash in your 250* oven for 45 minutes or so

and magically it will turn into this!

Ingredients:

1.5 TBSP margarine

1/2 cup peanut butter

2 TBSP honey

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 egg white

1 tsp. baking powder

1 pinch salt

1 cup oats

1/2 cup fiber one cereal

1 1/2 cup crispy brown rice cereal

1 TBSP. chia seeds (opt.)

2 TBSP. flax seeds (opt.)

Preheat oven to 250*

Melt your peanut butter and margarine, then add all ingredients up to salt.

Mix well

Combine dry ingredients together

Pour wet-melted stuff over the dry and stir to coat all

Place on a cookie sheet and bake-stirring every 10 minutes for 40 minutes to an hour; until pieces are 'dry' but not overly brown

Swirled into a peanut butter smoothie? 

Heaven on Earth.

Overnight Oats

Yes, I'm joining the bandwagon! I'm sure many (if not all) of you have seen a recipe or two (or ten THOUSAND) for a little thing called 'overnight oats'. But have you tried it yet? NO!? WHAT!? Are you people crazy! Overnight oats are the easiest, healthiest, fastest and one of the most delicious (a close tie with banana pancakes) breakfasts. This simple breakfast is so crazy good for you-full of protein, healthy carbs, healthy fats, fiber, and a bazillion vitamins and minerals! Talk about kickstarting your day!

It's cool, creamy and sweet-not to mention chock full of nutrients! But...it can also be made warm - all you need to do is throw it in the microwave for a few minutes.

So do I have you convinced you need to try it? No?! Wow, you guys are a tough crowd... well maybe this picture will do the trick:

You're ready to try now? ...ya-I thought whipped cream and sprinkles would change your mind :)

Basic Overnight Oats

Ingredients: 

-1/3 cup dry oats (or any other dry 'hot' cereal)

-1 TBSP. flax seed

-1 TBSP. chia seeds

-1 TBSP. wheat germ

-1/2 cup milk (any kind will work just fine!)

-1/2 cup Greek yogurt (but if you only have regular that is fine too! ...man I'm very agreeable today!)

Directions: 

1. Throw everything in a small mason jar and shake to stir it all together! OH WAIT! -be sure to add the jar's lid first! :)

2. Clean up the kitchen if you starting shaking your mason jar BEFORE reading the part about adding the jar's lid

3. Let sit overnight (or at least 6 hours) in the refrigerator

...there are so many variations of this-by adding different milks (almond, soy, chocolate!) or different yogurt flavors. You can also add fruit (fresh, frozen, canned), nuts, or any extracts & flavorings you may be feeling 

For this berry version I added to the basic recipe:

-1/4 cup berry blend frozen fruit

-1 tsp. vanilla extract

-1 tsp. almond extract

-1 TBSP. slivered almonds

topped with whipped cream and sprinkles!

Feel free to mess around with the basic recipe and create some new combos all your own! Leave a comment and let me know your favorite recipe for overnight oats! I'd love to try some new varieties out :)

Nutritional Info:

 

Hodgepodge Granola

Hodgepodge...such a fun word! It means a heterogeneous mixture; a jumble and that is EXACTLY what is going on in this granola. It is a crazy mixture of a wide variety of shapes, sizes, tastes and textures that will leave your taste buds guessing what is coming next. Even more than that though, is the fact that it is CRAZY healthy! It combines some of the world's most nutritious grains, topped with spices that have almost magical healing powers!

I love granola with just about anything and everything... yogurt, fruit, ice cream, pudding, smoothies, steak-okay, maybe not that far-just making sure you're paying attention!

Ingredients:

-1 cup oats

-2 TBSP. chia seeds

-2 TBSP wheat germ

-2 TBSP. flax seed

-1 egg white (not pictured-sorry!)

-1/4 cup Splenda (or sugar, or any sugar substitute)

-1 TBSP vanilla (also not pictured, man where was my brain today?!)

-1 TBSP. cinnamon

-2 tsp. ginger

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 300*; Beat egg white until it is fluffy

2. Add sugar & vanilla and mix well

3. Add all other ingredients and stir until each is coated and starting to form clumps

4 Spread onto a parchment lined cookie sheet

5. Bake 20-25 minutes or until granola is beginning to slightly brown and get slightly crispy

          ~Don't worry if your granola isn't very crisp, in my experience it always gets crispy after it is removed from oven and has time to cool

Delicious! Don't you wish you had some of this to top some frozen yogurt with right now?! I DO!

 Nutritional Info (1/8 of recipe-about 1 ounce):