HOMEMADE PUFFED RICE GRANOLA WITH SMARTIES!!!

If you like to cook and get creative like me sometimes you end up with a lot of left over ingredients filling up all the space in your pantry. The great thing about homemade granola bars are that you can really use whatever you have on hand. If you want to make them naturally sweet use more dried fruit. Not worried about calories - sweeten with chocolate or caramel! Granola is a great way to create something out of what you've got while still tasting good and satisfying those cravings in a healthy way. Today I made puffed rice granola with walnuts, pine nuts, shredded coconuts and even some crushed smarties! If you are interested in making granola bars at home I have included the recipe below! ENJOY!

INGREDIENTS:

1/3 cup of brown sugar
1/4 cup of honey
1/4 cup of unsalted butter
1 tsp of vanilla extract
1/4 tsp of salt
2.5 cups of rice puffs
1/3 cup of shredded coconut
1/4 cup of crushed walnut
1/4 cup of pine nuts
1/4 cup of crushed smarties

DIRECTIONS:

In a small sauce pan on medium heat melt the brown sugar, honey and butter together. Stir until completely liquefied. Remove from heat, add in your vanilla extract and salt before setting aside.

In a large bowl mix in your puffed rice, shredded coconut, walnuts, pine nuts and crushed smarties - mix up that goodness!!!

Once the melted sugar, butter mixture has cooled a little (dont want it to melt your chocolate) add it to the big bowl of puffed rice and mix until fully incorporated.

Take a deep flat dish and line with aluminum foil before pouring in granola mixture. Spread around using a spatula and let chill for at least 2 hours in the fridge before chopping in granola bars!!! 

 

I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do. If you have any comments please leave them below and I'll be happy to answer them as soon as I can! Bon Appetite!!!


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GRANOLA YOGURT PARFAIT WITH HONEY AND BERRIES

Granola is a great thing to eat in order to stay full for a long time. It helps you stop from snacking and reaching for those unhealthy treats. Mixing granola into your breakfast is a great way to get the benefits of all the plant based protein and omega 3 fatty acids you can find in granola that are great for heart health. Meanwhile the yogurt gives you a good daily dose of calcium and the berries - antioxidants. Enjoy!

INGREDIENTS:

1 Cup of Granola - I have posted a 'Maple Syrup Granola Recipe' if you want to make it at home.
1/2 Cup of Plain Yogurt
1 TBSP of Honey
Handful of Mix Berries - I used raspberries, blueberries and blackberries

DIRECTIONS:

Layer the yogurt, then honey, then granola and lastly the berries. REPEAT until cup is full and SERVE

 

I hope you enjoyed this recipe as much as I do. If you have any comments please leave them below and I'll be happy to answer them as soon as I can! Happy cooking!!!

GLUTEN FREE MAPLE SYRUP GRANOLA

This gluten free granola is delicious and can add a crunch to any breakfast or an amazing snack! The nuts you put in your granola are filled with plant based protein and omega 3 fatty acids that are great for heart health. The rolled oats are gluten free and filled with fiber that is essential for digestion. The dried cranberries I used for this granola and raisins are filled with antioxidants and natural sugars (carbs) as well as some vitamin C. Granola is a great thing to prepare on the weekend and eat throughout the week because it stores well, makes a great healthy snack and is great for kids. ENJOY!

INGREDIENTS:

3 Cups of Gluten Free Rolled Oats
1/2 - 1 Cup of Walnuts (rushed roughly)
1/2 - 1 Cup of Almonds (rushed roughly)
1/2 TSP of Cinnamon
1/4 TSP of Salt
1/2 Cup of Maple Syrup
1/4 Cup of Vegetable Oil
1 TSP of Vanilla Extract
1/2 Cup of Cranberries
1/2 Cup of Raisins
 

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven on bake to 300 degrees.

In a large bowl mix the rolled oats, nuts, cinnamon and salt - mix it all together

In another smaller bowl add in your maple syrup, vegetable oil and vanilla extract. Whisk together. 

Drizzle the maple syrup mixture over the rolled oats and nut mixture and mix all together till the oats and nuts is evenly coated and there are no lumps.

Spread the bowl of ingredients on a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil.

Bake the granola in the oven for 25 minutes or until it starts to golden.

Once golden remove from the oven and let cool before adding in your dried fruit. Mix and store in a airtight container (It should stay good for apx 2 weeks).

 

I hope you enjoyed this recipe as much as I do. If you have any comments please leave them below and I'll be happy to answer them as soon as I can! Happy cooking!!!