Peanut Butter Oat Squares

                                                      Pic courtesy of Cookies and Cups


Ya'll, I'm so excited about these! They are so yummy and good for you and they're VEGAN! They have only 3 ingredients in them and are full of fiber and protein! Even my kids loved them- they're way better than granola bars!

Peanut Butter Oat Squares
from Cookies and Cups 

• 1 cup peanut butter
• 1/2 cup honey
• 3 cups rolled oats

 Directions:

• Line a 9x9 pan with foil. Spray lightly with non-stick spray.
• Melt the peanut butter and honey together until smooth, either in the microwave or stove top. Combine mixture with oats.
• Press into prepared pan. Place in refrigerator until set. Cut into squares. If you want them to remain hard, leave them in the refrigerator and pull one out when you need a yummy snack!

Hummus Wrap

I made this for lunch today and it was SOOOO good. Like, so good that I'm craving it again right now. You have to get the roasted red pepper hummus. It's what gives this so much flavor. I did add a little salt to it b/c I love salt.



 Hummus Wrap
Serves 2

Ingredients: 2 Tortillas
1 cup of spinach
 4 Tablespoons of Roasted Red Pepper Hummus, or your favorite hummus
1 (15 oz) can of black beans, rinsed and drained (you are only going to use about 1/2 the can)
1/2 Avocado, diced

Directions: Lay out your two tortillas and spread 2 Tablespoons of Hummus on each one. Next spread you spinach on top of your hummus. Add some black beans (about 1/4 of a can) on top of your spinach. Then put your avocado on the very top. Fold the edges and roll the tortilla up. Cut in half and serve.

Homemade Granola

I am in love with this super simple, versatile granola recipe!  I've tried it with dried cranberries and raisins, my kids prefer it plain, and I've also added mini chocolate chips and walnuts instead of the dried fruit.  My favorite version is with the cranberries and raisins.  You can add whatever you like!

Homemade Granola

5 cups oatmeal (use either whole oats or quick oats; I actually prefer quick oats)
1/4-1/3 cup salted sunflower seeds
2 cups shredded coconut
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup maple syrup (I like homemade)
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 tsp. cinnamon
pinch salt
a little water (about 1/3 cup)

Options:
dried fruit, chocolate chips, chopped walnuts, etc.

Preheat oven to 325.  Combine the first 9 ingredients and mix.  Add dried fruit if desired.  Bake on 2 cookie sheets for 25 minutes.  Add chocolate and nuts after baking if desired.

Kentucky Hot Brown Sliders

Had these for dinner tonight.  Amazing.  They were so good and very, very easy.  Plus, I could add the tomato, etc., or not for the pickier eaters.

Kentucky Hot Brown Sliders

Recipe from cinnamonspiceandeverythingnice.com

1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 cup milk
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 + 1/2 cups shredded extra sharp cheddar cheese
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
coarse salt and fresh black pepper

1 (12 pack) King’s Hawaiian® Dinner Rolls, sliced in half
1 pound sliced deli turkey or roasted turkey, sliced thin
12 slices fresh tomato
6 slices bacon, cooked crispy

1. In a medium-sized heavy bottomed saucepan melt the butter over medium-low heat. Whisk in the flour and cook 2 minutes stirring often. Whisk in the milk and Dijon. Turn heat up and bring to a simmer, stirring often, 3 minutes.

1. Turn heat down to low and add the cheddar and Parmesan, stir until completely smooth and melted. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Turn heat down to warm and put a lid on the pan.

1. Preheat the broiler and lay the buns out on a baking sheet cut side up. Place under the broiler to toast 30 seconds to 1 minute.

1. Layer 1 + 1/2 ounces of turkey on the bottom of each bun. Ladle cheese sauce over it then top with a tomato and a piece of bacon. Serve immediately.

Chex Scotcharoos

These were amazing!  I enjoyed making them into the free standing cookie style instead of the typical cookie bar style.  They were so soft and delicious!  My frosting got a bit clumpy so i would probably leave the peanut butter out next time to see if it helped.  I added some butter to smooth it out.  I also doubled the chex/corn syrup/sugar mixture and kept the frosting portions the same.  It was plenty of frosting.

Chex Schotcharoos

Recipe from prettyplainjanes.com

• 6 cups Chex cereal

• 1 cup light corn syrup

• 1 cup sugar

• 1 1/2 cups peanut butter

• 2 cups semi sweet chocolate chips

• 2 cups butterscotch chips

• 1/2 cup peanut butter

• 1 teaspoon vanilla

1. Butter a large bowl, and measure out 6 cups of Chex cereal. Set aside. Butter a 9x13 dish, OR line a baking sheet with wax paper if you would like freeform scotcharoo's like the ones I made that are pictured.

1. In a small saucepan, combine the corn syrup and sugar over medium heat. Once boiling, immediately remove from heat and stir in 1 1/2 cups of peanut butter. Pour over cereal and fold together. Pour cereal into the 9x13 dish, or use a large cookie scoop to drop cereal onto wax paper, and use your hands to press together and form them.

1. Using a microwave safe dish or a double boiler, melt together chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, 1/2 cup of peanut butter and vanilla. If microwaving, heat in 10 second intervals, stirring in between to prevent the chocolate from burning.

1. Once smooth, pour over cereal, or scoop onto the piles you have created.

1. Allow to cool completely at room temperature.

Banana Nutella Quesadilla

We had these for our FHE treat tonight and there were delicious!  Plus, the kids could help with the dessert.  I had two kids slice bananas while another spread the nutella.  To make it a little more calorie friendly I just used cooking spray instead of butter, even to put the cinnamon on it.  Yum, yum!

Banana Nutella Quesadillas

Recipe from insidebrucrewlife.com

Ingredients

4 flour tortillas

1 Tablespoon butter

2 Tablespoons cinnamon sugar

1/4 cup Nutella

2 ripe bananas

Instructions

1. Spread butter on one side of each of the tortillas and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar. Place the butter side down on a warm skillet and heat until golden brown.
2. Spread the non butter side with Nutella. Top with banana slices. Place another warm tortilla shell, cinnamon side up, on top. Makes 2 full quesadillas. Cut each quesadilla into 8 wedges. Serve with Cool Whip if desired. Serves 4.

Balsamic Chicken Salad with Tortellini

We had this for dinner tonight and it was super yummy-licious.  I did some swapping out.  I did not add the yellow peppers and instead added cut up mozzarella string cheese.  It made it more of a bruschetta dish.  It was really good!

Balsamic Chicken Salad with Tortellini

Recipe from fastsaladrecipes.com

Ingredients:2 – 8.8 oz pkgs Cheese Tortellini
1 lb chicken cutlets, cooked and diced
1 1/2 cups Balsamic Vinaigrette
1 tsp Dijon mustard
Freshly ground pepper, to taste
2 cups firmly packed fresh spinach,
chopped
1/4 cup fresh basil, chiffonade
1 1/2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
1/2 cup yellow pepper, sliced

Place chicken in a zip-lock bag and pour 1 cup
balsamic vinaigrette in bag with chicken. Marinate
for at least two hours, but best if marinated over night.
In a grill pan, grill chicken breasts about 5-6 min
utes per side until cooked through. Place yellow
pepper slices in grill pan and grill about 2 minutes
on each side.

Whisk together 1/2 cup balsamic vinaigrette and
Dijon mustard in a small bowl.

Cook tortellini according to package directions;
drain. Spread pasta in a single layer on a baking
sheet. Drizzle with 1/2 tbsp olive oil. Let cool for
10 minutes.

Toss together tortellini, chicken pieces,
balsamic/mustard mixture, spinach and remaining
ingredients in a large bowl.

Serve immediately, or if desired, cover and chill for
1 hour before serving.