Super Healthy Granola Bars

Super Healthy Granola Bars
2 c. old-fashioned rolled oats
1/2 c. packed brown sugar
1/2 c. wheat germ
3/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 c. whole wheat flour
3/4 tsp. salt
1/2 c. honey or agave nectar
1 egg, beaten
1/2 c. canola oil
2 tsp. vanilla extract

Assorted add-ins, whatever you want. This is what I used:
3/4 c. dried cranberries
1/3 c. Chia seeds (EarthFare and Whole Foods sell them)
1/4 c. flax seeds

You could also use raisins, applesauce, chocolate chips, dried banana chips, dried apple chips.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Generously grease a 9x13 inch baking pan.

In a large bowl, mix together the oats, brown sugar, wheat germ, cinnamon, flour, salt, and your add-ins. Make a well in the center and pour in the honey, egg, oil and vanilla. Mix well with your hands. Pat the mixture evenly into the prepared pan.

Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until the bars begin to turn golden at the edges. Cool for 5 minutes and cut.

Homemade Vanilla Extract

With all the baking I do, I go through vanilla extract like water. At nearly six bucks a pop for just a couple of ounces, that's definitely not a cheap habit. Fortunately, making the good homemade stuff is easy peasy.

Vanilla beans can be pretty expensive in the store. I actually bought mine from a vendor on eBay for a great price and free shipping.

Homemade Vanilla Extract

A mason jar with a tight-fitting lid
Vodka (I used Smirnoff)
Vanilla beans, three beans per cup of alcohol

Use a sharp knife to cut lengthwise down the center of the vanilla beans, leaving about an inch at the top of the bean uncut. Put the vanilla beans in a mason jar and cover with alcohol. Put lid on the jar, shake, and store in a dark and dry place for two months.

BONUS! If you have some extra vanilla beans left over from your eBay order, throw a couple of them in a jar with some white granulated sugar. When a couple of days have passed, you will have vanilla scented sugar to enjoy with your morning coffee or tea.

Snickerdoodle Blondies

These things are so good! There is no leavening agent in the batter, which means they are still fairly flat once they come out of the oven, but this makes for a super chewy and moist blondie. I had a hard time not devouring the entire pan.

The original recipe calls for one whole cup of sugar, but I think they were just slightly too sweet, especially with the sugar and cinnamon topping. 3/4 of a cup is perfect.

Snickerdoodle Blondies

1/2 c. butter, room temperature
3/4 c. sugar
1/4 tsp. salt
1 large egg
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 c. all-purpose flour
1 Tbs. sugar + 1 tsp. ground cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line an 8x8 baking pan with aluminum foil.

In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in salt, egg and vanilla until combined. Add in flour and stir until no streaks of dry ingredients remain. Pour dough (it will be THICK) into prepared baking dish and smooth it into an even layer.

Stir together remaining 1 Tbs. sugar and 1 tsp. ground cinnamon. Sprinkle dough evenly with cinnamon sugar mixture. Bake for about 30 minutes, until bars are set and the edges are lightly browned. Cool completely before slicing.

Turkey Meatballs over Greens

I'm not much of a spaghetti and tomato sauce fan, probably because I spent the majority of my four years of college eating it almost every night for dinner, but I really love this recipe. It's light and healthy and the kale was a nice change from boring old noodles.

Turkey Meatballs over Greens

1 3-pound package of ground turkey
1/2 medium onion, grated on a box grater
1 egg
1/3 c. breadcrumbs
1/4 c. freshly grated Parmesan cheese
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp. salt
2 Tbs. chopped fresh parsley
2 Tbs. olive oil
2 c. prepared tomato Sauce
2 pounds greens (I used kale, but broccoli rabe or mustard greens would work too)

Combine the turkey, onion, egg, breadcrumbs, cheese, garlic, salt, pepper, and parsley in large bowl. Mix with your hands until all of the ingredients are evenly distributed. Roll portions of the mixture into 1 1/4 inch. balls and place on cookie sheet. You should have 26 to 30 meatballs.

Bring a large pot of water to boil. Salt generously.

Heat olive oil on moderately high heat in a large, 14-inch skillet. Place the meatballs in the skillet and allow to sit until browned on one side, about 3 to 4 minutes. Using tongs, gently rotate the meatballs so that they brown on the other side, and continue cooking them for about 12 minutes total, rotating them carefully every few minutes so that all sides are brown.

Reduce the heat to medium, add the tomato sauce, and cover the pan. Simmer the meatballs and sauce for another 10 minutes, until meatballs are cooked through.

While the meatballs are simmering, boil the greens in the salted water for 8 to 10 minutes, until tender. Drain. Put greens on the plate and top with meatballs and sauce.

Blueberry and Spinach Purple Smoothie

I have been experimenting and I think I am in love with this concoction even more so than with the Almond Butter and Banana Green Smoothie!

This recipe makes enough smoothie for a small glass, but can easily be doubled. I kind of wish I would have made the full amount. YUM.

Blueberry and Spinach Purple Smoothie

1 handful organic spinach

1/3 c. frozen blueberries

1 Tbs. wheat germ

1 tsp. agave nectar or honey

1/4 c. almond milk

1/4 c. skim milk

dash of cinnamon

Place all ingredients in blender and process until smooth. Enjoy!

Almond Butter and Banana Green Smoothie

This week I stumbled upon the best thing ever - green monster smoothies. It's such a clever way of sneaking nutrients and veggies into a day. I made this yesterday before my run and again this morning for breakfast and it was plenty sweet enough to satisfy my sweet tooth and substantial enough to keep my hunger in check until lunch time. I could definitely get hooked on these.

Almond Butter and Banana Green Smoothie

2 handfuls organic spinach
1/4 c. old-fashioned oats
1 Tbs. wheat germ (optional)
1 frozen banana
1 Tbs. almond butter
1/2 c. almond milk
1/2 c. skim milk

Place ingredients in blender and process until smooth. Drink. Pick spinach out of teeth.

Cricket's Peanut Butter (Under)Bites

Yes, I am one of those. I bake for my dog. These are Cricket's favorite cookies.

Keep an eye on these while they're in the oven. They have a tendency to burn if left unattended for too long.

Cricket's Peanut Butter (Under)Bites

2 c. whole wheat flour
1 Tbs. baking powder
1 c. peanut butter, smooth
1 Tbs. honey
1 c. milk

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a bowl, put all ingredients together and mix together until well blended. I just use my hands. Place dough on lightly floured surface and knead.

Roll dough to 1/4" thickness and use a cookie cutter to cut out shapes. Bake for 20 minutes on a greased baking sheet until light brown. Cool on a baking rack and store in an airtight container.