Bake-a-thon part 2

Hello Blogosphere! It has been far tooooo long. I apologize for the delay. With out further ado, I bring you the best home made granola bars on the face of the planet.

Wait? There is no picture...yup they did not last long enough for a picture. In fact, the hubby has since gotten this care package and they lasted all of 2-3 days. They are that addicting. What is in them you say? Absolute goodness! That is what.

In all actuality, they are very customizable. I did the first batch that I sent in the care package with peanut butter, dried blueberries, dried apples, and dried cranberries. The second batch that I had to make for me I did a holiday theme with cranberries, pumpkin seeds, pumpkins spice, almond butter and dried apples. And if you haven't had warm granola bars you don't know what you are missing! Annie and I had to designate a section of warm granola bars that would not be sent to GI John.



The best home made granola bars ever

1 2/3 cup of plain oatmeal
1/3 cup oat flour (ground oatmeal oats until fine)
1/2 teaspoon of salt
1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon (I add a 1/4 teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice for my holiday mix)
2-3 cups of fruit, seeds and nuts (I always do a ratio of 1 cup nuts to 2 cups dried fruit)
1/3 cup of almond butter or peanut butter (You can make almond butter in a food processor really simply and it is sooooo worth it)
8 table spoons of butter
1/4 cup of honey
1 tablespoon of water

Mix everything together in a bowl. Using parchment paper in a loaf/brownie pan or even a cake pan for a thin variety, pour and spread the mix into the pan. Then bake at 350 for 30-40 minutes.



Nothing is more simple and elegant than a tea cookie. They are ridiculously simple and just a touch of sweetness. Perfect with lemonade on a hot summer evening and a good book. They are ridiculously simple to make and will last up to a week in the fridge and longer in the freezer. Traditonally you are supposed to make them like ice box cookies in a log, but at the time I was sans a rolling pin.


Cranberry Almond Tea Cookies
2 sticks of butter
2/3 cups of powdered sugar
2 egg yolks
2 teaspoons of almond extract
2 cups of flour
1/2 cup of cranberries

Beat butter until smooth and add the powder sugar. Slowly, beat in the yolk, extract, and cranberries. Roll into a log and slice (or if you are feeling particularly lazy scoop with a spoon). Bake at 350 for 12-14 minutes and top with powder sugar. Enjoy :)



If you or some one you know would like to send a letter, candy, beanie babies or care packages to our troops please visit Operation Gratitude's website: operationgratitude.com. They can connect individuals who want to adopt a solieder or beanie baby donators to soliders in need. And I know the beanie babies sound silly, but the troops use them to get information from children about explosives. These unwanted toys can save lives. Please take a minute and visit their site.

Buttermilk is evil incarnate

Growing up in the south, my grandmother made just about every recipe with buttermilk. Something about buttermilk has naturally skeeved me out - even as a small child. The length people kept buttermilk in the fridge...It is just unnatural. So, with my hatred of buttermilk I have never made those fluffy pancakes everybody imagines when you say "pancakes". I normally make vegan pancakes, which are sweeter and thinner than the IHOP variety, but not today. Oh no, I made normal fluffy pancakes (minus the buttermilk). Not only did I make normal pancakes, but BANANA pancakes. I just think adding fruit makes it more fun.

The recipe I used is adapted from Jamie Oliver's food recipe a day for the food revolution. I am very excited about his community organizing activities to change how people think, eat and involve food in their everyday lives. The TV show following him in West Virginia has just ended last night. It was phenomenal. If you get a moment to watch it or itune it, I highly suggest it. I feel that it's so important that our school systems have healthy choices for kids. Many times children living in highly impoverished areas only get the meals at school. These children, as well as those in more influential neighborhoods, depend on this food to sustain them through the rest of the day. Lunches filled with sugars and filler is not only going to end in energy depletion, but will not sustain any one through a day. Furthermore, studies show where we start in our lives directly impacts where we end up as adults. Why not give our children a great start? His website is http://www.jamieoliver.com/ and you can sign his petition here: http://www.jamieoliver.com/campaigns/jamies-food-revolution/petition.


Banana Pancakes
1 cup of self-rising flour
1 cup of milk
Pinch of salt
1/2 a banana*
Splash of almond extract

*Depends on how much banana that you like. I would add more. The 1/2 I added was a very subtle banana taste. It's really a great feeling with the soft gooey banana and the rich pancake. The texture is a nice juxtaposition.

Cut and quarter bananas. Add all ingredients into a medium bowl.
Add butter to a skillet. Let the pan get so hot that the butter completely melts.
Using a ladle, scoop out one ladle full at a time on to the hot skillet.
Flip the pancakes when they start to form bubbles and are brown on the opposite side.
Repeat on the other side. Cover in fruit and syrup. Enjoy. :)