No Bake Delightful Granola Bars {Gluten Free}

 

I have made granola bars in the past, but they were crumbly, and just not good. So I went back to buying store bought bars, but now that I'm eating gluten free it became more expensive to find quality gluten free granola bars. I also wanted to make them kid friendly. When I make something, my goal is to make something the whole family will like. Sometimes this momma's house does feel like a restaurant with all the good food, but this momma's restaurant only has one thing on the menu per meal ;) Lol.

Delightful Granola Bars


2c Rice Cereal
2c Gluten Free Oats
1/2c Peanut Butter
1/4c Light Brown Sugar {I used Coconut sugar}
2/3c Honey {Or Brown rice syrup}
1tsp Cinnamon
1tsp Vanilla
1c Nuts {I used Walnuts}{optional}
1/2c Mini Chocolate Chips or cocoa nibs {Optional}
1/2c Cranberries {Or your dried fruit of choice}
1/2tsp Salt



First you need to pour honey, peanut butter and brown sugar in a sauce pan and cook on low heat until mixture is melted together.

 Next, add your oats and crispy cereal to a bowl and pour warm honey mixture on, mixing it all well.

 Add your vanilla, cinnamon, cranberries, and nuts.

 Lastly add your chocolate chips, BUT be careful not to mix them to much or they will melt!

 Next line a large pan with plastic wrap, and spray plastic with non stick spray OR spread some oil on it, so your bars won't stick to it when they are done. {I used coconut oil to spread on it}

 Then place the pan in the freezer for about 1 hour.

 After the hour take out the pan, and VERY CAREFULLY pull the bars out using the plastic wrap.

 Slice the bars with a sharp knife, carefully. {You can taste test any that break ;)}

Cut into desired size bars.

I individually wrapped my bars and placed them in a baggie for a quick snack. I placed some in the fridge and some in the freezer, there were quite a few. I made these a couple weeks ago and they are almost gone now!

These bars turned out great and I'm really thankful to have found a gluten free recipe for some good granola bars! Here is a link to where I found the base of this recipe, Averie Cooks, Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Granola Bars.

REAL Food Nachos {Gluten Free} AND The Challenges of Being Hungry @ The Grocery Store With Kids

Today I totally forgot to bring a snack with me, that's always a bad idea when I know I'll be gone longer then 2-3 hours. Thankfully I had to stop at the store on my way home anyways, so I figured I would grab a few bananas for the kids and I to hold us over.

As I was walking through the store, I could tell my kids were just as hungry as I was. I had to stop myself from looking at everything, and just focus on why I came. The kids looked like vultures circling their prey ready to grab everything! I had to keep the cart in the middle of the isle so Weston didn't grab things from the shelves. I told Michael to hold onto the cart to keep himself from fingerprinting every box of goodies he saw.

Finally I grabbed some salmon and baby items and we headed to the checkout, BUT that's the worst place to be when your hungry. First they have magazines lined up with tons of garbage all over it and junk food galore. Weston grabbed for the kill and got a snickers, I gently grabbed it saying that i had some bananas in the cart for us to have. Thankfully he was so excited about the banana that he gladly let the snickers go without a fight.

As we left the checkout and everybody bundled back up to go into the arctic zone {I'm exaggerating a bit, but its so cold and keeps snowing, ah!} I gave the boys a banana. We got into the car and started on our way home. Along the road there was a lady waiting at the bus stop, and she pulled a doughnut out of her bag and started eating it. My first thought was, I wonder where she got that from? Hence where's the closet bakery BUT I stayed on my mission of home. Bakeries are places I rarely visit, because there's no gluten free options and I like to make homemade goodies anyway. BUT when your hungry anything with carbs looks good.

So when we got home Michael made peanut butter and jellies for Weston and himself, and I decided to make some REAL food nachos. Its so easy and you can add whatever you like or have on hand.

REAL Food Nachos

Corn Tortilla Chips
shredded cheese {I used RAW cheese I found @ woodmans! I was so excited}
black beans {optional}
plain yogurt {Or sour cream}
salsa
Guacamole or avocados {I used some leftover guacamole} {optional}

Other toppings you can use:
Tomatoes
spinach
lettuce
feta
onions
corn
And whatever else you can think of

Spread out your chips on a plate, sprinkle shredded cheese over the top, add black beans {and other items that need to be heated up}.

Warm up in the microwave for about 30-40 sec

 Add yogurt{sour cream}, salsa, and guacamole

Enjoy!

You can do this as a treat, snack, dinner, or for a party. People can make their own and personalize which topping they like.

You can always melt the cheese in a pot and add some butter and milk to make it more creamy like, but serve immediately before it gets to stiff ;)