Peanut Butter Energy Balls

These are really yummy! My kids like them in their school lunches. I freeze a whole batch, then all they have to do is take one or two out in the morning and its ready for them at lunch time.

Peanut Butter Balls
Original recipe source

1 – cup honey
1 1/2 – cups creamy peanut butter
2 – cups dry powdered milk
3 – cups quick or old fashioned oatmeal, uncooked
1 – 2 – tablespoons wheat germ or flax meal
1/2 cup mini chocolate chips (optional)


Mix all together with hand mixer. Form into balls with hands and freeze on a baking sheet lined with waxed paper until firm. Remove from freezer and store in a large zip lock bag in the refrigerator.

Black Bean Salsa

This recipe is so fresh and delicious. I get recipe requests everytime I take it somewhere. We used it for a stake luncheon a few years ago and I can't tell you how many recipe requests I got.

1 (12 oz.) can mexicorn or shoepeg corn
1 (15 oz.) can black beans, rinsed and drained
1 med. red or orange bell pepper chopphed
1/2 c. sliced green onions
1/2 c. red onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 jalapeno, seeded and chopped
2 med. tomatoes, chopped
3/4 c. Italian dressing
1/2 tsp. chili powder
2 Tbls. fresh lime juice
1 Tbls. fresh cilantro, chopped

Combine all ingredients. Refrigerate 1/2 hour for all the flavors to meld. Serve with tortilla chips. You will love it!

Homemade Granola Bars

Here is a simple recipe that we love. I really like the versatility with homemade granola bars. You can add in anything you want to make it just perfect. I made this batch this morning and it made a great mid afternoon snack.

5 cups quick oats
1 cup coconut
1 cup almonds, chopped (I like them chopped small)
1 cup dry milk
1 cup honey
1/2 cup oil
1 tsp. salt
1-2 tsp. vanilla extract

Then decide what you want in your granola bar. Some good things to add are:
mini m&m's, raisins, chocolate chips, craisins, small apple chips, sunflower seeds, etc. Add as much as you want to the recipe.

Mix all ingredients together well. I like to use my hands to get it all mixed up really well. Then press into a large cookie sheet and bake at 300 degrees for 30 minutes for chewy bars, 45 minutes for crunchy bars. Cut into bar shape while still warm and let cool in the cookie sheet for a few hours. When they are cool, cut and store them in an airtight container. Makes approximately 44 granola bars.

Banana Muffins

This recipe is from my friend Coralee. Her family loves this recipe and now we do too! It was an instant favorite. Try her suggestion at the bottom...it really is good!

• 1 3/4 cups flour
  
• 1/2 c. white sugar + 1/4 c. brown sugar
  
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup plain yogurt or sour cream (I use sour cream)
  
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 cup mashed ripe bananas (about 2 large or 3 small)
  

*In a large bowl combine flour, sugars, baking powder, baking soda and salt. In another bowl, combine and stir the egg, oil, yogurt (or sour cream) and vanilla. Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Fold in mashed bananas. Try not to overstir. Just moisten all ingredients. Can add chocolate chips. (We like them better without chocolate chips.) Fill greased or paper-lined muffin cups two-thirds full. Bake at 350 degrees F for 22-25 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks.

*Oh, and I always sprinkle a dot of sugar on the tops before baking just for visual effects and a yummy top crust. Just takes a sprinkle.

Apple Pumpkin Muffins

These are so delicious!

1 1/4 cups whole wheat flour
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp nutmeg
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 cup pumpkin puree
1/4 cup canola oil
1/2 cup milk
1 cup diced apples, softened in the microwave (about 2 min)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray muffin tin with oil. Mix ingredients and spoon into muffin cups, filling about 3/4 full. Bake about 18-20 minutes.

Breakfast Burritos

Hannah loves to make these for dinner. Our family loves having breakfast for dinner! Again, easy and simple, but very good. This recipe came from Hannah's favorite cookbook called, "Class Treats" by Lia Roessner Wilson.

Flour tortillas
1 egg per tortilla
1/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese (or any kind you like) per tortilla
1-2 slices of bacon per tortilla, cooked and crumbles (we like turkey bacon), or some diced ham
Salsa, optional

Scramble eggs and add crumbled bacon or diced ham.
Spoon into middle of warmed flour tortilla and top with cheese and salsa.
Fold one side over filling and roll to keep filling inside.
Smile and eat!

Baked Vanilla-Cinnamon-Coated Nuts

If you love nuts, and nut mixes - heaven awaits you!

2 large eggs

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/2 tsp salt

1/3 c granulated sugar

5 cups raw, unsalted nuts in large pieces (any combination of whole almonds, cashews, walnuts, and or pecan halves)

Preheat oven to 300 degrees.  Generously spray a baking sheet with nonstick spray.  Break eggs into large bowl and beat well.  Add vanilla, cinnamon, salt and sugar and beat until blended.

Add the nuts and stir until they are thoroughly moistened.  Let stand 5 minutes.

Transfer the nuts, plus any remaining liquid, to the baking sheet, and spread them out into a single layer.  Bake on the center rack for 15 minutes, then use a spatula to scrape the nuts and their coating from the bottom of the baking sheet, and redistribute them in a single layer on the sheet.  (This helps them to cook more evenly.)

Bake another 15 minutes, then remove from the oven.  If your taste runs sweet, you can sprinkle the nuts with 1 to 2 teaspoons additional sugar while they are still hot.

Let the nuts cool completely then transfer them to a Tupperware or similar container with a tight-fitting lid.

Crinkly Fries

This is a recipe from the Better Homes and Gardens New Junior Cook Book. It is a great way to get my kids to eat potatoes, which they don't normally like. We had this for part of our dinner tonight.


3 baking potatoes (I used red potatoes tonight)
3 Tbl butter
any type of seasoning salt, for example: Mrs. Dash, lemon pepper seasoning, herb seasoning, etc


Preheat oven to 450 degrees. After scrubbing potatoes with a vegetable brush, cut with a crinkle cutter or a sharp knife leaving the peel on. Put the potato slices into a large Ziploc bag. Melt the butter and add seasoning to it, mix together. Pour into the bag and mix with the potatoes to coat. Add as much or as little seasoning as you want. Shake well.



Layer the potatoes on a shallow pan or cookie sheet in a single layer. Put in oven and bake for about 25 minutes or until lightly brown and tender. Longer if you want them crispy. Turn the potatoes halfway through the baking process.



Nutrition Facts per serving: 144 calories, 7 g total fat (1 g sat. fat), 0 mg col., 153 mg sodium, 19 g carbs, 2 g fiber, 3 g protein

Yummy Strawberry snack

Whole strawberries
Sour cream
Brown sugar

I know this sounds wierd, but it is SOOOOO YUMMY! Take a whole strawberry, dip the bottom into some sour cream, then into some brown sugar. Super yummy snack!

Pretzel Hugs

Recipe from Becky Higgins (see link on the right for more of her recipes)

1 bag waffle-style pretzels
1 pkg. M&Ms
1 pkg. Hershey "Hugs"

Place pretzels on baking stone or sheet. Place a Hug on each pretzel and bake at 200 degrees for about 8 minutes (just watch for the Hugs to melt). Remove from oven and promptly place a couple of M&Ms on each pretzel, pressing into the melted chocolate. Allow to cool before serving. At room temperature, this takes SEVERAL hours. I would recommend making these the day before you plan on eating/delivering. Or you can put them in the refrigerator to speed up the process.