Crispy Healthy Granola Bars

My family sometimes loves to substitute their regular breakfast with a rich nutrition bar and a cup of milk. I didn’t mind so much ….until today….I just went through the ingredients ….and whoa!! I was in for a BIG surprise…..HYDROGENATED VEGETABLE OIL? Really?

Hmmffffff…….there goes another of my easy quick fix for a late morning when we have to rush to work.

So? I made some of my own. After getting back from work, I tried this out….and it turned out yummier and definitely a lot healthier.

Need

Pitted and ground dates – 1 ½ cups

Broken oats flakes – 1 cup ---- ROASTED (you’ll love the nutty flavor)

Corn flakes – ¾ cup ----- crumble between palms

Milk – 1 ½ cup

Chopped roasted nuts (walnuts, almonds, cashew, sunflower seeds, sesame, you pick J ) – ¾ cup

Dried cranberries (you can use any kind of raisins) – ¼ cup

Cinnamon ground – 1 ½ tsp

Balck pepper ground – 1 ½ tsp

Salt – ¼ tsp

Oil – just enough to grease the baking sheet

Optional add-ons – chocolate chips, fruit candies

The super easy process

1.    Take the date and milk in a saucepan and simmer until the mix forms a smooth somewhat runny paste

2.    Take off flame and add all the rest of the ingredients and mix

3.    Line a baking tray with foil or baking sheet and grease the sheet with oil / butter. Spread the mixture over the sheet. You can make it smooth and square in order to get neat bars. I leave it messy….as long as I have smoothened the paste on top. Saves me time J

4.    Bake in preheated oven at 400 degree F for 5 minutes, then at 100 degree F for 1 hour.

5.    Cut the bars and cool. Store in an air tight container.

I made 40 mini bars in this batch. This would average to a max of 30 calories per bar. J Hurray!!

Sunday Waffles

Well I don’t own a waffle iron, and after I tried this …. I don’t think I need one J I know waffles aren’t healthy….they make for a junk load for breakfast….but I can let go on a Sunday may be J

So here’s my recipe to make fab waffles at home J

Need for 6 waffles

All purpose flour – 1 cup

White sugar – 2 tbsp

Butter melted – 2 tbsp

Salt – a pinch

Eggs – 2 medium

Milk – as required (will explain later)

Baking powder – 1 tsp

Crushed black pepper (optional)

Vanilla extract – 1tsp

A thick bottomed non-stick tawa or frying pan – cast iron stuff would be great J

To make awesome waffles:

1.    Mix all the dry ingredients well.

2.    Now in a large bowl, melt the butter and mix in the beaten eggs, add vanilla and the dry ingredients. Incorporate well. You’ll get a semi-pasty consistency at this stage.

3.    Add just enough milk to make the batter runny (not very though). The batter should be runny enough so that when you pour a spoonful on the tawa, you can easily swirl it around by tilting the tawa.

4.    Now allow the batter to sit for 10 minutes.

5.    Heat the tawa, coat with a thin layer of butter and cook your waffles to perfection. Here’s how I do it: Pour a spoonful when the tawa is hot. Swivel the tawa to spread the waffle thin…..choose your shape J Now when you see little pores opening up on top of the waffle, flip it with a flat spatula. Adjust heat so that the tawa doesn’t get too hot.  

Drizzle maple syrup, or homemade berry coulis and dig in!!

My cuppa chocolate brownie - guilt-free

Here's my easy-peasy, guilt-free, instant choco brownie. The spark in this recipe is that in spite of it being extremely easy n convenient, it is super-healthy. This, with a cup of milk can be your kid's weekend breakfast. The whole deal is DONE in 5 mins or less; we don't need a whole lot of ingredients; n to top it all we can make it as healthy as we want it to be or as junkie as the party demands :) So...here we go

Need:
A big-enough cup
2 tsp butter (You can go up to 2 tbsp...for a very smooth n moist cake)
1 tbsp brown sugar (this makes a low sweet brownie...u may adjust sugar as per your taste)
1 egg
1/8 tsp baking powder
1 tbsp cocoa powder
Few drops vanilla essence/extract
Flour mix: Here's the trick....we need 4 tbsp of flour (or the likes) for this recipe. You can mix n match....feel free to experiment here....it only adds to the excitement. I am presenting here my healthy version:
3 tbsp whole wheat flour
1 tbsp rolled oats (large flakes)
[Alternatively you can use 4 tbsp all purpose flour to get that gourmet experience to serve in a party.]

Procedure:
Melt the butter in the cup on high in a microwave - takes 20 secs
Mix in the sugar and vanilla
Add the egg and beat well
Gradually fold in the flour mix and cocoa powder
Now take your stirrer/spoon out and pop this awesome cup into the microwave oven. Cook on high for 1 minute. Allow standing time for another minute. Take out the brownie and test with a slim knife - if it comes out clean...we're done. Else add another 10 secs in the oven.
Now pop the brownie out on a clean plate ..... it comes out great!
To garnish: You may sprinkle on top some hot chocolate powder/ icing sugar and serve warm with milk/tea/coffee :)
[might consider tossing in some chopped walnuts and dried cranberries for added health benefits]
Enjoy!