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!!

Spicy Buttercup Squash Cookies

Need

1 cup buttercup (or acorn) squash – Roasted and mashed

1 ½ cup whole wheat flour

¾ cup oats

1 ½ tsp grated ginger

2 tbsp grated coconut

2 tsp ground cinnamon

¼ tsp ground nutmeg

¾ tbsp coarsely ground black pepper

¾ cup dark brown sugar

2 tbsp honey

1/3 cup chopped raisins (dried cranberries taste great too), 1/3 cup chopped nuts (your choice)
[I use lots of chopped walnuts and flax seeds..'coz they are good sources of ALA (omega 3 fatty acids); toss in some chopped cashews ... which with the coconut are good stuff for lactating moms]

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

¼ tsp salt

1/3 cup oil

¼ cup milk

To make

In a large mixing bowl, mix oil, honey, and sugar until frothy. Add squash and mix well.

Sift together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, and add to the mixture along with the spices. Stir well until everything blends in well. Stir in raisins and nuts. Spoon onto cookie sheets spacing cookies 2 inches apart.

Bake for 15-20 minutes in a preheated oven (375 deg F / 190 degrees C) until cookies are golden.

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!

Apple Spice Muffins

Need – for muffin

1 apple – chopped finely

1& ½ tsp cinnamon powder

½ tsp black pepper powder

2 tsp baking powder

1 cup whole wheat flour (you could use all-purpose flour as well)

½ cup oats

1 egg

¼ cup dried cranberries (optional)

2/3 cup brown sugar (based on your pref for sweetness, if you want it sweeter change this to 1 cup)

1/3 cup oil (I use extra light olive oil)

½ cup milk (skimmed is ok)

Need – for crumbly topping

1 tsp cinnamon powder

20 gms butter (melted and at room temperature)

¾ tbsp white sugar

¾ tbsp flour

To make – Muffins

Sieve in flour, baking powder, and mix in oats, cinnamon, and pepper. Keep aside.

In a big bowl whisk egg, add brown sugar, oil, and milk and mix to a smooth finish.

Fold in the dry mixture gradually.

Now add cranberries and fold evenly.

Add apples and fold again to get an even batter.

Pour the batter into muffin moulds.

To make – crumbly topping

Mix all ingredients with a fork. Make sure it’s even. You’ll get a crumbly mixture. Use your hands to top the muffins with this mixture, try to sprinkle it using your fingers.

CAUTION: the muffin moulds should be filled upto 2/3 of its height; else you’ll have a burnt mess in your oven.

Bake the muffins for 25-30 minutes in a preheated oven (220°C / 410°F). Yields about 12-14 regular size muffins.

Fruit-tea Cake (Fat less)

We need

1 cup plain flour (you may use atta or whole wheat flour)

½ cup brown sugar

1 cup raisins (regular raisins+/sultanas+/dried cranberries+/blueberries) – choose your mix

1 ½ tsp baking powder

½ tsp sweet spice powder (dry grind ¼ “ cinnamon + ¼ tsp coriander seeds + 2 cloves + 1 small black cardamom)

½ tsp minced ginger

1 egg (beaten at room temperature)

2 cups of black tea (strained after soaking for 10 hour and cooled)

Proc

Soak the raisin mix in tea overnight (for best results) or at least for 2 hours

Add the rest of the ingredients gradually to the soaked mix and fold till a consistent mixture is formed

Pour in a lined & greased tin (make sure it’s not more than ¾ full with cake mix)

Bake in preheated oven (180°C/ 350°F) for 1 hour and 15 minutes

Check if done (a knife when inserted should come out clean)

Cool and serve with tea / coffee

Note: Tastes best when aged in an airtight container in fridge for 2 days J

Avocado Melt Sandwich

This has been my occasional day-time snack to curb my hungry little baby inside :) I think she? he? well IT :p likes the rich avocado and the mustard zing :) I am a cheese addict, so I indulge in the low fat versions. This is a super easy recipe and looks appetizing too... well the pic is not the best today though!

Need

2 multigrain bread slices (preferably a coarse variety)
1/3 ripe avocado, peeled, pitted, and sliced
5-6 small slices of a ripe tomato (no pulp)

1 slice of orange cheddar cheese (or grate a 1”cheese cube to use)

5-6 slices of jalapeno pepper

½ tsp mustard sauce

Preparation:

Lightly toast the bread.

Layer 1 slice of bread with 1/3 of the cheese (coarsely torn up to cover the slice), avocado, tomatoes, and jalapeno. Layer with some more cheese on top. May add salt and pepper for added seasoning (I skip it - cheese n mustard sauce are enough for me).

Layer the remaining cheese on the other slice of bread.

Now, broil the sandwich halves for approximately 2 to 3 minutes or until the cheese melts. Cover the sandwich, garnish with mustard sauce and enjoy!