No Bake Energy Bites

Two of my three boys are wrestlers and are constantly watching what they eat. We are not in the "let's get serious" time of the season with state championships coming up. What tends to be a habit for many wrestlers is to watch their weight and what they consume all week only to fill themselves up with junk at the concession stand the day of the tournaments. This absolutely drove me crazy so I have been packing coolers (yes, more than one) and filling it with healthy snacks. I've been all over Pinterest looking for ideas and came across this one (be sure to click on the link and see the way more awesome picture on that blog entry!)

These we a hit with all the wrestlers who hovered over our table snacking away. I love when I control what goes into the food that my boys and their friends put into their bodies.

This was also super easy to make which is just an added bonus!

No-Bake Energy Bites Recipe

Ingredients:

• 1 cup (dry) oatmeal (I used old-fashioned oats)
• 1 cup toasted coconut flakes (toasted it myself which impressed my boys...haha)
  
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup peanut butter (I used the one I made, added bonus!)
  
• 1/2 cup ground flaxseed
• 1/3 cup honey
• 1 tsp. vanilla

Method:

Stir all ingredients together in a medium bowl until thoroughly mixed. Let chill in the refrigerator for half an hour. Once chilled, roll into balls of whatever size you would like. (Mine were about 1″ in diameter.) Store in an airtight container and keep refrigerated for up to 1 week.

Makes about 20-25 balls.

No Bake Protein Bars

A friend of mine on FB shared this recipe and I thought I'd give it a try. My boys enjoy protein bars on occasion but I'm always hesitant to buy them because they can be pretty pricey. Now, some of the ingredients in this recipe are a bit pricey but it's all natural so at least I know what is in them when I make them. My family really enjoyed this recipe.

No Bake Protein Bars

Ingredients

• 2 Cups Oats
• 4 Scoops Protein Powder (we used French Vanilla flavored but I say be adventourous and try different flavors)
  
• 2 Tbs Ground Flaxseed
• 1/2 Cup Natural Peanut Butter
• 1/2 Cup Water
• Optional: Almond Butter
• Optional: Ground Pecans

Instructions

1) Mix dry ingredients together - Oats, Protein, Flaxseed
2) Mix in Natural Peanut Butter, then Water
3) Mix well, will be clumpy and take awhile (trust me when it says mix well and it will take a while...use something sturdy to mix)

Line 8x8 glass pan with aluminum foil, then use your hands to pack the mix into the pan.

Optional:
Spread a light layer of almond butter over the top
Sprinkle ground pecans over the top of the almond butter

Place into the freezer for 35 minutes

Homemade Granola

To go along with the Homemade Granola Bar recipe I just posted, I thought I'd share a granola recipe as well. I combined a few recipes to come up with this. The fun part about making your own granola is that you can add whatever you want!

I shared this recipe and had someone ask me if they could make it for a diabetic. You sure can! Try using raw honey and Splenda (remember only use half the amount of Splenda when replacing it for regular sugar).

Homemade Granola

2 cups rolled oats
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons plus 1 teaspoon Canola oil
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup slivered almonds
1/2 cup sunflower seeds
1/3 cup dried cranberries
1/3 cup chocolate chips (because I have boys who love a little chocolate, lol)

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

In a large bowl, toss the oats with cinnamon and salt.

In a medium bowl, stir together the oil, honey, brown sugar, and vanilla. Whisk until completely combined.

Pour the honey mixture over the oats mixture and use your hands to combine them. Gather up some of the mixture in each hand and make a fist. Repeat until all of the oats are coated with the honey mixture.

Pour the mixture onto the prepared baking sheet. Spread it out evenly, but leave a few clumps here and there for texture. Bake for 10 minutes, then remove from the oven and use a metal spatula to lift and flip the granola. Sprinkle the nuts over the granola and return the baking sheet to the oven.

Bake for 5 minutes, then remove from the oven and use a metal spatula to lift and flip the granola. Return the baking sheet to the oven. Bake for 10 minutes, then remove from the oven. Let cool completely.

Sprinkle the dried cranberries and chocolate chips over the granola and use your hands to transfer it to an airtight container. The granola will keep for 1 week.

A few extra tips for substitutions or add ins.

DRY
rolled (old fashioned) oats
ground flax seed
wheat germ

NUTS
sunflower seeds
pumpkin seeds
sliced almonds
pecans
walnuts
hazelnuts

FRUIT
dried cranberries
flavored Craisins
raisins, brown or golden
other dried fruits (banana chips, dried blueberries, etc)

SWEETENER
brown sugar (light or dark)
maple syrup
honey
agave nectar
shredded coconut

FLAVORING
pure vanilla extract
other extracts such as almond, lemon, cherry, etc
spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, etc)

Homemade Granola Bars

My kids LOVE these and so does my husband. I often make them when he is headed off to some training so he can have something healthy to snack on.

The fun part of this recipe is that you can add whatever you want to them. Where it says 1/2 cup chocolate chips/peanut butter chips you can change it to whatever you want. My favorite to make are with craisins, flax seed and almond slivers. The boys love theirs with peanut butter or chocolate chips. So really whatever makes you happy!

Homemade Granola Bars

* 2 cups rolled oats
* 1 cup whole wheat flour
* 1/2 cup chocolate chips (can sub dried fruits for the chocolate and peanut butter chips, whatever makes you happy)
* 1/2 cup peanut butter chips
* 1/2 cup brown sugar
* 1/2 cup wheat germ
* 1 tsp cinnamon
* 1/2 tsp salt
* 1 egg, beaten
* 1/2 cup honey
* 1/2 cup canola oil
* 2 tsp vanilla extract

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 9 x 13 baking pan with foil and spray with cooking spray.

Mix the dry ingredients in a large bowl. In a small bowl, mix together the wet ingredients. Pour the wet mixture into the dry and mix well (it’s easiest to just use your hands). Pat the mixture out into the foil lined pan.

Bake for about 15-20 minutes if you want chewy granola bars or for 20-25 minutes for crunchy granola bars. When the edges start to brown, remove from the oven and let cool for a couple of minutes. Use a pizza roller to slice into bars. Finish cooling completely before removing from the pan or they will break apart.

I am pretty sure I found this recipe online and I apologize I do not remember the site. I always try to give credit and I searched but I guess I never bookmarked the page for this.

No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars

One of the things I love best about this recipe is that it is so easy and I always have the ingredients at my house. It doesn't take that long to make and it's a hit everywhere we go.

No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars


* 3/4 cup butter
* 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 3 cups quick cooking oats
* 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
* 1/2 cup peanut butter (smooth or chunky)

1. Melt butter in a large sauce pan over low heat. Stir in brown sugar, vanilla, and oats. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes. Press half of mixture in to the bottom of a buttered 8 x 8 dish.

2. In a microwave safe bowl, microwave the chocolate and peanut butter, stirring every 30 seconds until melted and blended. Pour the chocolate peanut butter mixture over the crust, reserving a couple of spoonfuls to drizzle over the top.

3. Sprinkle the remaining oat mixture over the chocolate and peanut butter, pressing gently to form a crust. Drizzle the remaining chocolate and peanut butter over the top of the bars.

4. Refrigerate for 3 hours before cutting and serving.

No Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies

These are probably my favorite cookies ever, I seriously have no self control when these cookies are in my house which is why I do not make them very often!

No Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies

2 cups sugar
1/2 cup milk
1 stick butter
1/2 cup plain or chunky peanut butter
4 Tbsp cocoa
3 cups quick cooking oats
1 tsp vanilla

Boil: sugar, milk, butter and cocoa for 1 1/2 minutes (start timing when mixture comes to a full boil). Remove from heat.

Add: peanut butter, oats and vanilla. Mix until well blended.

Drop by teaspoon (or however big you want them) onto waxed paper and let cool