Stovetop Popcorn

This is so yummy, and so easy. It’s our favorite for popcorn and movie night.

• 3 tablespoons coconut oil
• 1/3 cup popcorn kernels
• 4 tablespoons butter (you can use less, but it won’t taste as good!)
• salt

In a large skillet, heat coconut oil and three kernels of popcorn over medium high heat. Shake pan a few times to evenly coat the pan and kernels with oil. Once a kernel pops, remove from heat and pour in the rest of the popcorn. Coat the popcorn with oil and count to 30 to bring all the popcorn to popping temperature. Put pan back over heat and let the popcorn pop. Once it two or three seconds pass between pops, remove from heat and put butter in the skillet. Stir popcorn around until butter melts and the popcorn is well coated. Add salt.

From Simply Recipes

Chewy Granola Bars

Granola bars are so easy to make, and such a hit around here. I’m always trying out new recipes, and this one is very tasty. I made it with Bob’s Red Mill Gluten Free Flour mix this time. It turned out well.

• 1/2 cup honey (or maple syrup, agave nectar, etc)
• 1/2 cup coconut oil
• 1/2 cup almond butter
• 2 tsp vanilla
• 1 egg, beaten
• 2 cups oats
• 1 cup flour (whole wheat, unbleached, gluten free, whatever)
• 1 cup coconut
• 1 tsp spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, chocolate, etc.)
• 1 cup dried fruit or chocolate chips

Melt the coconut oil. Stir together with honey, egg, almond butter and vanilla. Add the oats, flour, spices and coconut. Stir together.

Line a 9×13 pan with waxed paper. Press mixture into pan evenly. Bake at 350 for 15-18 minutes.

Let cool for 5 minutes and then lift bars out by the waxed paper. Cut into squares. Let cool completely before taking the bars off the waxed paper, otherwise they will crumble to pieces.

Coconut-Cranberry-White Chocolate Granola (Bars)

Okay, this is fabulous. Maybe not the healthiest, but REALLY good. It’s a bit crumbly. I usually make it as granola bars, and about half ends up in bar form. The other half crumbles and we eat it over plain yogurt.

• 2 1/2 cups rolled oats
• 1 cup white chocolate chips
• 3/4 cup dried cranberries
• 1/4 cup flaked coconut
• 3/4 cup almond butter
• 1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
• 1/3 cup honey

Mix together coconut oil, almond butter and honey. Pour over fruit, oats and chocolate chips. Mix well.

Line a 8×8 or 9×9 pan with parchment paper. Press oat mixture into pan. Bake at 325 degrees for 25 minutes.

Remove from the oven and let cool at least 10 minutes. Pull up on parchment paper to remove from pan. Let cool completely and cut into bars. Store in refrigerator.

Fruit and Nut Granola Bars

Granola bars are very flexible. Add whatever ingredients you like, take out what you don’t like, and bake! Pretty easy, and very yummy. Here’s our current favorite rendition.

• 2 1/2 cups rolled oats
• 1 cup dried fruit (blueberries, cherries, cranberries, raisins, coconut, etc.)
• 1 cup chopped nuts (walnuts, almonds, peanuts, etc.)
• 1 cup nut butter (almond, peanut, cashew, etc.)
• 1/3 cup honey
• 1 tsp vanilla

Mix together the honey, nut butter and vanilla. Pour over the nuts, fruit and oats. Mix well.

Line a 8×8 or 9×9 pan with parchment paper. Press oat mixture into pan. Bake at 325 degrees for 25 minutes.

Remove from the oven and let cool at least 10 minutes. Pull up on parchment paper to remove from pan. Let cool completely and cut into bars. Store in refrigerator.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Granola Bars

If there is one thing that my husband would not be able to live without it would be granola bars. Okay, and maybe pizza. Anyway, he loves granola bars and will eat three or four daily. Not only is that expensive, those granola bars are filled with preservatives I would rather avoid in such quantity. So, I have been searching for great granola bar recipes. This one is a hit–I mean, what isn’t there to like about the peanut butter/chocolate combination? Definitely Chris’ favorite.

• 2 1/2 cups oats
• 1 cup peanut butter
• 1 cup chocolate chips
• 1 cup chopped peanuts (I used roasted, salted peanuts and give them a few pulses in the food processor to make them smaller pieces.)
• 1/3 cup honey

Stir all ingredients together. Line a 9×9 or 8×8 baking pan with waxed paper.  Press granola mixture evenly into pan.

Bake at 325 F for 25 minutes.

One the bars have cooled a bit, lift them out by the waxed paper and cut into squares.