Summer berry bars

I love summer. Everything is so colorful and warm and all my favorite foods are in season, nothing better!

I have a ton of berries and I've been eating them in everything. From my oatmeal, pancakes, salads, and anything else. Today I made some delicious oatmeal bars and gave them a summer twist by adding in some giant blackberries.

Summer blackberry oatmeal bars

(Original recipe found here)

They are so delicious. I wish I would have added a few more blackberries or added some raspberries also. I was afraid the berries would cook down and release there juices making the bars too wet. But actually the berries stayed whole and the bars turned out perfect. I just want the delicious flavor of more berries. So next time I will add a cup of berries instead of half a cup.

Raspberry bars for a loved one

Last week I made some raspberry fig mini oatmeal bars. These would be perfect for Valentines day and a great way to show someone you care.

For the base I used Hodgson Mills Insta whole wheat baking mix. I made the recipe on the back of the box for oatmeal cookies and used that for my base. Once finished making the mix press it into the bottom of a baking dish and bake it for about 12 min. at 350 degrees.

Nothing better then a cookie crust.

On top of the cookie base whip up equal parts raspberry all fruit spread and fig all fruit spread. Spread the jam out and top it all off with a little oat and maple syrup crumble. Finished with another 10 min. in the oven.

Cut into mini squares and ready to enjoy. As you probably have already figured out I'm obsessed with mini baked goodies. It's the prefect way to enjoy things and it looks oh so cute.

Last one

I had the last pear oatmeal bar. I still cant tell you enough how good these are. Check out the recipe and make these, you wont be disappointed.

I topped my piece with sliced banana, Justin's honey peanut butter, and coconut. Enjoyed with my favorite tea, Mighty Leaf green tea tropical. It just doesn't get any better then this. Well if I could lounge in my pajama's while enjoying this Saturday morning that would make it even better. But I gotta go to work and then I'm heading to the gym for a quick workout, and then I have a list of errands a mile long for this afternoon/evening. See you at the end of all that. Have a great Saturday.

Oatmeal bars

I made pear breakfast oatmeal bars yesterday. It's such a simple and quick recipe and they even freeze really well.

First I mixed the dry ingredients.

And then stirred up the wet ingredients.

And baked it in the oven at 325 degrees for 12 min.

I then enjoyed a big chunk for breakfast this morning with sliced banana and a drizzle of honey, all warmed up in the microwave slightly. I forgot how amazing these bars are. They are one of my favorite recipes.

Crumbled bar

I decided to turn some homemade pumpkin chocolate chip raisin granola bars into a crumble this morning. The bars are nice and soft and oaty. So I thought they would be perfect eaten like a cereal.

Topped with some soymilk and a splash of Silk's seasonal mint chocolate soymilk. I love Silk brand's seasonal soy's and the mint is new this year.

Granola bars

Now that the pumpkin season has begun I just can't seem to stop.
Pumpkin chocolate chip raisin granola bars.

Dry ingredients
3 1/4 cup oats
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 cup raisins
1/4 cup dark chocolate chips

Wet ingredients
1/4 cup sucanant or other sugar
1/2 cup pumpkin puree
1/4 cup applesauce
1/4 cup honey
1 TB. coconut butter
Mix
wet ingredients into dry ingredients.
Press into a prepared pan and back at 350 degrees for 35 min.

Let cool for 5 min. before cutting into bars.
Enjoy!

So convenient

This morning I had one of the applesauce raisin bars. They firmed up overnight and were the perfect texture today.

I topped it with a thin spread of sunflower nut butter, Crofter's raspberry all fruit spread, and 1/4 of a diced banana. I warmed everything up in the microwave for about 10min.

I love how quick and convenient these are. I already froze some to have on hand for a quick go-to breakfast or snack.

Go to breakfast

Last night I was thinking about what I should make for breakfast this morning. I almost made overnight oats, but I didn't really want to mess with it. Then after pondering oatmeal, pancakes, or cereal it came to me. Why couldn't I warm up one of the applesauce raisin bars. It's everything a bowl of oats has in it, and that's where today's idea was born, and boy was it a good idea.

After warming up one bar for 30 sec. I topped it with some sunflower nut butter, sliced banana, and a sprinkle of unsweetened coconut. I then warmed the whole thing up for another 10 min. This was such a good simple breakfast. I paired it with my usual egg whites for a well rounded meal. I'm thinking about freezing the rest of the bars and saving them for a go to breakfast, It was just that good.

Baking for fall

Today is one of those day's that says fall's coming. It's been dark and looking like it could rain at any moment today. With the feel of fall in the air I lit a candle and begun baking.

I first had to gather all my baking ingredients.

In a bowl I combined all the dry ingredients.
1 cup whole wheat pastry flour
3 cups oats
1 TB. evaporated cane juice
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 cup raisins
1/4 cup dark chocolate chips

In a separate bowl I combined all the wet ingredients.
1 cup applesauce
1/4 cup honey
dash vanilla
2 TB. almond butter

I warmed the wet ingredients in the microwave for 1 min. After 1 min. I stirred the wet ingredients together and added them to the dry ingredients. Once everything was mixed together I spread the mix in a baking dish coated with non stick spray and baked it for 12min. at 325 degrees.

Do you know what I made yet?

Oat bars

I made Applesauce raisin bars.
These bars are so moist and full of oats, I cut them in to a giant bar size.