Nut-Free No-Bake Bars

I saw a recipe on Pinterest for no-bake bars that looked good, but my son and I are allergic to peanuts and several tree nuts, so I adapted this recipe using Sunbutter and no tree nuts.  They are quite tasty, and still have a buttery taste.  Not quite the same as peanut butter, but hey, if you can't have it, you take what you can get. 

Nut-Free No-Bake Bars

1 cup Sunbutter (or other sunflower butter)
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup butter (or coconut oil) (I used butter)
2 cups old fashioned oats (not quick cooking or instant)
1 cup shredded coconut
1/2 cup craisins, raisins, or nuts (I used craisins only)
1 1/4 cups dark chocolate chips (I bought Nestle dark chocolate chips)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Line a 9x9 pan with non-stick foil or grease the pan. (I like foil, then I can lift it out to cut the bars)

In a medium saucepan, melt the peanut butter, honey and butter over medium low heat.  Watch this closely.  It won't take long to melt, and you don't want it to burn.  When it's just about all melted, add the chocolate chips and stir until they are melted.  Remove from heat. 

Stir in the vanilla.  Next add the oats, coconut, and nuts/raisins.  Stir until well mixed.  Spread into prepared pan.  Place in refrigerator until hardened.  Cut into bars and enjoy!


I thought these were really good, and my son was quite excited to have something he can eat for a change! (As if you couldn't tell from the picture.) We will definitely be making these again!

Baked French Fries

We LOVE these fries.  They take a little work (There is a trick to getting them brown and crispy that I didn’t know before reading this! You may be surprised!

Baked French Fries – adapted from Weight Watchers New Complete Cookbook (well, not so new anymore)

1 ¼ pounds baking potatoes
¾ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon sugar
4 teaspoons oil
1 teaspoon paprika

1.  Fill a large bowl with water and add 1/4 teaspoon of the salt and the 1/2 teaspoon of sugar and mix to dissolve.  (It may not all dissolve and that's ok)
2.  As you cut the potatoes, put them in the water to soak.  Once you have all the potatoes in the bowl, let them soak for 15 minutes.
3.  Preheat the oven to 450°F; spray a nonstick baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray. (I use Reynold's Non-Stick Foil instead! It's the BEST!)
4.  Drain the potatoes and use paper towels to blot them dry. 
5.  Drizzle the oil over the potatoes and sprinkle with paprika.  Stir to coat them well.
6.  Spread them out on the prepared baking sheet in a single layer.  Bake 30-40 minutes or until desired crispness, stirring and turning the potatoes about every 10 minutes. Sprinkle with the remaining salt when done.

FYI: DON'T SKIP THE SOAKING STEP! It is important in getting crispy fries.  The sugar in the water helps to pull the water out of the potato. This is the difference from other Baked French Fries recipes I have tried in the past.  These ones are not soggy!


These are the best, healthiest, fresh cut fries you are going to get without getting them from somewhere that deep fries them.  And I think they are just as good, if not better because there is no grease.  And no stomach ache later!

Enjoy!

Giant Chocolate Chip Cookie

Frankie asked for a giant chocolate chip cookie for his birthday party with his friends.  It would be so easy to just run to the mall and order one, except for the fact that he has some nut allergies.  So, to be safe, I decided to make it myself.

Who am I kidding?  I LOVE to bake, so I probably would have made it myself anyway.

I searched for recipes online and read lots of tips and tricks and did a test cookie myself so this recipe is a mash-up of all the things I read and came up with myself.

Giant Chocolate Chip Cookie - recipe adapted from Nestle Toll House Original Recipe

2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
1/2 cup shortening
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
2 large eggs
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup milk chocolate chips

1)  Preheat oven to 350 degrees. (This is lower than the original Nestle recipe!!!)
2) Grease a 14 inch deep dish pizza pan with shortening, bottom and sides
3) Combine the flour, baking soda and salt and set aside.
4) Beat sugars, butter, shortening in large mixing bowl until creamy.
5) Add eggs and vanilla, beat well.
6) Add half the flour mixture and beat well.  Repeat with other half.
7) Add in chips and mix until blended.
8) Scrape all dough into middle of pizza pan.  Start spreading toward the edge with a rubber spatula.  DO NOT SPREAD ALL THE WAY TO EDGE.  Leave about 1 to 1 1/2 inches between dough and sides.  Also, make sure the dough is thicker around the edge than in the middle.  Doing both of these things will help make the cookie come out more even instead of higher on the edges (and crispier on the edges).  The photo below tries to show you what I mean

9) Bake for 25 minutes.  Remove from oven and cool in pan on wire rack.  Let cool for about 15 minutes then using a stiff but flexible spatula, run it around the edge of the pan carefully to loosen the cookie from the sides.  See photo below.  Don't use a knife because you could scratch your pan!!  Wait another 5-10 minutes and repeat.  Keep doing this every so often, and eventually you will feel that the cookie is loose in the pan. Trust me, you'll know when it is. Wait until it is completely cool before trying to remove it from the pan.

 

To remove from pan: Be sure it is not sticking to any side or bottom of pan.  Place a large cookie sheet on top of the pan, using two hands and working quickly, flip both over at the same time so the cookie sheet is on the bottom and the pan is on top.  Slowly start to lift pan.  It should lift off easily.
Repeat the process using a 2nd large cookie sheet to invert cookie right side up.

Decorate as desired.  I used Decorator Icing for this one.  I actually only made 1/4 recipe of icing and it was enough for what I needed.

Some questions you may have:

Why do you use shortening and butter, instead of all butter like the Nestle recipe?  I use a mix because all butter will result in a crisper cookie, and I want a little bit softer texture for this, but I want the butter taste.

Can I use non-stick cooking spray in the pan instead of shortening?  Well, you can try it and it make work fine.  I, however, don't know, because I used shortening.  :)

Why did you reduce the temperature to 350 degrees instead of using the original 375 degrees?  Lowering the temperature helps to not overcook it.  It will keep baking in the pan for a little bit after you pull it out. 

Hope all that helps!  Let me know if you have any other questions!!

Chocolate Chip Blondies

The kids and I were craving something sweet one evening around 9:00.  I told them if we could find a quick and easy recipe we would make it.  So we each grabbed a cookbook from the cupboard and started looking.  I found this recipe in a Taste of Home "Bake Sale" magazine and adapted it.  These are easy, quick and yummy.  Perfect for packing in school lunches!!

Chocolate Chip Blondies

1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
1/2 cup butter
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Heat oven to 350 degrees.  In a microwave safe glass mixing bowl, melt the butter.  Add brown sugar, eggs and vanilla and mix until just blended.  In a small bowl mix the flour, baking powder and salt together.  Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture and mix well.  Stir in chocolate chips.

Grease a 9x13 metal pan with cooking spray or Crisco.  Spread the batter into the pan.  It will just cover the bottom, you will have to spread pretty thin.  But they will puff up some when they bake.  Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.  I use an insulated pan, so I have to bake mine for more like 28 minutes.  Cool on a wire rack.  While still warm, run a knife around the edge of the pan to loosen bars from side.

Enjoy with a big glass of milk!!

Festive Funfetti Sugar Cookies

I wanted to make cookies for the July 4^th holiday, but didn’t feel like making my usual cut-out stars and having to make icing for them.  So I decided on these.  I made them a few years ago, and they were easy and delicious!  I have adapted this recipe from several I have read.  Many of them have a split of almond and vanilla extract in them, but having a child allergic to almonds, and the conflicting data regarding almond and imitation almond extracts and allergic reactions, I decided to leave it out altogether.  I am really happy with the way they turned out.  I find that sometimes that almond extract is a little overpowering anyway.  And the true test was when my family tasted them!  They gave the thumbs up, so I knew all was good!

Festive Funfetti Sugar Cookies

2 sticks butter, softened
1 ¼ cup sugar
1 Tbsp. vanilla
1 egg
2 ½ cups flour
¼ cup cornstarch
¾ tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
½ cup jimmies, any color
½ cup nonpareils, any color

 

1)      Heat oven to 375 degrees.

2)      Mix flour, cornstarch, baking soda and salt in medium bowl.  Set aside.
3)      Cream the butter and sugar together in medium/large mixing bowl until light and fluffy.  Add the vanilla and egg and beat until combined.
4)      Add about 1/3 of the flour mixture to the butter mixture and mix slowly until well combined.  Repeat 2 more times until all of the flour is incorporated into the dough.
5)      Add the sprinkles and beat slowly, or mix by hand with a large spatula.  You don’t want to mix too hard or too much or the sprinkles will break up into the dough.
6)      Scoop the dough onto cookie sheets lined with parchment, using a small cookie scoop, a little more than an inch apart.
7)      Bake for 8-10 minutes, but just until you start to see golden brown on the bottom edges.  Cool on sheet on wire rack for 2-3 minutes, then remove directly to wire rack to finish cooling.

These have been a big hit with my family!!  They are easy to make, and the recipe makes a large amount of cookies.  Using the small cookie scoop, about 1 tablespoon of dough, I got over 5 dozen cookies.  The recipe is easily doubled, as well.

As far as the sprinkles go, most of you probably know that “Jimmies” are the long, skinny sprinkles.  “Nonpareils” are the little, tiny balls.  I purchased mine at a baking supply store, and you can get any colors you can imagine.  You could do the colors of your favorite sports team, holiday colors, or rainbow colors.  Whatever the celebration calls for!

 Enjoy!

Double Dipped Oreos

Please don't tell Nabisco, but you can make chocolate covered Oreos at home that are tastier AND cheaper!  These are easy to make, but a little time consuming.  However, the reward (eating them) is waaaay worth it.  And they are another great gift to give, which are sturdy and great for shipping! 

The best melting chocolate to use is Ghirardelli brand "Candy Making and Dipping Bar" Double Chocolate flavor.  The best place to get them is Sam's Club.  They come in 2 1/2 pound blocks and are around $7.50.  Click here to see what they look like.

I use the Wilton Choclate Pro melting pot to make this project easier. I don't use it to melt the choclate, but I do use it to keep the chocolate warm while I am dipping the cookies.  If you don't have this, I suggest doing the cookies in smaller batches because your chocolate will start to harden as it cools. You can get the melting pot at any craft type store that carries Wilton products (and of course, use a 40% off coupon for it!!)

Double Dipped Oreos

5 dozen Oreo cookies
2 1/2 pounds melting chocolate
Assorted Christmas Sprinkles
Wax paper

Melt 1 1/2 pounds of the chocolate in the microwave for 1 minute at half power.  Stir.  Continue microwaving and stirring at half power at 30 second intervals until chocolate is melted and smooth.  Pour chocolate into melting pot (if using).  Place one Oreo at a time into the chocolate using a fork to flip it to coat both sides.  Carefully lift with the fork and gently tap on the edge to  let excess chocolate drop off.  Scrape bottom of fork along edge while removing to stop pooling of chocolate on around bottom edge of cookie.  Place on wax paper.  Repeat with all cookies.  Let these harden for a couple hours before melting the other pound of chocolate and dipping all the cookies again (using the same procedure) and topping with sprinkles.  This time let harden for several hours, and then store in airtight container, using wax paper between the layers.  Store in a cool place, but not the refrigerator or freezer!  I keep mine in the garage....well, now that I am living in Michigan again!  :)

My family LOVES these, so I have to make some for us to keep.  But I mostly make them to give away.  I like to use those holiday printed cellophane bags with the twisty ties and just put 4 - 6 in a bag and tie them up and put a tag on them.  A cute little gift for someone you want to say "thanks" to. 

Happy dipping!  :)

Christmas Confetti

My mom has been making this Christmas treat for many, many years and it has become a staple in our house at Christmas as well.  Not only do we like to eat it, but lots of people love it, and it's a great treat to give away because it's easy to make and package.  And, if you have family and friends far away that you like to ship goodies to, this ships very well!

I have made this using several different brands of white "chocolate" coating.  The best brand is the Ghirardelli "Candy Making & Dipping Bar".  You can get them in 2 1/2 pound blocks at Sam's Club for a great price...around $7.50!!  They come in milk chocolate as well.  Click here to see them on the Sam's Club website. 

Christmas Confetti

6 cups Kellogg's Crispix Cereal
3 cups Cheerio's
1 cup peanuts
1 cup pretzel sticks, broken in half
1 cup plain M & M's (the Christmas red/green kind)
1 pound white melting chocolate

Mix the cereal, nuts, pretzels and M&M's in a large bowl.  Melt the white chocolate in the microwave for 1 minute at half power.  Stir.  Continue melting and stirring at half power for 30 second intervals until chocolate is melted and smooth.  Drizzle melted chocolate over cereal mixture, stirring constantly.  Spread on wax paper to dry.  Break up pieces when dry and store in an air tight container.

Enjoy!!!

Cheeseburger/French Fry Casserole

This is a recipe I have made for my kids for years.  It is not low-fat.  It is not low-sodium.  It is full of processed food items.  So, if you are looking for something healthy.  This isn't it.

However, it is easy, and pretty tasty.  My kids enjoy it, and it makes enough to get some leftovers from. 

I believe I got this recipe from a magazine years ago, and it's just kind of become a comfort food staple at our house.

Cheeseburger French Fry Casserole

2 lbs. browned ground beef
1 can Golden Mushroom soup (*see note)
1 can Cheddar Cheese soup
1 bag your favorite frozen french fries

1.  Preheat oven to 350.
2.  Mix browned beef and soups.
3.  Spread in a 9x13 dish that has been sprayed with non-stick spray.
4.  Top with french fries to cover.
5.  Bake 35-40 minutes or until fries are lightly browned.

Serve topped with salt, pepper, ketchup, mustard and pickles. 

*Note:  Ok, this is TOP SECRET...but a few years back, one of my kids found a mushroom in the casserole.  Well, they swore it was a mushroom, and I told them it wasn't.  After that, I started running the Golden Mushroom soup through my mini-food processor to pulverize any evidence of the actual mushrooms!  :) 

I usually make this ahead by browning the beef and mixing it with the soups and placing it in the pan and then putting it in the fridge until I am ready to bake.  At that point, I top it with the fries and put it in the oven.

Tonight I served it with a Caesar salad!  Big hit and everyone was happy!  :)

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Granola Bars

I saw this recipe and immediately thought of my kids. I am always buying granola bars at the store and they are expensive and full of ingredients I can't pronounce.  I thought maybe these would be a good alternative, and even though they still have a fair amount of sugar, I am in control of the ingredients. 

This recipe came to me from an e-mail from Taste of Home. Click here to go to the original recipe.

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Granola Bars

1/2 cup your favorite peanut butter
1/3 cup honey
1 egg
2 tbsp. canola oil
1 tsp. vanilla extract
3 1/2 cups old fashioned oats
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
3/4 tsp. salt
1/3 cup chocolate chips
1/3 cup peanut butter chips

Heat oven to 350 degrees.

Beat the peanut butter, honey, egg, oil and vanilla together in a large bowl. In a medium bowl, combine oats, brown sugar and salt. Add half of dry mixture to wet mixture and mix well. Repeat with the other half.  Stir in chips.

Spray a 9x13 baking pan/dish with non-stick spray.  Spread mixture into the pan and pack it down well with the back of a spoon. It is normal for the batter to seem sticky. 

Bake for 15 minutes or until set.  Place dish on a wire rack until cool. Cut into bars. 

My kids are absolutely crazy for these. And they are so easy to make. I have already made a couple batches and have been wrapping some of them in wax paper and placing in a freezer bag and freezing them so when the crazy baseball/softball season starts in March, I will have a head start on some quick snacks.

Enjoy!