Back to School Treats

          In my home (like most others), we are counting down the days until the start of school.  The kids enjoyed camp, swimming, vacation, and playing, but now it's time to get back to the school routine. 
         There is no better way to sweeten the new school year, for parents and kids, than to have some healthy, tasty school snacks for the kids to go back to learning with.  Here are some recipes to my boys' favorite treats.

 

Berry Bar (this makes a 9" x 9" pan)

Dough:

    1 1/2 c   Whole Wheat Flour (I put it in the food
                  processor to make it less dense)
    1/2 tsp   Baking Powder

    1/2 tsp   Baking Soda

    1/2 tsp   Table Salt

    1 c         Light Brown Sugar

    2 Tbl      Butter, unsalted - softened

    2 Tbl      Flax Seed Oil

     1           XL Egg

    1 tsp      Vanilla

Filling:

    1/3 c     Sugar

    2 Tbl    Flour

    1 tsp     Orange Zest

    2 c        Berries

    1 Tbl     Lemon Juice

1- Cream the Dough (Beat Sugar and Butter until light and airy.  Add 1/2 dry ingredients until combined, 1 egg til combined, remaining dry, oil)

2- Fill pan half way with dough.  Bake at 350 for 15 minutes

3- In a pot, cook filling on low heat for about 7 minutes... the mixture will be like a thick, chunky jam

4- Spread filling on bottom layer of cooked dough. 

5- Add remaining dough and bake for another 15 minutes.

6- Cool and enjoy.

* I like to partially freeze them, cut them, wrap the, and keep them in the freezer until needed.

 

Chewy Granola Rounds (makes 12)

 

2 1/2 cups   Old  Fashioned Rolled Oats

1/2 cup       Slivered Almonds (or any nut)

1/3 cup       Honey (or Agave)

1/4 cup       Unsalted  Butter, cut into pieces

1/4 cup       Dark Brown Sugar (packed)

1/2 tsp        Vanilla Extract

1/4 tsp        Kosher Salt

1/2 cup       Dried cranberries (or any dried fruit)

1/4 cup       Mini Chocolate Chips (or any chip variety)

2 tsp           Flax Seed

2 tsp           Bran

1- Heat oven to 350 degrees.  Line cupcake tin with papers.

 

2- Toast Oats and Nuts.  Add Oats and Almonds to a small baking sheet then bake 5 minutes, stir and bake another 3 to 5 minutes until lightly toasted. Transfer to a large bowl.

 

3- Combine Butter, Honey,  Brown Sugar, Vanilla Extract and Salt in a small saucepan. Cook, stirring occasionally until Butter melts and the Sugar completely dissolves.

 

4- Pour Butter mixture in with toasted Oats and Almonds. Mix well.  Add  Cranberries and the Chips. Stir to combine.

 

5- Scoop Ooat mixture to lined pans.  Firmly press the mixture into the pan.

 

6- Cover then refrigerate at least 2 hours.

 

7- Store bars in an airtight container for up to one week or individually wrap and freeze until ready to eat.