Hip Hip Hooray For Granola Bars!

Who doesn't love the chewy, sweet, and sometimes crispy taste of granola bars? I know I do! And actually, Addison has taken a liking to them as well. Yay! She tried something new and turns out, she likes it. Score for this Mama who's always looking for something different to give her for a snack.

But as most of you know, the granola bars you buy in the store are filled with junk! High Fructose Corn Syrup! No thank you!

So I decided to whip up a recipe I found here (http://www.fifteenspatulas.com/chocolate-chip-granola-bars/ ). I definitely recommend using a long, flat spatula for the job when it comes time to shape them on the cookie sheet. It works great!

These turned out yummy! Crunchy on the outside and a little chewy in the center. Next time I think I will cut back my cooking time a bit as we like chewier granola bars. But overall, a solid recipe.

The best part is my hubby (who tends to be particularly fussy about homemade goodies/clean eating recipes), liked them...a lot!

If you make them, shoot me a comment, I'd love to hear what you think.

Happy snacking!

Are Kale Chips Still In??

I think so and I sure hope so considering healthy foods should never go out of style! ;) 

Kale is filled with so many important nutrients. Some have even gone as far as to call it "the World's healthiest food!" Kale, a leafy green, is available in curly, ornamental, or dinosaur varieties. It belongs to the Brassica family that includes cruciferous vegetables such as cabbage, collards, broccoli, and brussel sprouts. Kale boasts vitamins such as vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin K. It's also a good source of minerals copper, potassium, iron, manganese, and phosphorus! Whew! Sounds like a super food to me!

Kale can be bitter in flavor so if you plan on using it in a salad it's best to marinade the leaves by massaging them with a dressing of your choice for 15 minutes prior to serving. 

Today I made kale chips-so delicate and crunchy! Are they like chips? No. But they do satisfy that longing for something salty and crunchy. So why not induldge?! They're SUPER healthy for you!

Now, I've made kale chips before but the recipe I had wasn't a good one. It's important not to overcook the leaves or undercook the leaves. 

Here's a link to the recipe I used: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/melissa-darabian/crispy-kale-chips-recipe.html

I did some online research and a bag of kale chips (bought in the store) can cost from $5.59-$9.49! Say what?! Mine (as pictured below) only cost me $1.50! Ah-mazing deal. So why not make them at home? Give 'em a try, I'm sure you'll enjoy the health benefits and crunch!