This recipe is a classic from simplefromscratch.com. With a variety of grains, seeds, and fruit they pack a nutritional punch. This is a fantastic way to make your family affordable snacks using organic, natural ingredients.

There’s only one major drawback to this formula– I limited the amount of sweeteners used which means the bars crumble a bit more easily that commercial granola bars. You can make your granola bars come out firmer by adding a cup of brown sugar to the liquid mixture that is poured over the dry ingredients.

Start making the bars by putting the following ingredients in a sauce pan:
1/2 c. molasses
1/2 c. honey
1/4 c. olive oil
2 t. vanilla extract

Place the pan on the stove and bring the ingredients to a simmer over medium heat. Stir occasionally to make sure the sugar doesn’t scorch.

While the pan is heating mix the follow ingredients together in a large bowl:

3 c. oats
1 c. wheat germ
1 c. almonds
1/4 c. flax seed
1/2 c. pumpkin seeds
1 c. dried tropical fruit mix (cut into small pieces) or Craisens

Pour the hot liquid over the dry ingredients and mix in well. Then quickly put the mixture into a 13″ x 9″ pan lined with greased wax paper or tin foil. Pack the mixture down firmly in the pan and back for 15 minutes at 350 degrees.

Cut into bars soon after removing the pan from the oven. Allow the bars to cool and harden for at least a couple hours before removing from the pan.

What are some of your favorite homemade snacks? We’d love to hear about them. Comment below!

(A big “thank you” to Review Critic for sponsoring this post!)

Review Critic offers in-depth, unbiased reports to assist you in making educated choices when it comes to choosing the right supplements for your body.

They also provided us with six great “clean eating” recipes you can feel good about sharing with family and friends.

Chia Pudding with Almonds, Figs and Strawberries

Ingredients:

2 dried figs (sliced)

¼ teaspoon vanilla

1 teaspoon honey

1 cup almond milk (unsweetened)

3 tablespoons chia seeds

10 almonds

3 strawberries

Method:

Combine the figs, vanilla, honey, almond milk and chia seeds in a small bowl. Stir well and refrigerate overnight in a container. Chop the almonds, slice the strawberries and add them to your chia mixture the next morning.

Hot Chocolate

Ingredients:

1 square dark chocolate (70% or more cacao)

1 cup almond milk (unsweetened)

Method:

Heat the chocolate and almond milk in a saucepan and enjoy!

Dark chocolate has immense health benefits. It is a powerful source of antioxidants and contains high amounts of selenium, zinc, potassium, manganese, copper, iron and magnesium. It can further improve brain function, lower blood pressure and even improve your mood. It can help you to relax, destress, and acts as a powerful aphrodisiac.

Banana Strawberry Smoothie

Ingredients:

½ teaspoon vanilla

2 tablespoons butter

1 cup almond milk (unsweetened)

½ banana (frozen)

5 strawberries (chopped and cored)

Method:

Put all the ingredients in a blender and mix until smooth.

Mango Sorbet

Ingredients:

½ banana (frozen)

1 mango (peeled, cut in small blocks and frozen)

25 tablespoons of cold water

Method:

Combine the frozen banana and mango in a food processor and blend until the mixture looks like sorbet. If the mixture is too thick, add one tablespoon of water at a time as you feel is needed.

Chocolate Pudding

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons cocoa

¼ teaspoon vanilla extract

2 Medjool dates

½ cup almond milk (unsweetened)

½ avocado

Method:

Mix all the ingredients in a blender until smooth.

Tomatoes with Tuna Melt

Ingredients:

2 tomatoes

1 can of tuna

3 teaspoons olive oil

1 teaspoon mustard (Dijon)

⅛ teaspoon paprika

1-ounce mozzarella cheese (or any other white cheese alternative)

Method:

Preheat your oven’s broiler. Cut a small slice off each tomato’s top, so that the seeds are exposed. Scoop out the seeds with a spoon. Be careful not to tear the sides. Put the tomatoes on a baking sheet.

Use a fork to mix the paprika, Dijon mustard, olive oil and tuna together in a mixing bowl. Spoon the tuna mixture into the tomato cups.

Broil the tomatoes for a few minutes until the tops of the tomatoes start to brown and shrivel and until the tuna is warm.

Sprinkle the grated mozzarella cheese on top and broil again until the cheese has browned and melted.

Serve while it is hot!

What are some of your favorite healthy recipes? We’d love to have you share! Comment below.

Mother’s Day Recipe: Chocolate Waffles With Strawberries

Ingredients

5 tbsp unsalted butter

2 cups all purpose flour

1 tbsp baking powder

3 tbsp sugar

1/2 tsp salt

3 eggs

1 cup milk

1/2 cup chocolate syrup and additional for topping

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Cooking Spray

Confectioners sugar

1 cup whipped cream

1 cup strawberries, each sliced into half

Directions

1. Mix flour, salt, baking powder and sugar in a bowl.
2. In a saucepan melt the butter.
3. In another large bowl whisk eggs, milk, chocolate syrup and vanilla. Now fold in the flour mix into the egg mix spoon by spoon. Now add molten butter to it and mix well.
4. Pre-heat the oven to 250ºF.
5. Pre-heat waffle iron and spray some cooking spray over it.
6. Add some batter into the waffle iron, about an inch within the edge. Cook until crisp.
7. Repeat to finish the batter.
8. Transfer on to a baking sheet and keep it warm in the oven.
9. Place the waffles on serving plates. Sprinkle with confectioners sugar. Now add strawberries, freshly whipped cream and chocolate syrup. Dust with a little bit more confectioners sugar.
10. Serve!

Your mom is simply going to love this Mother’s Day Recipe that you will prepare with so much love. I have seen people add sliced bananas to the chocolate waffles and strawberries. That tastes great too. Another variation is to serve along with pancakes. If you are not a big fan of whipped cream then add a dollop of vanilla ice-cream! In this case you can leave out the last sugar dusting. And of course if you want to add some more love, increase the chocolate syrup content. Do share your thoughts on this recipe.

Click here for more Mother’s Day Recipes on Stagetecture!

How to Make a Healthy Strawberry Smoothie Recipe

 

Strawberry Smoothie Ingredients:

Yields: 4 servings

2 cups fresh strawberries (16-18 strawberries)

1 cup skim milk (low fat)

1 ½ cups vanilla yogurt

1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract

½ cup (8-10) ice cubes

Directions:

1. Place ice cubes into a blender or food processor and blend until crushed.
2. Add all other ingredients and blend until smooth.

Strawberry banana smoothie ideas:

If you love strawberries and bananas both, simply add 2 ripe, sliced bananas to the above recipe for a refreshing smoothie. Packed with antioxidants, vitamin C, and potassium, it is an extremely healthy drink. A strawberry banana smoothie is an ideal for on the go breakfast or a late afternoon snack.

Chocolate smoothie recipe for kids:

Who minds chocolate for breakfast? While the above smoothie recipe itself is a great way to get picky eaters eating fruit they might not otherwise, 2 tablespoons of chocolate syrup added will get them on the breakfast table in no time.

Dos and don’ts of breakfast smoothies

With the right blend of ingredients, a breakfast smoothie can be a nutritional powerhouse, whereas, just a few misguided add-ins, can quickly transform it into a high calorie, sugar laden dessert. So, make sure you avoid these pitfalls:

• Don’t just throw everything into the blender; instead measure the ingredients to keep the nutrition stats in check.
• Never add sugar to your smoothies. If needed to sweeten, do so naturally. Try adding, dates, beets, or honey.
• Lastly, beware of overindulging. To keep the calories and sugar in check avoid second servings. Try adding ingredients such as oats or avocado to keep you feeling full long after the breakfast.

Apart from being healthy, this strawberry smoothie makes a wonderful treat for any occasion. So, which version are you trying this morning?

Want to be friends on Plan to Eat? Feel free to check out my recipes and, if you’d like, share your favorites!

How to Make Moist Chocolate Cake from Scratch

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Chocolate Cake Ingredients:

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Moist chocolate cake recipe tips and tricks

To bake the perfect moist chocolate recipe cake, you have to be careful to not over bake it, without opening the oven to check it too many times. Also, using the toothpick or a wooden skewer is an immense help, but don’t forget that you are aiming in a moist cake, so don’t expect the toothpick to come out completely clean.

It’s almost impossible to go wrong with a chocolate dessert, whether you offer it to your dinner guests or have it as an everyday treat. And it can be served with many variations, since chocolate tastes great with seasonal fruits, whipped cream, chopped nuts and so many more yummy things.

Do you enjoy cake decorating? 

These cake decorating tips could be just for you!

This moist chocolate cake from scratch is going to taste better than any boxed cake mix and you can make easily a layered cake with it. Also, decorating it is really easy and think about adding some white chocolate chips or caramel chips into the mixture to give it a twist. Also, adding a little orange or lemon zest will take the cake to another level.

What are your favorite chocolate cake recipes? Look through Stagetecture’s chocolate cake recipe archives here.

Easter Recipe: Deviled Eggs with Cheese & Bacon

Ingredients

12 eggs

1/2 cup mayonnaise

1 tbsp honey mustard

1/4 tsp black pepper powder

1/4 tsp salt

4 strips bacon, cooked crisp and crumbled

2 tbsp shredded cheddar cheese

chili flakes (optional)

chopped chives for garnish (optional)

Directions

1. Boil water in a deep vessel. Add 2 tsp salt to it. Add eggs. Cover with a lid and boil on low to medium heat for 7 to 8 minutes.
2. Take the eggs off heat and let them cool. Run them under cold water if need be.
3.  Crack the shells and take them off carefully.
4. Cut each egg into half, longitudinally.
5. Take out the egg yellows carefully.
6. In a glass bowl collect all the egg yellows.
7. Mash the yellows with a fork and add to the glass bowl, mayonnaise, salt, pepper and honey mustard. Add a teaspoon of chili flakes if you please.
8. Now fold in 3/4th of the crumbled bacon and cheese. Mix well.
9. Stuff this egg yellow mix in the empty centers of egg whites.
10. Refrigerate for about 24 hours.
11. Garnish with the remaining crumbled bacon. Add chives if you wish to:)

You can add a spicy Asian flavor– just garnish with chopped green chillies, chili flakes and lightly toasted sesame seeds. That variation is on the hot side, but still delicious.

Click here for more Deviled eggs Easter Recipes!

Irish Dishes: How to Make Corn Beef and Cabbage Hash Recipe

 

Corn Beef & Cabbage Ingredients:

Corned Beef and Cabbage:

2 pounds corned beef brisket plus seasoning packet

1 large onion

1 medium head of cabbage

¼ cup apple cider vinegar

2 tablespoons Dijon mustard

1 tablespoon honey

¼ teaspoon ground cloves

½ teaspoon caraway seed

2 (12 ounce) bottles stout beer

For Hash:

4 large potatoes

1 bell pepper

1 tablespoon minced garlic

1 teaspoon dried thyme

4 eggs, for serving

Toast, for serving

Directions:

1. The night before, put the corned beef brisket, fat side up, in the slow cooker. Top with the seasoning packet.
2. Chop the onion and cabbage into large wedges and put them in as well. Season everything with salt and pepper.
3. Mix together the mustard, honey, vinegar, caraway seeds, and cloves. Pour the mixture over the brisket and vegetables. Then, top with the beer.
4. Cook everything overnight, on low for 8-10 hours.
5. The next morning, take the meat and vegetables out of the slow cooker to cool for at least 15 minutes. Dry off any excess moisture by patting lightly with paper towels.
6. Meanwhile, peel and chop the potatoes into even cubes. Slice the bell pepper, onion, and cabbage wedges into thin strips.
7. When ready to cook, melt about two tablespoons of butter over low heat and cook the onion until it becomes translucent.
8. Turn the heat up to medium high and add in the potatoes, stirring them occasionally until they brown.
9. Meanwhile, slice about a pound the corned beef, against the grain, into bite-sized chunks.
10. When the potatoes are golden and have started to become tender, add in the corned beef, cabbage and the bell pepper.
11. Once the pepper becomes tender and the edges of the meat have started to caramelize, add in the garlic and thyme.
12. Toss everything and use you’re the back of your spatula to mash the hash together.
13. Serve warm, topped with eggs in the style of your choice and buttered toast.

While you could absolutely make the corned beef the night before as instructed, this dish is perfect for using up leftovers. You could even make things a bit fancier by serving the hash over a toasted English muffin and topping it with a poached egg and a drizzle of hollandaise. But whatever application you choose, this is one St. Patty’s Day recipe that you’ll look forward to using year after year.

For more St. Patrick’s Day recipes, click here.

How to Make Fresh Peach Cobbler in a Crockpot

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Peach Cobbler Ingredients

8 servings

2 pounds ripe but firm peaches (halved, pitted, and cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices)

3/4 cups all-purpose flour

3/4 cups rolled oats

4 tablespoons unsalted butter and more for coating the Crock Pot at room temperature)

1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground allspice

1 teaspoon baking powder

3/4 cups dark brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

Peach Cobbler Directions

1. Coat the bottom side of your Crock Pot completely with butter. Set aside.
2. Take a large bowl and whisk all-purpose flour, oats, spices, baking powder, brown sugar, and salt to mix them with each other. Toss the measured butter into the flour mixture so that it is well coated into flour.
3. Use 2 knives or a pastry blender to cut the coated butter into the dry ingredients. Keep cutting for 2 to 3 minutes or until the butter is reduced to pea-size pieces. The mixture will look crumbly.
4. Bring in the peach slices to the mixture and mix until everything is well combined. Spread the mixture evenly into a 6-quart Crockpot because a 4-quart is not large enough to cook properly.
5. Set the Crockpot over low heat and cook for nearly 3 hours or until the peaches are tender and the crumbled mixture is brown.
6. Scoop the peach cobbler into small serving bowls. If you like, add a scoop of vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.

Fresh Peach Cobbler Tips:

1. You can substitute the normal peaches with nectarines. However, it will not make the preparation less sumptuous.
2. To prevent the sides of cobbler from getting burned, line the Crockpot with cooking parchment paper.
3. Put paper towels under the Crockpot lid to stop dripping condensation from making the dough mushy.

Peach Desserts: The Best of Crockpot Recipes

A fresh peach cobbler is the best slow cooker dessert recipe that you can imagine to reward yourself with after a long day’s work. Simmering the fresh peach pieces into the Crockpot yields something rustic and relaxed, the best thing to enjoy besides a campfire or a cozy family dinner.

For more peach desserts on Stagetecture, click here.

Breakfast in Bed: Valentine’s Red Velvet Pancakes Recipe 

Red Velvet Pancakes Ingredients:

Makes:  24 Pancakes

Total Preparation Time:  50min

2 cups All-purpose flour

1 ½ teaspoons Baking powder

½ teaspoon Baking soda

½ teaspoon Salt

½ cup Sugar

½ cup Unsweetened cocoa powder

2 large Eggs

1 ½ cups Buttermilk

½ cups Sour cream

2 tablespoons Red food coloring

2 teaspoons Pure vanilla extract

6 tablespoons Butter, melted

Red Velvet Pancakes Directions:

1)      Sift the all-purpose flour, powdered sugar, unsweetened cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt into one large bowl.  Then take another large bowl and beat the eggs with the buttermilk and stir the sour cream, vanilla extract, food coloring until the mixture is smooth.

2)      Next, slowly add the dry ingredient mixture to the wet ingredient mixture and gradually add to the melted butter mixture.  Make sure to keep stirring until all of the mixtures are thoroughly even all around.

3)      Third, take a non-stick pan or griddle and set on medium heat for pan and 4 on the griddle.  Pour ¼ pancake sizes onto the heat metals (whichever you choose).

4)      Flip until reached desired shape and firmness.  Then place on the plate and enjoy with either cream cheese or syrup or both.  And make sure to add more powdered sugar on the top for extra goodness like display in the first photo.

For more breakfast recipes on Stagetecture, click here.

How to Recreate this Season’s Best Chicken Recipes

Easy Chicken Recipes: Lemon Grilled Whole Chicken

Let’s start off the list with a zesty grilled chicken recipe that is sure to be a dinner favorite.  Lemon grilled whole chicken recipe is a sure fire way to to add some healthy protein to the plate as well as a tasty side to the menu.  Don’t let the whole chicken intimidate you with the amount you may have to cook, you always have the choice of cutting down your proportions.  Plus, you can add barbecue sauce to the citrus delight and help bring out the smokiness flavor of the chicken.  Just go ahead, try it and see how it works out for you!

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Crock Pot Recipes: White Chili with Chicken