Super Saturday

I'm not going to post my meal plan this week because I'm feeling exceptionally lazy and my baby girl is fighting a cold and we need to cuddle...so....a few recipes and pictures will have to do.
The first recipe I would like to share with you all is for homemade granola bars. I've had and tried numerous recipes and this is by far the best one I've tried. I made a pan of these last night, took me no time at all, and this morning I cut them up, wrapped them individually in saran wrap and I have 20 granola bars...85% organic and 100% delicious. I spent $6 on all the ingredients. A shout out to Kim who gave me the recipe.

The BEST Homemade Granola Bars
2 cups granola *I used an unsweetened organic variety*
2 cups oats
1 cup sunflower seeds *I only had 1/2 cup so I substituted 1/2 cup pumpkin- both organic*
1/2 cup chopped peanuts *I used a dry roasted version*
1 cup honey
1/2 cup peanut butter *I used an all natural organic smooth version*
2 eggs- beaten
4 tablespoons butter.

-Combine dry ingredients in a large bowl.
-In a pot, mix: honey and peanut butter. Add beaten eggs slowly, stirring quickly to avoid scrambling. Bring to boil. Remove from heat and add butter. Let cool for 20-30 minutes.
-Add wet to dry and stir to combine.
-Press into well greased 9"x13" pan and refridgerate for 2 hours (or overnight)
-Cut into individual bars and store in fridge. *I cut mine and wrapped them individually as they were pretty soft and I wanted something I could easily throw into lunches.*


*the cutest little person ever*

Basic Honey Whole Wheat Bread (I do the dough in my bread machine and then take it out and bake it in a pan because we prefer that shape in our bread). It's cheaper to make your own bread. This loaf cost me about $0.50...

Medium- 1 1/2 pounds

1 cup + 1 tablespoon water, 80-90 degrees F.
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 1/2 tablespoons honey or sugar
1 cup bread flour (I've only ever used all-purpose and my loaves turn out fine)
2 cups whole wheat flour
2 1/4 teaspoons yeast- dry, instant, or bread machine

Put all ingredients in bread pan in this order. Set machine to Whole Wheat Cycle, Loaf Size (med) and hit start.
After the rise cycle, before it bakes, remove the bread dough from the machine and place in a well greased (I butter & flour my pan) pan and let rise in warm area for another 30 minutes. Bake at 350 for 35 minutes or until golden brown.


*yummy bread*

Variations:
-Cheesy Onion Swirl Bread.
Once you remove it from the bread machine, roll it out the dough and sprinkle with old cheddar cheese and onion flakes. Roll up and place in pan. Allow to rise and then bake off. Delicious. *I made this up the other day and it was a huge hit in our house*

-Cinnamon & Raisin Swirl.

Once you remove from the bread machine, roll out the dough and sprinkle with a cinnamon and sugar mixture (1/4 cup sugar, 1tbsp cinnamon, 1/2 cup raisins). Roll up and place in pan. Allow to rise and then bake off. Delicious. I prefer using this recipe for my cinnamon swirl bread because I refuse to eat white bread, nor will I serve it to my child. It works out great and is much tastier and heartier then it's white counterpart.

Ok, that is all for today. Check back on Monday for a very interesting post...you won't be disappointed.

Frugally Yours,
Erin B.