Deck the Halls with Granola Balls!

Deck the Halls with…Granola Balls…falalala!

Christmas is so close, and I am so…

so…

so…

indifferent.

I just want to feel that magic of Christmas I experience every year.

The feeling of leisure, excitement, and pure happiness.

No school. No pressure to do anything productive.

It's glorious.

But this year, I feel kinda…well to put it bluntly. Crappy.

The snow is missing and all those wonderful holiday feelings are missing along with it.

But you know what has made me feel better?
Chocolate. And lots of it.
Nutella, Ghirardelli, Dove. Dark, White, Milk.
I don't discriminate against any type of chocolate.
You simply can't feel "crappy" when chocolate is around.

Nutella Granola Balls

gluten-free

1 1/2 cups crispy rice cereal

1/2 cup oats

1 cup Nutella

2-3 tablespoons honey, melted

1/2 teaspoon coconut oil, melted

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup white chocolate chips

1. In a medium-sized bowl, mix together cereal and oats.
2. In a small bowl, stir Nutella with honey and coconut oil. Add in vanilla.
3. Pour Nutella mixture over cereal mix. Stir well to combine.
4. At last, stir in white chocolate chips. Make sure your granola mix is not too warm, as you do not want your chocolate chips to get all melty.
5. It's ball-rolling time! Get your hands wet with a bit of water. Grab a small handful of granola mixture and roll into a bite-sized ball. Make sure to apply enough pressure with your hands, that way it stays in its shape. Place in a Ziploc bag. Continue to do this until all granola balls are made. Seal the Ziploc bag and store these in the freezer.

DELISH.

granola balls (gluten-free, dairy-free)

So let's just say that I am kind of, a little bit, maybe...obsessed with these.

I make them once a week.

I really love them...and it's a bit ridiculous.

I have been making granola bars for a few years now, and I am always trying to perfect my already "perfected" recipe. Yeah, kind of pathetic. Oh well. But truly, this one is divine.

Yesterday I got vaccinated for Tetanus. Do you know that you have to get it every 5 years? I didn't. Since I am going to be teaching 5th grade this year (in like 2 days! ah!), I had to get it. After sticking me with the needle, they handed me a sheet of paper that listed all the possible risks and problems following the vaccine. "You may experience a fever over 102 degrees F, headache, vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, and swelling of the entire arm..." Blah, blah, blah. I tossed it in my bag and forgot about it. Until about 2 o'clock this morning. I woke up with a fever and chills, my body was achy, and I was a vomit machine. (Hmmm...how do you like that mental image?) Needless to say, I was sick as a dog all day. And my chances of getting sick? 1 out of 300. Lucky me.

The only thing I could keep down were these little guys. Thank the stars for 'em.

And who doesn't love a granola ball - making party?

Every couple weeks, I get together with my favorite girls and we have a blast whether it's shopping, making granola bars/balls, or just chatting. 

Every girl deserves a girls night every once in a while. :)

Granola Balls

gluten-free, dairy-free


2 cups oats (gluten-free certified, if preferred)
2 cups puffed rice cereal
1/2 cup raisins (or dried cranberries or chocolate chips)
1/4 cup dry roasted peanuts
1/2 cup honey
1/2 cup brown sugar (or sucanat)
1 cup peanut butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1. In a large bowl, mix together rice cereal, oats, and raisins. 
2. In a smaller bowl, stir together honey, sugar, and peanut butter, and heat in microwave until warm and slightly bubbly (about 30 seconds). Remove bowl from microwave and give the mixture a good stir. Place back in microwave and warm for another 30ish seconds. Remove and stir in vanilla, salt, and cinnamon.
3. Pour peanut butter mixture over dry cereal mixture. Mix well. Wet your hands with cold water. Grab a palm-ful of granola and form into a ball, making sure to apply as much pressure as you can so the ball does not fall apart. Continue to do this until all the granola mixture is formed into balls. (This recipe will make about 25 granola balls.)
4. Place the granola balls into a large ziploc baggie and store them in the freezer or fridge. This will help them last longer.

*Feel free to make all sorts of flavor combinations. A really good one is Nutella Granola Balls. Simply omit the raisins, peanuts, brown sugar, peanut butter, salt, and cinnamon. Mix together 1 cup Nutella with a few spoonfuls of warmed honey and vanilla. Pour that over the dry cereal/oat mixture and mix well. Form into balls, place in a large ziploc baggie and freeze/refrigerate until ready to eat.

trail mix granola bars

I have been obsessed with granola bars lately.

I feel like I could never get sick of them.

But if you ask my husband, I think he would disagree with me.

When I bake, I like to experiment with the results.

This time I delivered the granola bars to two different groups of people.

They were a hit.

With both groups.

I guess that makes this recipe a keeper :)

Trail Mix Granola Bars

gluten-free & sugar-free

• 3 1/2 cups gluten-free crispy rice cereal
• 3 cups gluten-free Chex cereal (rice or corn)
• 1 1/2 cups raisins
• 1/2 cup sunflower seeds
• 1/2 cup peanuts (dry-roasted)
• 1 cup honey
• 1 1/4 cups peanut butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

Combine both cereals with the raisins, sunflower seeds, and peanuts in a large bowl.

In a small bowl, combine the honey and peanut butter. Heat in the microwave for about one minute. Stir in the vanilla.

Pour this over the cereal mixture and mix well.

Pour granola mixture into a sprayed 9x13 baking pan. Press granola into the pan with all your might. Place pan in the freezer and allow to cool for about 30 minutes. 

Cut into bars.

Devour.

A big thank you to my lovely sister Yvonne for this idea.

The original recipe can be found here.

Oatmeal Spice Cookie Bars

Baby, it's cold outside.

As I was walking to school, my ankles and feet were aching. Yes, aching. 

By the time I got inside, I was sure they needed to be amputated.

Over-exaggerating? I think not. Take a look for yourself...

Today's high was 8 degrees F. Tonight it's going to get down to -4 degrees.
But I can't complain too much because my family went to church in -10 degree weather last week.
It's at those times when I am grateful that I don't live in Wyoming anymore.

Let me tell you something though. When the weather is cold, there is something I do best.
I bake treats.
Tasty tasty treats.
All for me (and my husband too, if I am feeling nice enough).
And today I made Oatmeal Spice Cookie Bars.

Oatmeal Spice Cookie Bars

• 1/2 cup quick oats 
• 1 cup raisins 
• 1 cup almonds (I tried 1/2 cup almonds + 1/2 cup sunflower seeds...super tasty)
• 1 teaspoon honey (optional)
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• a pinch of salt (to taste)

In a food processor or blender, add in the oats, raisins, and nuts. Pulse the blades until coarse crumbs form. Turn off machine and add in honey, vanilla and salt. Blend well. 

Take out mixture and place in a bowl or into your hands. Form the mixture into a ball, using your hands. (It should look and feel like cookie dough at this point.) Press dough into a sprayed 8x8 pan. 

Cut into squares and place in a ziploc baggie. Store in the freezer or fridge.

(inspired by this girl)

As for me, I am going to go warm up with a blanket, some cookie bars, and a good book.
Stay warm, everyone!

Sarah's Best Homemade Granola Bars

Let's talk.
Granola bars.
They look yummy and they taste good too (hopefully!).
Sadly, they are often full of processed ingredients and refined sugars...since when is it okay to add in high fructose corn syrup and hydrogenated oils?!! NEVER!
Naughty, naughty, Quaker Chewy Granola Bars. They should know better.
And we should know better than to put that nasty stuff in our bodies. Ew! Ack! Guck!
Lucky for you, these granola bars are completely wholesome and 100% delicious.
Double whammy.

Homemade Granola Bars

• 2 cups oats (I like the combo of 1 cup quick oats and 1 cup whole oats)
• 2 1/2 cups puffed rice cereal
• 1/2 cup raisins 
• 1 tablespoon flax seed (optional)
• 3/4 cup honey
• 1 cup peanut butter (non-hydrogenated, all natural kind)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

In a large bowl, mix together rice cereal, oats, and raisins. 

In a smaller bowl, stir together honey and peanut butter, and heat in microwave until warm and slightly bubbly. Remove bowl from microwave and stir in vanilla, salt, and cinnamon.

Pour peanut butter mixture over dry cereal mixture. Mix well. Pour this granola mess into a sprayed 9x13 pan. Squash the granola down with your hands, as hard as you can.

Put this pan into the freezer and cool for about 30-45 minutes. Remove from freezer and cut granola into squares. Transfer to ziploc baggies and store in the freezer. By keeping them in the freezer, they will stay together easier and last longer.

peanut butter cookies 'n' cream granola bars

Is it Christmas already?

It must be...

Because why would there be a ribbon, a box, and even a note addressed to me?

Santa is real, guys.

He's got to be! Then how else would this Kitchenaid appear out of nowhere?

For me, Christmas really did come early.

A few days ago, I was went to one of my favorite restaurants (Molly's) and it was chaos. The line was long to get food, the place was packed, and there was excitement in the air.

What in the world was going on?

My friend Rachel was working and she told me that it was Molly's birthday. To celebrate they were giving out a prizes, giftbags, gift cards, and even a Kitchenaid Mixer. Just at the sound of those words: "Kitchenaid Mixer", my heart began to race. Oh if only I were lucky enough to win that.

"You want to put your name into the drawing?" Rachel asked Devin and I.

"Sure," was our reply.

We put in our names and thought little of it.

A few hours later, I received a phone call. "Is this Sarah Hinckley?" the voice said. "Yes..." I replied slowly. "You won the Kitchenaid." the voice chimed. I couldn't believe my ears. All I remember thinking was: no way, no way, no way...

There was just no way that I was that lucky.

But I was.

I blame it on fate.

Fate wanted me to win that Kitchenaid.

It's not like I have been trying to win one from every blog giveaway for months now.

Ha. Never.

Molly's wanted me to go to their restaurant so they could get a picture.

This posed a problem, since I don't own a car. Thankfully, my friend Lauren saved me.

Let's just say that this week has been amazing.

So many great things have been happening.

I will list just a few:

1. I won a Kitchenaid, duh!
2. I was asked to do makeup for a photoshoot this Saturday.
3. I am modeling in a photoshoot this Saturday...(not sure if this is a good thing or not yet).
4. Finals week is over. Bring on summer!
5. My bestest friend Katie came back from Canada for graduation and I get to see her. Yay!
6. I made peanut butter cookies 'n' cream granola bars. NOM NOM NOM.

And now I get to tell you all about these delicious granola bars...

I am so excited :D

Step 1: Buy Hershey's Cookies 'n' Creme and Milk Chocolate bars.

Step 2: Open the chocolate bars.

Step 3: Lay them on a cutting board.

Wait a sec...who ate my chocolate?!!

I swear, people these days.

Step 4: Chop up the chocolate.

Step 5: Make some peanut butter goolash.

Step 6: Stir it real good.

I mean it, real good.

Step 7: Prepare your dry stuff.

Step 8: Stir in the peanut butter goolash.

Step 9: Add in the chocolate! Woo! Party!

Step 10: Press into a pan and put in the freezer.

Granola bars in 10 simple steps. Whoever thought it could be so easy?

Peanut Butter Cookies 'n' Cream Granola Bars

• 2 1/2 cups chocolate crispy rice cereal
• 2 cups oats
• 1 cookies 'n' creme chocolate bar (1.5 oz)
• 1 milk chocolate bar (1.5 oz)
• 2/3 cup honey, melted
• 3/4 cup peanut butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

1. In a large bowl, stir together the rice cereal and oats. Set aside. Spray a 9x13 inch baking dish with oil.
2. Chop your chocolate bars. Set aside.
3. In a medium size bowl, mix together the honey and peanut butter. Heat this peanut butter mixture in the microwave for 30 seconds to one minute (just until bubbling), then remove from microwave and stir in vanilla, salt, and cinnamon. Pour over the cereal and oat mixture. Mix well.
4. Stir in the chopped chocolate.
5. Press into the prepared pan (really hard). Stick the pan into the freezer for one hour (this step is vital to how your granola bars turn out). 
6. Remove from the freezer and cut into bars.
7. Store granola bars in a gallon-size ziploc bag.

This recipe make a pretty big batch of granola bars. About 24.

So get them while you can...they won't last long.

Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Dough Larabars

I love cookie dough.

WAY more than cookies.

Okay, so I do have a chance of dying because of the salmonella it contains...

...but I am willing to take that risk.

But guess what?

This recipe contains no eggs.

So you can eat as much cookie dough as you want.

FREEDOM!

Move over salmonella, and let me eat my cookie dough.

Oatmeal raisin cookie dough is my fav.

By far.

You know what else is cool?
This cookie dough is healthy.
Gluten-free. Dairy-free. Sugar-free. Vegan.

Oh yeah, and it's super duper tasty.
And have I mentioned addicting?
That one too.

Have you ever had an obsession?
I have.
Actually, I have a lot of obsessions...and buying multiples of one type of product is just one of them.

This is similar to my collection of Larabars.
I decided that I had to buy every flavor of these gluten-free goodies.
I just couldn't live without them.
Yeah, I am weird.
Note: I did not take this picture, but it is very similar to my hodge-podge of Larabars.
Anyway, I was motivated.
Motivated to stop spending my money on these little guys and start making some of my own for WAY cheaper.
I had to start making dough in order to start saving dough, ya know? Ha.
I am so punny :)

Thanks to Chocolate-Covered Katie, my life is a lot easier.
I love her.
Haha.
But seriously.

Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Dough Larabars

• 1/2 cup raisins
• 6 tablespoons oats (gluten-free)
• 1/2 cup almonds
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 teaspoons agave (feel free to sub-in honey or maple)

1. Pulverize the oats in a food processor.
2. Add all other ingredients and blend very well. It should have the consistency of cookie dough.
3. Form into balls or bars.
4. Store in refrigerator. (They should last from 1 to 2 weeks.)

This recipe makes about 3-5 Larabars.
I recommend doubling the recipe.
Trust me, you will want to. Yes, they are that good.

COOKIE DOUGH!

Dear Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Dough Larabars,

I love you.

Please continue being delicious.

That is all.

<3 Sarah