Oats-Almond Breakfast bars (Eggless)

Honestly,breakfast is not a issue for me...I have a good breakfast of a 'non sugary' cereal and add almonds and frozen blueberries to it.Love it! Feels like a good way to start the day!
The issue is however, those 3-4 o' clock hunger pangs. I usually try to eat a fruit at that time, but often still feel hungry by the time I come home...especially with the 1 hour commute that I have.

I have experimented with several homemade versions of cereal/bars before and here is the link to those recipes:
http://www.my-kitchens-aroma.blogspot.com/search/label/Homemade%20Cereal%20bars

For larabars:
http://www.my-kitchens-aroma.blogspot.com/2014/02/larabar-like-healthy-chocolate-bars.html

This Oats-Almond bar ....is easier, is eggless, has no added fats and can be rolled out as cookies too!! Just roll into round balls, press them and bake!

Here goes the recipe-

Ingredients: Makes 12-15 bars
2 cups Quick Oats dry roasted
2 cups Almonds
1 Cup light brown sugar
1/3 cup dark chocolate cocoa powder
1/4 cup milk
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4tsp salt
Few sliced almonds

Method:
Pre heat the oven to 350F. Spray a 9x9 metal pan with cooking spray (make sure to grease really well...otherwise the bars stick to the pan as there is no added fat in the dough)

1) Dry roast the oats and when cooled, powder them.
2) Put the almonds in the blender and powder them. Blend them couple times more..till they start giving out the natural oils and start to come together
3) Mix together the oat powder, almond powder, dark cocoa powder,baking powder, salt and vanilla. Mix with hands.Add little milk at a time to mix and gently knead into a dough.

4) Press this mixture into the greased baking pan. Press the sliced almonds on top.
5) Cut into rectangular bars
6) Bake at 350 F for 15 mins. Turn off the oven. Take the pan out.Let them cool for 10 mins.Cut again on the lines.Put the pan back in the oven (which is turned OFF) .The slight heat of the cooling oven will help them crisp a little. Keep them in for 10 mins. Take out the pan.Cut on the lines and remove the bars gently.

( I did have a couple bars break a little....but the crumbs were delicious too :))

You will love these nutty,chocolaty but still nutritious bars any time of the day!!!

Homemade 'Oats and Nuts' Granola/ Cereal

So when my favorite cereal (Quaker Life), which I thought wasn't too 'Sugary' and was 'Multigrain', got a 'C' rating on Fooducate (a cool App to scan groceries and know what's really in them), because  of being 'highly processed', has 'low fiber' and has the additive- Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT)...I decided to make my own blend of Granola/Cereal...with all the goodness..free of additives...low in fat and sugar... to 'Start the day with the Right Bite"!!

What I added...And Why???

Oats: 100% Whole Grain
Puffed Rice: For crunch(has low calories per serving)
Almonds: Mono unsaturated fats, protein
Pistachio: Oleic acid, vitamins and minerals, lowest fat nut
Wheat bran: Fiber
Flax meal:Antioxidants, minerals, fiber
Chia seeds:Omega 3 fatty acids
Olive oil- unsaturated fats, crisp up the cereal
Light brown Sugar and honey- Sweetness
Cinnamon: highest anti oxidant strength,helps lower 'bad' cholesterol
Dried cranberries: Sweet-tart flavor, Vitamin C

Ingredients:
This granola won't be as 'Crunchy' as the store bought one....well.....because it isn't loaded on sugars and fats!!

3 Cups Quick cooking oats/ you can use whole oats too (any 100% whole grain oats)
1Cup Puffed Rice (puffed brown rice would be great!!)
1/2 Cup chopped Almonds
1/2 cup chopped Pistachio
1/2 cup Light brown sugar
1/4 cup dried cranberries
2tbsp Unprocessed Wheat bran
2tbsp Flax meal
1tbsp Honey
2tsp Chia seeds
2tsp olive oil
1tsp cinnamon
1/2tsp salt
Canola oil Cooking spray

Method:
Preheat oven to 300F
1) Mix the oil, sugar,salt, cinnamon and honey.
2) Add rest of the ingredients except the cranberries
3) Spray a cookie sheet with cooking spray.Spread the cereal mix on the sheet and spray it with cooking spray.
4) Bake the cereal for 60-70 mins until toasted, mixing and turning it every 15 mins. The nuts should turn slightly toasted.DO NOT LET IT BURN!!
5) After cooling, mix the dried cranberries and store in a container.

Start your day with a spoon full of "Goodness"!! 

"Nutritious and Delicious"- High Fiber Cereal bars with Oats, Wheat bran and Almonds

Instead of the 'Wheat germ' that I buy for the cereal bars, I accidentally picked a pack of 'Wheat Bran" the other day at the grocery store. And the next day... we had "High Fiber" homemade cereal bars!!
Wheat bran is one of those "super good for you foods". Here are few nutrition facts about wheat bran:
http://www.ehow.com/facts_5497557_wheat-bran-nutrition.html
In short...a cup of wheat bran gives almost the daily needed fiber!!! In addition to that it has many more benefits...high in protein, low saturated fat etc etc
Along with wheat bran there are whole grain oats ,almonds, flax seed meal...all the 'Good for you' stuff that go in the bar! You have to try these!!

Ingredients:

1 and 1/2 cup Whole grain Quick Oats

1 cup Unprocessed wheat bran

1/4 cup Flax Seed meal

1/4 cup Almonds

1/8 cup White chocolate chips

3/4 to 1 cup Light Brown sugar (add more for sweeter bars)

1 tbsp Honey

1 Egg

1tsp Vanilla

1/4tsp Cinnamon

1tbsp Canola Oil

1 tbsp All purpose flour

1/4tsp salt 

 

Method:

1) Preheat oven to 350F. Spread the oats and almonds on a cookie sheet and warm in the oven for 8-10 mins...until slightly toasted. Don't let the almonds or oats burn.Take out sooner if needed!!!  OR Toast the oats in microwave oven for 3 mins and the almonds for 50-60 sec.

Now Reduce temperature to 325F. Coat a 8*11 inch pan or 9* 9 inch pan with aluminum foil.Spray with nonstick cooking spray.
2) Beat the egg.Mix oil, sugar and all of the above ingredients, stir well.

3) Press the mixture in the coated pan.

4) Bake at 325F for 15- 20 mins ....till slightly golden brown. Do not let them burn.Take out sooner if needed!
5)Let them cool  a bit and then cut onto bars with a oiled sharp knife

6) Store in airtight container.Makes 12 bars.

 Delicious, High fiber healthy bars for your breakfast/ snack from your own oven!!!

"Nutritious and Delicious" - Almond Lover's Homemade Cereal Bar

Love Almonds??? Love Cereal Bars??? Yes, you have arrived at the right recipe!!! I have been trying to make cereal bars at home and love trying out variations in the ingredients. This time I decided to go ...ALL Almondy!!

It has...Sliced Almonds, Almond meal and of course Almond Butter!!

Nuts about Almonds????? Well...you should be!!
Almonds are regarded as one of the healthiest nuts. They are rich in Manganese, Vitamin E and many other nutrients. Here is more information on the health facts about almonds:
http://www.whfoods.com/genpage.php?tname=foodspice&dbid=20

Ingredients:

1 Cup Whole Grain Oats
1/2 cup Brown Rice puffs
1/2 cup Almonds sliced
1/4 cup Almond meal(almonds ground into powder)
1/3  cup Almond Butter
1/4 cup Wheat germ
1/2 Cup Brown Sugar
Handful of Raisins
1 tsp Vanilla
Honey for drizzling(optional)
1/4tsp salt
1 tbsp oil
2 tbsp water

Method:
1) Toast the oats and sliced almonds at 325 F for 5-10 mins or toast in the microwave for 2-3 mins.The oats should be light brown and the almonds should be crunchy.
2) Heat brown sugar and water in a pan slightly till sugar melts.Add almond butter and stir.
3) Mix the toasted oats, brown rice puffs,almond meal,wheat germ,raisins, almonds,salt,vanilla,oil etc. Pour the sugar and almond butter mixture.Mix together.
4) Line a 9*13 inch pan with aluminum foil.Spray the foil with non stick spray.Preheat oven to 325F.
5) Press the mixture into the pan.Bake at 325 F for 15-20 mins.
6) Drizzle the bars with honey ( for sweeter taste) and if they haven't bound well.
7) Cut into bars.Makes 12 bars.Store in airtight container.