Category: Recipes

Breakfast, Granola, Recipes

No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Granola Bars

Sarah

These healthy, flavorful granola bars are full of that wonderful chocolate peanut butter goodness that EVERYONE knows and loves. And they can be made in ten minutes, perfect for any busy schedule… even that of a new mama. 🙂

These healthy, flavorful granola bars are full of that wonderful chocolate peanut butter goodness that EVERYONE knows and loves. And they can be made in ten minutes, perfect for any busy schedule... even that of a new mama. :)

Hi guys! Another new recipe! Who am I?!? I just had to take some of my free time to share this no bake granola bar recipe with you… because frankly, I’m obsessed with them. I’ve made two batches in just as many weeks… and eaten almost all of them myself! 🙂 You know what else I’m quickly becoming obsessed with? Babywearing! Having two hands to use during baby naps [that he prefers to take on me or on Ben] is priceless. I have a Baby K’Tan and it’s purple and fabulous. I can even cook while wearing it! Well, cooking is a bit of a stretch, but I definitely can make really easy recipes as long as they don’t involve putting something in the oven or any potential splatters from the stovetop. Paranoid, safety conscious new mom here! Probably for a good reason, but still.

These healthy, flavorful granola bars are full of that wonderful chocolate peanut butter goodness that EVERYONE knows and loves. And they can be made in ten minutes, perfect for any busy schedule... even that of a new mama. :)

Anyways, back to this deliciousness! And no, I’m not talking about this cute ONE MONTH old baby here. Though he IS delicious and adorable, huh? What do you think I should call him on the blog? Due to his privacy and not wanting to make more of an online trail for him in the future than necessary, I don’t want to share his full name here. Before he was born, we joked around that his name would be “Volde,” as in Voldemort so his current Instagram hashtag is #BabyVolde. We might stick with that, or we might adapt one of his [many] family nicknames. Most of them have to do with foxes, because we chose woodland animals as his nursery theme. Gah, I way overthink EVERYTHING. Haha.

These healthy, flavorful granola bars are full of that wonderful chocolate peanut butter goodness that EVERYONE knows and loves. And they can be made in ten minutes, perfect for any busy schedule... even that of a new mama. :)

This cutie has his eyes open more and more these days… he’s so fun! Moving on… no good transition, but I gotta get moving as naptime will be coming to a screeching halt any minute now. 🙂 These granola bars. They are no bake, amazingly delicious, and SO simple to throw together. Since I made my first batch, I’ve eaten one just about every day. Err, night. Middle of the night feedings make me hungry! Or maybe it’s just being up in the middle of the night that makes me hungry. Either way, I learned very early on in this little one’s life that I needed a healthy snack to eat in the middle of the night when I was up with the babe. Granola bars are the easy choice, right?

No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Granola Bars3

For a couple weeks I was buying [or sending Ben to buy] the more wholesome granola bars from the grocery store… but then I felt like baking. So I decided to make my own using healthy ingredients that I had on hand! Some oats, Rice Krispies cereal, nuts, honey, peanut butter, and chocolate later, these babies were born. I was a little unsure of how they would turn out using natural peanut butter as the base, but I’m happy to report that they stick together just fine if you store them in the refrigerator. Score! They do get a little melty at room temperature, but I’m sure you can eat them quickly enough to remedy that problem. I know I sure do! The classic combo of peanut butter and chocolate is one that I don’t tire of easily. Reminds me of eating candy, so much so that I have to stop myself from setting the baby down partway through a feeding to go get another granola bar. No joke. These granola bars are that good! With that in mind, it’s probably for the best they need to hang out in the fridge so they last a little longer. I bet they would freeze well too, though I haven’t tried that yet. Hope you can make these granola bars soon–you won’t regret it! Enjoy!

No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Granola Bars2

one year ago: Cherry Chipotle Chicken Salad with Cherry Lime Salsa
two years ago: Dark Chocolate Double Coconut Macaroons
three years ago: Pretzel Rolls
four years ago: Orange Glazed Chicken Stir Fry
five years ago: Strawberry Chocolate Coconut Pancakes

No Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Granola Bars

  • Servings: 16
  • Print

from It’s Just Laine

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup peanut butter – I used natural creamy
  • 3/4 cup honey – I used mostly honey but a little maple syrup because I ran out
  • 3 tablespoons coconut oil
  • 2 tablespoons cocoa powder [dark chocolate if you have it]
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 cups old fashioned oats
  • 2 cups Rice Krispies cereal
  • up to 2 cups of mix-ins–I’ve been using the following:
    • 1/2 cup peanuts
    • 1/2 cup Reese’s chips
    • 1/4 cup chocolate chips

Directions:

Grease a 9×13 pan with cooking spray and set aside.

In a small saucepan, melt together peanut butter, honey, coconut oil, and cocoa powder over low heat. No need to boil, just heat until melted together. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla. This step can also be done in the microwave if desired–just mix in a bowl and heat on 50% power until melted. For me, this was about 45 seconds.

In a large mixing bowl, stir together oats and Rice Krispies. Pour peanut butter mixture on top and stir to combine. Fold in mix-ins, then transfer to prepared pan. Use a sheet of wax paper or a spatula to press down and flatten. Cover and refrigerate at least an hour, or up to overnight to set.

After bars have set, cut as desired. Store in the refrigerator or freezer, especially during warm/humid months.

 

Main Dishes, Recipes, Seafood and Fish

Baked Tilapia with Coconut-Cilantro Sauce #bookclubcookbookCC

Sarah

An easy baked tilapia dish jazzed up with a creamy, dreamy green sauce… this simple meal is fresh and flavorful, perfect for summer!

An easy baked tilapia dish jazzed up with a creamy, dreamy green sauce... this simple meal is fresh and flavorful, perfect for summer! #bookclubcookbookCC

Once upon a time, when I was a senior in high school, I took AP English. English classes at my high school were awesome–I had the best teachers, and we got to read some wonderful novels over the years. I realize I sound like a complete goody two shoes with those two statements, and let’s face it–I probably was. For one project in AP English [which was totally worth it, btw since I tested out of the two required English courses in college due to acing the AP exam], we had to read a classic novel independently and do a book report/presentation about it to the class. The details are a bit hazy since this was circa 2002, but I remember taking the official list of our book choices to Borders [rest in peace] and walking around reading the backs of zillions of books to make THE choice. This was important stuff, guys!! And it was before my infatuation with libraries. In those days, I could spend hours in a bookstore, especially my beloved Borders next to my favorite Panera. Good times!

An easy baked tilapia dish jazzed up with a creamy, dreamy green sauce... this simple meal is fresh and flavorful, perfect for summer! #bookclubcookbookCC

Anyways, after perusing my options, I settled on Love in the Time of Cholera by Colombian author Gabriel García Márquez. I had two main reasons for my choice: first, it was originally published the year I was born, and two, I liked the cover. Great reasons, huh? These great reasons backfired on me–I hated the book. Not that you came to my blog to read about literary elements or theory, but one of the techniques used in this novel is magical realism–magic alongside everyday events. And if you know me, you know that I’m as realistic as they come. I don’t really like tv or movies with any fantasy elements, and that is how I saw this book. So now you know my feelings on Love in the Time of Cholera…which happens to be the May book choice for #bookclubcookbookCC, hosted by Danielle of Mostly Food and Crafts and Wendy of A Day in the Life on the Farm. Yes, I am a little late, but I have a four week old baby so that’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it! 🙂

An easy baked tilapia dish jazzed up with a creamy, dreamy green sauce... this simple meal is fresh and flavorful, perfect for summer! #bookclubcookbookCC

Love in the Time of Cholera is set in the Caribbean, possibly Colombia, but if I remember correctly, it’s a little ambiguous. And what’s more Caribbean or coastal than a good fish dish? This baked tilapia is jazzed up with a creamy, dreamy coconut-cilantro sauce! It is a snap to put together, so it’s great even for busy new parents to make. [That’s me!] All you do is combine a few tasty ingredients in the blender or food processor and whirl away. The oven does the rest of the work. Love it! This fresh sauce is the perfect blend of tropical flavors with a wee bit of spice. How delightful! I’m sure we will make it over and over again this summer. Hope you love this dish as much as we did… and if you do happen to love the novel this recipe is inspired by, well, then please accept my apologies that I did not. 🙂 Maybe if I read it as an adult I’d have a different opinion, but alas… have a great day, friends!

one year ago: Southwestern Cilantro Mac & Cheese
two years ago: Black Bean and Rice Soup
three years ago: Blueberry Burgers
four years ago: Parmesan Garlic Rolls
five years ago: Lemony Kale Pasta

Baked Tilapia with Coconut-Cilantro Sauce

  • Servings: 4
  • Print

from Food Network

Ingredients:

  • 4 tilapia fillets, about 6 ounces each
  • 1/2 cup canned coconut milk [light or full fat, your choice]
  • 1/2 cup fresh cilantro, plus additional for garnish
  • 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
  • 1/2 teaspoon garam masala
  • 2 cloves garlic, sliced
  • 1/2 jalapeno, chopped – deseed as desired
  • 3 cups cooked brown rice, for serving

Directions:

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Grease a 9×13 inch pan with cooking spray, then place tilapia in the pan. Season with salt and pepper as desired.

In a blender or food processor, combine coconut milk, cilantro, ginger, garam masala, garlic, and jalapeno. Pulse until smooth. Pour sauce over fish, then bake about 15 minutes until tilapia is cooked through–it should be opaque in the center. Serve over rice.

Breakfast, Muffins, Recipes

SRC: Honey Banana Muffins

Sarah

Lightly sweetened banana muffins… these muffins are a simple, wholesome treat you will want to make again and again! If you love the taste of honey in baked goods, these muffins are for you!

Lightly sweetened banana muffins... these muffins are a simple, wholesome treat you will want to make again and again! If you love the taste of honey in baked goods, these muffins are for you! via thepajamachef.com #secretrecipeclub

Happy Secret Recipe Club Monday! I’m comin’ atcha from April, because who knows when this baby is going to come! Or if he has already, or if he is coming now, or what. 🙂 But I wanted to make sure I got my recipe in this month so here ya go, friends! This month for SRC, I was assigned to Rafeeda’s lovely blog, The Big Sweet Tooth. Rafeeda has so many amazing Indian recipes on her blog that she makes for her family [a husband and two kiddos]!

It almost seemed a shame to make something as basic as muffins, but it seems like Rafeeda likes banana treats quite a bit because I counted a good 8 or 9 banana muffins/breads/loaf cakes on her blog. I love banana-based muffins a lot so it sounded like a good idea, especially during a busy time in life. But I definitely have bookmarked some other recipes like Varutharacha Urulakizhangu Curry – Potato Curry in Roasted Coconut Masala,Koshari – Lentils and Rice with Tomato Sauce, Channa Masala – Chickpeas Curry in Coconut Milk, and Dark Chocolate Orange Cake with Orange Glaze to try later. Mmm!

But in the meantime, I’m not complaining about making these honey banana muffins. They are SO good! They’re super light and simple, but so flavorful. As I was baking them, I realized there wasn’t any real fat in the recipe – no butter, oil, or eggs… just banana, baking soda, and baking powder for leavening and brown sugar, cinnamon, and honey for flavor [plus bananas! duh!]. I used white whole wheat flour as the base, but you could use all-purpose or even whole wheat flour if you prefer.

Lightly sweetened banana muffins... these muffins are a simple, wholesome treat you will want to make again and again! If you love the taste of honey in baked goods, these muffins are for you! via thepajamachef.com #secretrecipeclub

The original recipe didn’t call for any mix-ins but I wanted to spice up a few, so I added some cinnamon chips to some and some mini chocolate chips to others. You can add anything you want, or nothing at all… they are great either way! You could also make these muffins as bread, but as you know, we prefer muffins over quick bread so I hope Rafeeda doesn’t mind the liberties I’ve taken with her recipe. 🙂 I think this is one I’ll be coming back to over the summer as the baking urge strikes when I’m busy with the baby! These muffins are healthy, easy, and delicious. What more do you need? Thanks, Rafeeda! Enjoy, everyone!

one year ago: Chicken Mozzarella Pasta with Sundried Tomatoes
two years ago: Chocolate Baked Oatmeal
three years ago: Club Soda Waffles
four years ago: Cilantro-Lime Vinaigrette 
five years ago: Salsas for Cinco de Mayo

Honey Banana Muffins

  • Servings: 18
  • Print

from The Big Sweet Tooth

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups white whole wheat flour [or all-purpose flour]
  • 1/3 cup light brown sugar
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
  • 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/3 cup honey
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 cup bananas, mashed – about 3 large bananas
  • any desired mix-ins: chocolate chips, cinnamon chips, coconut, granola, etc.

Directions:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Line muffin tins with paper liners or grease well.

In a medium bowl, stir together flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon. In a small bowl, whisk together honey and milk. Add mashed bananas and stir until combined. Pour wet ingredients into the dry ones, and fold together until just incorporated.

Divide batter between muffin cups, then add mix-ins to individual muffins as desired.

Bake for 20-22 minutes, until tops are golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool completely before storing in an air-tight container at room temperature for 3 days. After that, freeze for best results.

Note:

Original recipe was for honey banana bread–use a large loaf pan and bake for about 45-50 minutes.

Please check out other SRC recipes at the link below:

Recipes

Menu Plan

Sarah

Good morning, friends! Hope your weekend has been absolutely lovely! It is definitely feeling like summertime in Nashville lately… and I’m now officially on maternity leave [as is Ben–errr, paternity leave–woohoo!]. So we’re just waiting on baby to come. I’ll probably share the news and a photo on Instagram or Facebook first, so be sure to follow me for baby news. 🙂 In the meantime, scroll down for lots of yummy meal ideas. My contribution was my Asian Turkey Meatballs. Served over carrot rice with lots of fresh herbs, Ben and I eat this for dinner at least once a month. They are so good! If you haven’t tried them, you’re missing out. 🙂 Have a great week, friends!

Weekly Meal Plan - lots of great eats for the week ahead via thepajamachef.com and other great bloggers!

Monday

One Pot Mexican Rice Casserole - The Cooking Actress

Tuesday

Mushroom Quinoa Soup - Pies and Plots

Wednesday

Smoky Chipotle Quinoa Burgers - The Spiffy Cookie

Thursday

Raspberry Grilled Chicken Salad with Candied Cayenne Almonds - Foodtastic Mom

Friday

  • DAY OFF – Go out to eat or order in!

Saturday

Asian Turkey Meatballs with Carrot Rice - The Pajama Chef

Sunday

Hunt's Classic Skillet Lasagna - Big Bear's Wife

Side Dish

Roasted Garlic Parmesan Tater Tots - The Cooking Actress

Dessert

Flourless Triple Peanut Butter Cookies - Pies and Plots

This week’s meal plan was brought you to by:

The Cooking Actress | Pies and Plots | The Spiffy Cookie |

Foodtastic Mom | The Pajama Chef | Big Bear’s Wife

Pin this to your meal planning board for easy access all week long!

Weekly Meal Plan - lots of great eats for the week ahead via thepajamachef.com and other great bloggers! Weekly Meal Plan - lots of great eats for the week ahead via thepajamachef.com and other great bloggers!

 

Desserts, Other, Recipes

Chocolate Peanut Butter Oreo Dream

Sarah

Like chocolate? Peanut butter? Oreos? Cool whip? Who doesn’t?!? This Chocolate Peanut Butter Oreo Dream is a celebration of all things delicious! Better gather some friends to share, because this is one dreamy dessert you won’t be able to eat all on your own. 🙂

Like chocolate? Peanut butter? Oreos? Cool whip? Who doesn't?!? This Chocolate Peanut Butter Oreo Dream is a celebration of all things delicious! Better gather some friends to share, because this is one dessert you won't be able to eat all on your own. :)

Hey everyone! It’s my birthday! Woohoo! And to celebrate, I made you an awesome dessert that you should definitely try ASAP! I know the stereotypes with pregnant women are that we love our dessert or our salty snacks or whatever the craving of the moment is… but truthfully I have a hard time relating to that. I don’t feel like my eating habits have changed all that much during pregnancy, and think my husband would agree. Yes, maybe I’ve been a little more open to the idea of [almost weekly] trips to Dunkin’ Donuts after church for coffee and a doughnut… and I think I’ve wanted to eat burgers a little more than usual, but overall, things have been pretty normal on the food front. I have wanted to try to continue to eat healthy, wholesome food for our little guy. 🙂 And hopefully to influence his tastebuds to be open to our normal eating habits. Unless allergies are an issue, I have no plans to become a short order cook or suddenly start buying lots of kid-friendly food because that’s “easier.” Seasoned parents might be laughing a little now, but I figure that this way of thinking was probably the norm for many, many centuries and it’s only in the past 100 years [or less!] that things like this have been an issue. I remember my grandpa always telling me a story of his love for ketchup as a kid in the 1920s or 30s… one time he got in trouble for indulging on ketchup and his dad made him eat like the whole bottle or something. So anyways, I’m not sure how to transition from ketchup to this wonderful Chocolate Peanut Butter Oreo Dream but let’s go!

Like chocolate? Peanut butter? Oreos? Cool whip? Who doesn't?!? This Chocolate Peanut Butter Oreo Dream is a celebration of all things delicious! Better gather some friends to share, because this is one dessert you won't be able to eat all on your own. :)

I’ve always been a huge fan of chocolate and peanut butter together so when I saw the recipe for this layered pudding pie, I was smitten. Let’s explore all those layers of deliciousness, shall we? I have to admit my layers didn’t quite set as well as I would have liked [I’ll explain why in a bit] but each bite still had all the yummy elements so no one complained. 🙂 First, we start with an Oreo crust. Mhmm, just like you think. I believe you can buy premade Oreo crusts but it was pretty simple to make one with crushed Oreos and melted butter [I even used the generic Oreso but you do you!]. Next was my favorite layer–the peanut butter cream cheese mixture. Ohh yes, creamy peanut butter whipped with cream cheese, Cool Whip, and powdered sugar [not that this pie needed any more sugar, but it’s a treat so that’s okay!]. On top of that was a layer of chocolate pudding. I used a box mix for ease but homemade would be even better I’m sure. Finally, we have straight up Cool Whip and a candy topping. I used Reese’s because, duh, but the original recipe called for Butterfinger which is also great. Nut lovers might choose Snickers… or dark chocolate chunks? Anything goes here, my friends! Each layer would be a dessert in and of itself, but together it’s like dessert on steroids! Can you tell how much I love this pie??!

Like chocolate? Peanut butter? Oreos? Cool whip? Who doesn't?!? This Chocolate Peanut Butter Oreo Dream is a celebration of all things delicious! Better gather some friends to share, because this is one dessert you won't be able to eat all on your own. :)

Part of the reason I think my layers didn’t quite stay separate as much as I would have liked was that the original recipe called for making this dessert in a 9×13 inch pan, not two pie pans like I did. I think my brother in law summed it up pretty well when he said that he couldn’t quite visualize a 9×13 inch pan of this dessert. He’s a smart guy, so I’ll just leave it at that. Ha!

Like chocolate? Peanut butter? Oreos? Cool whip? Who doesn't?!? This Chocolate Peanut Butter Oreo Dream is a celebration of all things delicious! Better gather some friends to share, because this is one dessert you won't be able to eat all on your own. :)

I actually decided to divide the recipe into two pies because I wanted to eat some pretty much the second I saw the recipe in March but also wanted to save some for my family’s [then upcoming] visit for my baby shower in early April. And I didn’t think Ben and I could eat a 9×13 pan of this stuff on our own…so I made two pies and froze one, with great results. 🙂 The layers didn’t separate very well because the pie pans were slightly different sizes and I didn’t do a great job dividing the mixture accordingly, so I had to improvise a bit on the smaller one pictured above. Regardless, this dessert is the absolute DREAM of anyone who loves peanut butter and chocolate… and it’s a guaranteed hit! I don’t have any left for my birthday today [cue the tears] but it’s definitely worth making for a birthday or other special occasion… like a Wednesday night. 🙂 Enjoy!

one year ago: Spicy Chickpea Bacon Burgers
two years ago: Easy Homemade New York Bagels
three years ago: Banana Chocolate Chip Cake with Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting
four years ago: Royal Berry Coffee Cake
five years ago: Oreo Truffles

Chocolate Peanut Butter Oreo Dream

  • Servings: 12+
  • Print

from Seeded at the Table

Ingredients:

  • 1 package Oreo cookies [14.3 ounces]
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
  • 3/4 cup creamy peanut butter [I used Peter Pan Natural]
  • 1 cup powdered sugar
  • 8 ounces 1/3 less fat cream cheese, softened
  • 16 ounces Cool Whip, softened and divided
  • 1 large package instant chocolate pudding mix [5.9 ounces]
  • 2 cups milk
  • 8 mini [or 4 regular] Reese’s, chopped OR 2 regular Butterfinger candy bars, chopped

Directions:

Grease a 9×13 inch pan OR two 8-10 inch pie pans with cooking spray.

Crush Oreos into fine crumbs [I used my food processor], then stir in melted butter. Press into prepared pan, on the bottom of the 9×13 inch pan or along the bottom and sides of the pie pans.

Next, with an electric mixer, blend together peanut butter, powdered sugar, and cream cheese until smooth. Fold in half of the Cool Whip.

In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together pudding mix and milk [this will be less milk than the package calls for] and let rest for 2-3 minutes to set.

Meanwhile, spread peanut butter mixture on top of Oreo crust. When the pudding has firmed up a bit, spread evenly on top of peanut butter mixture. Top with remaining Cool Whip, then sprinkle with candy. Cover gently and refrigerate for at least 1 hour to set.

This dessert is best the day it is made, but will keep in the fridge for up to a week. You can also freeze it and defrost in the refrigerator for about 24 hours before serving. It tastes as good as new, though the layers don’t look as pretty. Enjoy!