Homemade No Bake Granola Bars

I got this recipe while participating in an 8 week weight loss challenge of which I lost by 1% to my friend Jessica Harvey. We absolutely love these and especially how healthy they are.

2 C Oats
1 ½ C Unsweetened Coconut (bulk section at Good Earth or Winco)
½ C Uncooked, multigrain hot cereal (bulk section)
1 ½ C nuts and seeds (whatever you have on hand i.e. almonds, cashews, pecans, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, flax seeds, sunflower seeds, Chia Seeds)
1 ½ C dried fruit and/or chocolate chips (I used sugar-free chocolate)
¾ C honey or agave
1 ¼ C Peanut Butter and /or almond butter
Cinnamon and vanilla to taste (optional)

Mix it all together and press into a 9x13 pan and refrigerate.

Courtesy of: Mackenzi Smith

Spiced Pumpkin Seeds

1 1/2 tbls margarine or butter, melted
1/2 tsp salt
1/8 tsp garlic salt
2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
2 C raw whole pumpkin seeds

Preheat oven to 275 degrees
Combine the margarine, salt, garlic salt, Worcestershire sauce and pumkin seeds.
Bake for 1 hour, stirring occasionally.

Popsicles

2 cups boiling water
1 cup sugar
1 (3 oz) pkg Jello
1 pkg Kool-aid
2 cups Cold water

Dissolve sugar, jello and kool-aid in boiling water. Add cold water. Pour into Dixie cups, cover with plastic wrap and poke sticks through plastic wrap. Freeze.

Courtesy of Linda Hoffman

Soft Caramel Corn

Yields 10 quarts

Ingredients
3 (3.5 ounce) packages microwave popcorn, popped
2 1/4 cups packed brown sugar
1 cup corn syrup
1 cup butter
1 (5 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk

Directions
Place the popcorn in a large bowl. Shake and toss the bowl to make the unpopped kernels go to the bottom; discard.

In a sauce pan over medium-high heat, cook the brown sugar, corn syrup, and butter, stirring constantly. Heat to 270 to 290 degrees F (132 to 143 degrees C), or until a small amount of syrup dropped into cold water forms hard but pliable threads. Remove from the heat, and carefully pour in the can of condensed milk; stir until smooth.

Pour 1/4 of the caramel at a time over the popcorn, stirring until all of the popcorn is covered. Cool at least 10 minutes before serving.

Courtsey of: http://allrecipes.com/recipe/soft-caramel-corn/detail.aspx

Chex® Barbecue Snack Mix

Ingredients

3 cups Rice Chex® cereal
3 cups Corn Chex® cereal
1 1/2 cups bite-size pretzel twists
1 1/2 cups bite-size cheese crackers
3/4 cup honey-roasted peanuts
1/2 cup barbecue sauce
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
3/4 teaspoon onion powder
3/4 teaspoon garlic powder

Directions

1. In large microwavable bowl, mix cereals, pretzels, crackers and peanuts.
2. In medium bowl, mix remaining ingredients until well blended. Pour over cereal mixture, stirring until evenly coated.
3. Microwave uncovered on High 7 minutes, stirring every 2 minutes. Spread on foil or paper towels to cool. Store in airtight container.

Courtesy of http://www.chex.com/recipes/RecipeView.aspx?RecipeId=33771&CategoryId=340

Muddy Buddies

Ingredients
9 cups Rice Chex®, Corn Chex® or Chocolate Chex® cereal (or combination)
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar

Directions

1. Into large bowl, measure cereal; set aside.
2. In 1-quart microwavable bowl, microwave chocolate chips, peanut butter and butter uncovered on High 1 minute; stir. Microwave about 30 seconds longer or until mixture can be stirred smooth. Stir in vanilla. Pour mixture over cereal, stirring until evenly coated. Pour into 2-gallon resealable food-storage plastic bag.
3. Add powdered sugar. Seal bag; shake until well coated. Spread on waxed paper to cool. Store in airtight container in refrigerator.

Courtesy of http://www.chex.com/recipes/RecipeView.aspx?RecipeId=45860&CategoryId=342

The Original Chex® Party Mix

3 cups Corn Chex® cereal
3 cups Rice Chex® cereal
3 cups Wheat Chex® cereal
1 cup mixed nuts
1 cup bite-size pretzels
1 cup garlic-flavor bite-size bagel chips or regular-size bagel chips, broken into 1-inch pieces
6 tablespoons butter or margarine
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 1/2 teaspoons seasoned salt
3/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon onion powder

Directions
1. In large microwavable bowl, mix cereals, nuts, pretzels and bagel chips; set aside. In small microwavable bowl, microwave butter uncovered on High about 40 seconds or until melted. Stir in seasonings. Pour over cereal mixture; stir until evenly coated.
2. Microwave uncovered on High 5 to 6 minutes, thoroughly stirring every 2 minutes. Spread on paper towels to cool. Store in airtight container.
Oven Directions Heat oven to 250°F. In large bowl, mix cereals, nuts, pretzels and bagel chips; set aside. In ungreased large roasting pan, melt butter in oven. Stir in seasonings. Gradually stir in cereal mixture until evenly coated. Bake 1 hour, stirring every 15 minutes. Spread on paper towels to cool, about 15 minutes. Store in airtight container.

Courtesy of http://www.chex.com/recipes/RecipeView.aspx?RecipeId=6709&CategoryId=343

Marshmallow Carmel Popcorn

1 bag micorwave popcorn - prepare according to directions OR
1/2 cup unpopped corn - pop in popcorn maker

Melt on Stove and poru over popcorn:
2 C. mini marshmallows (or 18-20 large)
1 C brown sugar
1 C butter
Use rubber scraper to stir the caramel and popcorn together.

Courtesy of Jamie Ward

CARMEL POPCORN

This made a ton, 3 large mixing bowls full.

Pop 12 quarts popcorn (about 1 1/2 cups unpopped corn or 4 bags microwave)

TO PREPARE CARMEL, COMBINE:
1 can sweetened condensed milk
1 cup corn syrup
1 lb brown sugar
1 stick butter
COOK TO SOFT BALL STAGE OVER MEDIUM HEAT.

1. Pour Carmel over popped popcorn. and mix well.
2. You can bake in oven on 225 for 3-4 minutes minute to dry Carmel if desired. It is very gooey

Courtesy of Kim Matthews