Energy Balls

1 cup old fashioned oats

2/3 cup toasted shredded coconut (I use sweetened)

1/2 cup creamy peanut butter

1/2 cup ground flaxseed

1/2 cup craisins (or you can use chocolate chips or raisins)

1/3 cup honey

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 Tablespoon chia seeds

Stir everything together and mix well. Roll into balls and chill in refrigerator. Enjoy!

I've taken these energy balls with craisins on hiking and kayak trips and they hold up well for a few days without being refrigerated.

Carol :

Makes 18 balls (2 Tbsp each)

Each ball:
Calories: 156.6
Fiber: 3.10 gr
Protein 4.7 gr

Dave's Granola

Above granola was made with sliced almonds, sweetened
coconut & craisins

3 cups old-fashioned oats
1 cup chopped pecans (or sliced almonds)
1/2 cup unsweetened shredded coconut
      (or sweetened coconut if preferred)
3 tablespoons brown sugar
3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ginger
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup honey
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 cup assorted dried fruit
1 egg white (makes it crispy)


Preheat oven to 300 degrees
Line rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.  Mix first 7 ingredients in large bowl. Add egg white and toss thoroughly.
Stir honey and oil in saucepan over  medium-low heat until smooth.  Pour honey mixture over oat mixture; toss.  Spread on prepared sheet.
Bake until golden, stirring every 10 minutes, about 40 minutes.  Place sheet on rack. Stir granola; cool. Mix in fruit.

~Carol~

GRANOLA BARS

• 2 cups oatmeal
• 1 cup chopped pecans (or sliced almonds)
• 1 cup shredded coconut

Toss above ingredients together on cookie sheet and put in oven on 350 for 10-12 minutes or until toasted. Transfer to a bowl.

Reduce oven to 300

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• 3 Tablespoons unsalted butter
• 2/3 cup honey
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Put above ingredients in sauce pan on stove and bring to boil and stir for a minute.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Pour over oatmeal and toss in

• 1 1/2 cups of dried fruit. I used all cranberries.

Can be a combination of 1/2 cup cranberry, 1/2 cup apricot, 1/2 cup dates etc.

• I also added 1 cup chocolate chips to make it chocolate flavor . :) (optional, but It was a great addition :)

Toss all together and put in a parchment paper lined 8 x 12 baking dish. Press down.

Bake for 25-30 minutes or till brown.

Cool 2-3 hours before cutting.

This is a really tasty granola recipe that I concocted after researching other recipes.  The combination of the sweet cranberries and chocolate made it extra special.  :)

~Carol~