Granola Bars

I found a recipe that I love for granola bars. It's simple and just a little bit junky to make it taste good. The original recipe called for rice krispies and oatmeal - along with some other gluten foods. I have omitted everything but the oatmeal and made a new yummy easy to manipulate recipe. If you are oatmeal free - any small cereal will work, experiment on your own.

Granola Bars
20 oz marshmallows (you can use flavored marshmallows but I didn't notice a difference)
3/4 cup Nucoa
1/4 cup honey (if using raw, cook it a little before adding marshmallows)
1/4 cup peanut butter (any nut butter works nicely - we did use sun butter but haven't tried tahini yet)
9 cups oatmeal
1 cup coconut, unsweetened (omit if you can't use coconut)
1-2 cups dried fruit or nuts
2 cups chocolate chips

In large saucepan (heavy bottom preferred) melt butter, honey, peanut butter and marshmallows. Stir often to prevent burning. Remove from heat and add oatmeal and nuts and fruit. Stir until everything is mixed together. Add chocolate chips. (Wait 10 minutes or so if you don't want the chips to melt). Scrape everything out into a jellyroll pan or cookie sheet with sides. Press to make top smooth (may need to oil hands or tools). Let cool. Cut into bars.
I love to play with this recipe and add all sorts of things.

Living Between a Rock and a Hard Plate

Last fall, my mother was diagnosed with celiac. In January, my son was diagnosed with a dairy allergy. Knowing that both run in the family, we made the hard choice to go gluten and dairy free. As if that was not enough, we found that the alternatives just about killed our food budget. This summer, my goal is to learn how to live gluten and dairy free and not let it break the bank. I welcome you to come along and feel free to share your tips for living between a rock and a hard plate.