The Hamel Happy Hour

Sunday, November 18, 2012

Holy Granoly!

These granola bars are soft and chewy and the recipe offers a good base to try out different flavors.

Oatmeal Breakfast Bars Recipe

Here is the original recipe from Taste of Home.

Ingredients

  • 4 cups quick-cooking oats
  • 1 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1-1/2 cups chopped walnuts 
  • 1 cup flaked coconut
  • 3/4 cup butter, melted
  • 3/4 cup orange marmalade

Directions

  • In a large bowl, combine the oats, brown sugar and salt. Stir in remaining ingredients. Press into a greased 15-in. x 10-in. x 1-in. baking pan. Bake at 425° for 15-17 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack. Yield: about 2-1/2 dozen.
Nutritional Facts1 serving (1 each) equals 182 calories, 10 g fat (4 g saturated fat), 12 mg cholesterol, 141 mg sodium, 22 g carbohydrate, 1 g fiber, 3 g protein.
Originally published as Oatmeal Breakfast Bars in Quick Cooking January/February 2002, p15



Here are some of things we've tried to mix it up a little.

3/4ths cup of dried cranberries and a little cinnamon for a Christmas-y flavor.

Peanuts instead of walnuts, raspberry jam instead of marmalade and a healthy dose of mini chocolate chips.  

Here is what we will try next.

Apple chunks, honey, and cinnamon.

Dried blueberries, and maple syrup.

Dried blueberries and lemon curd.

Apricot and butterscotch.

If they come out too hard for your tastes, all is not lost...just crumble it and you've got yourself some tasty regular granola.


Wednesday, November 7, 2012

The 2nd Best Dip Ever.

Since I know some of you are crazy people who haven't set up Pinterest, I have taken it upon myself to share with you the 2nd* best dip I've ever had.



Ingredients:
1 8oz. brick of cream cheese
1 can of Ro-Tel tomatoes and chiles
1 can of canned white corn
Salt, pepper, and chili powder, to taste

If you like it spicy add half a serrano chile finely diced.

I made made mine on the stove.  Turn your burner to low and then add the cream cheese to a medium sauce pot.  While the cream cheese is melting drain both the corn and Ro-Tel and add on top, give it a good stir and then add your seasonings. Stir well and you're done.    Serve with Frito's Scoops**

* The actual best dip is Sausage Dip and I only get it once a year at Christmas.

** Unless you live in Germany, where the Commissary only sells Tostitos.

I'm thinking about adding some sausage and then serving it on a baked potato.  Or having the dip be my omelette filling.