The Rock Wall

We took the boys to the rock wall for FHE tonight.  James was doing really well until his last climb.  Something about it freaked him out and he cried the next 20 minutes.  Sam at one point climbed on a ledge he wouldn't get off and I had to go up and bribe him to come down.  It may be awhile before we try that again! The pictures are grainy, I was using my cell phone.

3 Musketeers Recipe

3 cups sugar

3/4 cup light corn syrup

3/4 cup water

1/8 tsp salt

3 egg whites

1/3 cup semisweet chocolate chips

2 (12 oz) bags milk chocolate chips

1.  In a large saucepan over medium heat, combine the sugar, corn syrup, water, and salt.

2.  Heat, stirring, to boiling, then continue to cook using a candy thermometer to monitor the temperature.

3.  Beat the egg whites until they are stiff and form peaks.  Don't use a plastic bowl for this.  

4.  When the sugar solution comes to 270 F (soft crack stage), remove from the heat and pour the mixture in thin streams into the egg whites, blending completely with a mixer set on low speed.  Continue to mix until the candy begins to harden to the consistency of dough.  This may take as long as 20 minutes.

5.  At this point, add the semisweet chocolate chips.  The candy must already be at the consistency of dough when you add the chocolate; the nougat will thicken no more after the chocolate is added.

6.  When the chocolate is thoroughly blended and the nougat has thickened, press it into a greased 9x9 pan.

7.  Refrigerate until firm, about 30 minutes.

8.  With a sharp knife, cut the candy in half down the middle of the pan.  Then cut across into 7 segments to create a total of 14 bars.  Or cut into squares if you would like mini chocolates.

9.  Melt the milk chocolate chips in a double boiler or microwave, whichever method you prefer.

10.  Dip each bar into chocolate to coat completely and place on parchment paper.

11.  Cool until firm.  I did this in the refrigerator.

12.  Enjoy.

Peanut Butter Granola Bars

In my never ending quest to make things from scratch that are healthy for Sam to have in his lunches, I went on the search for a good granola bar recipe.  I started with a basic recipe off of the food network site and then altered to Sam's unique needs.

Peanut Butter Granola Bars

2 cups old-fashioned oats

1/2 cup wheat germ

1/2 cup farina

1 cup peanuts

1/2 cup freeze dried bananas, ground into powder

3 T unsalted butter

2/3 cup agave nectar

1/3 cup peanut butter

1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed

1/4 t salt

1.  Preheat oven to 350 F.  Toast oats in the oven on a baking sheet for 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned.  Transfer to a large mixing bowl and add wheat germ, farina, peanuts, and bananas.

2.  Reduce oven temp to 300 F.  Line a 9x13 pan with foil or parchment paper and spray with spray oil.

3.  Place butter, honey, brown sugar, peanut butter, vanilla and salt in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat.  Cook and stir for a minute, then pour over the oatmeal mixture.  Stir well.

4.  Pour the mixture into the prepared pan.  Press the mixture evenly into the pan.  Bake for 25 minutes, until light golden brown.  Cool for at least 2-3 hours before cutting into squares.  

5.  Enjoy!

Mixture before I put it into pan.

Mixture in the pan before baking.

Finished product!

This recipe would be so easy to adjust to your needs.  Change the grains.  I used what I had on hand.  Add chocolate chips.  Change your nuts.  Add dried fruits like raisins, cranberries or apricots.  Don't add peanut butter.  The sky's the limit!

3 Musketeers

Last week, Kelsie posted on facebook that she was making graham crackers.  Someone commented that they didn't know you could make those.  Kelsie and I had quite a conversation after that about how you should be able to make pretty much anything you can buy pre-made.  So on Friday, Paul and I picked the boys up a treat at 7-11 that they could eat while they waited for us to finish up some work.  James picked a 3 Musketeers and informed me they were his favorite.  So I decided to give that a try.  Here are the results.  I was surprised at how much they tasted like the real deal.

I will post the recipe with step by step pictures later.

Primary Program

Today was the boys' primary program.  They sure looked handsome. And they did an excellent job.  Way to go boys!

Lemon Rice Pudding with Fresh Strawberries

My pictures didn't turn out too well, either too light or too dark.  I should have checked the pictures before I ate it!  But it was too tempting.

1/4 cup short grain rice

2 1/2 cups milk

2 T sugar

lemon zest of 1 lemon

1 T butter, cut into small squares

1.  Lightly spray a 1-qt baking dish with oil.  Add rice and milk to the dish and let sit for 30 minutes.  Preheat oven to 300 F.

2.  Add sugar, lemon zest and butter to rice and milk.  Mix to combine.

3.  Bake in preheated oven for 2-2 1/2 hours and lightly browned.

4.  Serve warm or chilled.  I topped mine with fresh strawberries and lemon and orange zest.

Mmmm.

Graham Cracker Recipe

Because I keep getting requests for this recipe, I have decided to finally take the time to post it on my blog.  They really are the best graham crackers ever!

• 2 cups whole wheat flour
• 1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/3 cup honey
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup milk
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• 1.  Sift together the whole wheat flour, all-purpose flour, baking powder and baking soda; set aside.
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• 2.  In a medium bowl, cream together the margarine, brown sugar and honey until light and fluffy. Stir in the sifted ingredients alternating with the milk and vanilla. Cover dough and refrigerate for a couple of hours or overnight.
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• 3.  Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Divide the chilled dough iinto quarters. On a well floured surface, roll the dough out one quarter at a time into a 5x15 inch rectangle. Divide into rectangles using a knife. Place rectangles ointo ungreased cookie sheets. Mark a line down the center of each one, and prick with a fork. 
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• 4.  Bake for 13 to 15 minutes in the preheated oven. Remove from baking sheets to cool on wire racks.

You could sprinkle with cinnamon, or even add cinnamon to dough for a cinnamon graham cracker.  Unsweetened cocoa powder for a chocolate-y graham.  I baked some in rectangles, and I used mini cookie cutters for others.  Both bake up beautifully.

I used butter and almond milk for my first crack at this recipe.  Next time I will try with shortening or oil in place of the butter to make them truly milk free.