Granola Bars

For a change let's make something healthy today.

 

A great breakfast or a snack !!

 

And this is what you need : Old fashioned oats,Sliced almonds,Shredded coconut,Wheat germ,Vanilla extract,Dried fruits and Honey.

Toss the oatmeal, almonds, and coconut together on a sheet pan.

 

1 cup Old fashioned oats...

 

1/2 cup Almonds..

 

And 1/2 cup shredded coconut.

 

Spread it evenly on a baking pan

 

And bake it for 12 minutes at 350 F, until lightly browned

 

Next, transfer it to a mixing bowl

  

While the mixture is still warm, add 1/4 cup Wheat germ..

 

Mix it throughly...

1/8 th tsp Salt..

 

3/4 tsp Vanilla extract..

 

3/4 cup Dried fruits. I used Prunes,Craisins and Raisins.

Throw it in to the mixture..

 

And finally, 1/3 cup Honey.

 

Now, mix it all together until combined. Don't use hands.That was a bad idea.Try mixing it with a spatula.

Butter a square baking dish and line it with parchment paper...and then generously butter on top of the paper.

 

Press the mixture to the bottom of the pan until the mixture is packed as tightly as possible.
Bake it for 25 minutes at 300 degree F or until the edges are lighlty browned.

 

This smells really good.
Now let it cool for 2 hours and then transfer to a flat surface...

 

And when you're ready cut them to neat rectangles or squares.Use pizza cutter if you have one or a nice serrated knife.

 

I love how healthy these are !!

 

RECIPE (Adapted from smittenkitchen.com )

Servings : 10 Rectangles

Ingredients :

• Old fashioned Oats - 1 cup  (Fiber,Manganese,Vitamin B1 Magnesium,Protein)
• Sliced almonds - 1/2 cup(Vitamin E,Manganese,Magnesium, Vitamin B2,Phosphorus)
• Shredded coconut - 1/2 cup
• Wheat germ - 1/4 cup(Omega 3,Vitamin E,Fiber,Iron,Protien)
• Salt - 1/8 tsp
• Vanilla extract - 3/4 tsp
• Honey - 1/3 cup

Directions :

• Toss oats, almonds and coconut in to a baking sheet and bake it at 350 degree F for 12 mintues.
• Transfer it to a bowl and and add wheat germ, salt, vanilla extract and honey and mix it together.
• Bake it at 300 degree F for 25 mintues or until the edges are lightly brown.
• Cool it for 2 hours and then transfer it to a flat surface and cut it in to rectangles or squares.
• Store it in an air tight container.

 

 

Hot & Sour Soup

First thing to make when the weather drops below 70 degrees.

And this is what you need : Frozen or fresh mixed vegetables,Spring onion,Garlic,Ginger,Egg noodles,Chicken or vegetable stock,Corn starch,Soy sauce,Red chilli sauce,Oil,Vinegar,Salt ,Black pepper,Chicken and Egg (optional).

To begin with, cook a piece of chicken in water with 1/4 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp pepper.Bring it to a boil and then cook for another few minutes in low flame with lid on until the chicken is done.

Meantime, chop 1 garlic

A small piece of ginger.

Now let's dice the fresh vegetables.Cut at an angle 1/4 cup beans.You will need 7 or 8 beans.

Chop 2 green onions.

These are the veggies that I used in the soup - 1/4 cup of chopped frozen carrots,1/4 cup of frozen peas,1/4 cup of frozen corn,beans,green onion ,ginger and garlic.You can even use a packet of frozen mixed vegetables .

Chicken will be done by this time .Shred the chicken and keep it aside.You will need 1/4 cup of shredded chicken.

Heat 1 Tbsp of oil and saute ginger and garlic for a minute.

Add all the veggies and cook them for few minutes..You can also use other veggies like Mushroom,Cabbage and Cauliflower .(All 1/4 cup each )

Next pour in 4 cups of chicken stock or, vegetable stock if you are making vegetable soup.

You can use canned stock or bouillon packets.You will need 32 oz can of stock or 2 packets of bouillon to make 4 cups of stock.(I used knorr chicken flavored bouillon.If you can find it, get this.)

Dissolve 2 packets in 4 cups boiling water.

Stir well and pour it in to the veggies.

Then stir in 1 cup egg noodles.

The shredded chicken..

The green onion..

1/2 tsp of black pepper

 And bring it to a boil until the noodle is cooked.

Now add 1/2 tsp Soy sauce..

1/2 tsp Red chilli sauce

 1tsp Vinegar..

And the cornstarch.Dissolve 1tsp of cornstarch in 2Tbsp cold water.

It gives the soup a wonderful sauciness...

Finally, Beat 1 egg and pour it slowly in to the soup through a sieve and slowly stir the soup the same time. Like this you will get thin strands of egg.Let it simmer for another 2 minutes.

Pour the soup in to bowls.Make sure you get plenty of chunks in each bowl...

You'll love it !!

Servings : 4

Ingredients : (Adapted from showmethecurry.com)

• Oil - 1 Tbsp
• Garlic - 1
• Ginger - 1 small chunk
• Frozen Peas  - 1/4 cup
• Frozen carrots - 1/4 cup
• Frozen Corn - 1/4 cup
• Green Beans - 1/4 cup, cut at an angle
• Green Onions –2, chopped
• Chicken or Vegetable Broth/Stock - 4 cups (32 oz can)
• Shredded chicken (optional)- 1/4 Cup
• Egg Noodles -1 cup
• Black Pepper - 1/2 tsp
• Soy Sauce - 1/2 tsp
• Red Chili Sauce - 1/2 tsp
• Vinegar - 1 tsp
• Corn Starch -1 tsp, mixed with a 2 Tbsp cold water
• Egg - 1, well beaten (optional)

Directions:

• To make the shredded chicken, cook chicken piece with 1/4 tsp pepper and 1/4 tsp salt.Shred it and keep it aside.
• Chop the fresh vegetables.
• Heat oil.
• Add ginger and garlic and saute for a minute.
• Add the vegetable and saute it for a minute.
• Then add the stock,chicken,noodle and black pepper.
• Bring to a boil or until the noodle is cooked.
• Then add soy sauce,red chilli sauce,vinegar,cornstarch mixed with water and cook it for 2 minutes
• Finally drizzle the beaten egg and simmmer it for another 2 mintues.
• Serve hot.