Homemade Microwave Popcorn

Great idea and much more economical then the commercial microwave popcorn.
I used this recipe in a microwave corn popper I bought from Walmart. It holds up to 12 cups and has a vented lid for popping. Then when it is ready you just take off the lid and enjoy



Homemade Microwave Popcorn
6 -8 cups

1/3 cup popcorn
2-3 tablespoons melted butter
salt

1. Pour kernels into a small paper bag (standard lunch size is fine) and fold the top of the bag over twice to close (each fold should be 1/2 inch deep; remember the kernels need room to pop).
2. Seal the bag with tape placed 2 to 3 inches apart. (Do not use staples, in a microwave they can be hazardous)
3. Place bag in microwave on carousel.
4. Cook on high 2-3 minutes, or until the pops are 5 seconds apart
5. Mix with butter and salt

Baked Oatmeal

My kids enjoyed these. I used them as a snack and added some chocolate chips but you also can add raisins or make as is and use them for breakfast along with some fruit or yogurt. These have a good amount of protein by using 4 eggs.

I used a 9x13 pan for mine, to make them not too thick.

Baked Oatmeal

4 C. old fashioned oatmeal (not quick cooking)
3 t. baking powder
3 t. cinnamon
3/4t. salt
1 C. brown sugar
4 eggs, lightly beaten
1 1/2t. vanilla
1 C. milk
1 C. apple sauce

1. Preheat oven to 325
2. Spray baking dish with cooking spray (I used a 9x13 pan).
3. Mix all ingredients well.
4. Bake 40-45 minutes until light golden brown.
5. Cool in pan and then cut into 10-12 servings. Store in covered container in refrigerator.
6. For an individual serving pop one bar into microwave for about 1 minute and then serve

Chocolate Zucchini Muffins

Yet another muffin, yet another way to sneak in some vegetables. Any child I have given these to have loved them, you can also add some nuts for protein if you would like.

I chop the zucchini in my mini food processor to make it nice and small

Chocolate Zucchini Muffins

SERVES 24

3 eggs
2 cups white sugar
1 cup vegetable oil
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 cups grated zucchini
3 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Lightly grease two 12 cup muffin tins or line with paper cups.
3. In a large bowl, beat eggs.
4. Beat in sugar and oil.
5. Add cocoa, vanilla, zucchini, and stir well.
6. Stir in flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and cinnamon.
7. Mix just until moist.
8. Pour batter into prepared muffin tins until 2/3 full.
9. Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes.
10. Remove from pan and cool on a wire rack.
11. Store loosely covered

No Bake Granola Bars

My kids enjoy these and they are great to make together with your kids. You can do raisins or even mini chocolate chips.

No-Bake Granola Bars

8 min 8 min prep
24 bars

2 1/2 cups crispy rice cereal
2 cups quick-cooking rolled oats
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/2 cup light corn syrup
1/2 cup peanut butter
1 teaspoon vanilla

1. In large bowl, combine cereal, rolled oats and raisins; set aside.
2. In small saucepan, combine brown sugar and corn syrup.
3. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly.
4. Stir in peanut butter and vanilla; blend until smooth.
5. Pour over cereal mixture; mix well.
6. Press into ungreased 13"x 9" pan.
7. Cool; cut into 24 bars.
   

Strawberry Oatmeal Bars

I made these yesterday with the kids for a snack. They were very tasty and all the kids loved them. The only changes I made were using whole wheat flour and I like to use Smuckers Reduced Sugar Strawberry Jam to cut down on any unnecessary extra sugar (my kids have enough energy )

Strawberry Oatmeal Bars

· 1 cup flour
· 1 cup rolled oats
· 1/2 cup butter, softened
· 1/3 cup light brown sugar, firmly packed
· 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
· 1/8 teaspoon salt
· 3/4 cup strawberry jam

Preheat oven to 375°F.
In a large bowl, mix everything together but the jam.
Measure out 2 cups of this mixture. Leave the rest in the bowl and set aside.
Take the 2 cups of the mixture and press it into the bottom of an 8 inches square pan, coated with cooking spray. Using a large spoon, distribute jam on top of the mixture in the pan. Spread it evenly all over. (I used the squeeze-bottle spread for this and it made this part of the process a lot quicker).
Take the remaining mixture and spread it over the jam. Press down lightly.
Bake 25 minutes.
Remove the pan from the oven and allow to cool for at least 15 minute before cutting into bars

Healthy Halloween Snacks

Last year I organized my daughter class halloween party. Her school has a healthy snack policy so my husband and I made some fun but healthy treats for the party

Carrot Fingers
With a paring knife (a parent's job), cut a flat, shallow notch in the tip of each carrot. Then use a dab of dip or softened cream cheese to glue a sliced-almond fingernail atop each notch

Cracker Spiders (not a good choice if you have a peanut free school)
Here’s what you need to make Cracker Spiders:
Round crackers
Peanut butter
Raisins
Thin pretzel sticks

1. Spread peanut butter on one side of two Ritz crackers.
2. Break four pretzel sticks in half to create the eight spider legs.
3. Place the eight pretzel sticks in the peanut butter on one cracker to create spider legs.
4. Sandwich the pretzel sticks by placing the second cracker on top with the peanut butter side facing up.
5. Arrange the raisins in the peanut butter of the top cracker to make the spider’s face

Witch Brooms
Ingredients:
Cheddar cheese
1 box of thin pretzel sticks

Directions:Cut cheese into triangles that have a two inch base. Stick pretzel stick into each cheese wedge to form the broom handle