baking – Elizabeth Hafner

Pin-Teresting | Chewy Oatmeal Breakfast Bars

April 20, 2017Tagged baking, food, pinterest, pinteresting, recipe, snackLeave a comment

I am attempting to make more of our snacks instead of buying them. I realized I was overspending at the grocery store because of snack bars, fruit snacks and things like that. The boys snack a lot too so anything I bought didn’t last long.

The first thing I am attempting to kick are the expensive Zbars from Clif bars. The boys love them and I felt better about them eating those than other sugar loaded bars. But at $4-5 a box and two boys…yeah, that’s $20-30 a month I don’t want to spend.

I made a chewy granola bar about 2 weeks ago and they were a hit but I wasn’t too crazy about them because they had a lot of honey and brown sugar. This week I found a new recipe with just honey. William and I made them together yesterday and with fingers crossed, I took a bag of them to the park for snacks. Well, they were a hit (and not just with the boys!). I was worried they wouldn’t be sweet enough but they are wonderful.

They aren’t as chewy as store bought bars, obviously or even the ones I made previously. I think I need to use a smaller pan next time and make them a bit thicker so they don’t fall apart as easily. I will also only use 2 tsp of cinnamon next time instead of 3. I felt like it was pretty strong but the boys didn’t seem to notice. I also added a 1/3 c. of mini chocolate chips.

Recipe | Chewy Oatmeal Breakfast Bars

I may tweak this recipe a bit in other ways next time too. Like adding puff riced cereal or something like that, to change it up a bit. There will probably always be chocolate chips in them though.

My Little Helper and Zucchini Nutella Muffins | 07.13.2013

July 18, 2013March 14, 2019Tagged baking, food, home, life, muffins, nutella, William, zucchiniLeave a comment

Saturday while James was out running errands, I did some baking with William. We made Zucchini Nutella Muffins. The last time I had him up at the counter with me, it didn’t go so well. He tried to grab everything or throw everything in the sink. This time was much better. He played with the dough I made him or helped me stir ingredients. And he didn’t fall off the chair this time.

I didn’t get an after shot of the muffins but they are super tasty. The recipe is actually for bread but we like muffins around here.

I have to include these photos from later that day. I think he had salmon for dinner hence the crazy hair.

Memorial Day Weekend and Mini Peach Cobblers

May 29, 2013March 14, 2019Tagged 2013, baking, cobbler, May, Memorial Day, peach, pool, summer, vacation, WilliamLeave a comment

We had a great three day weekend. It really was what we needed. Time together, no plans and a lot of relaxing. Saturday, William and I escaped the house for a little bit of shopping so James could have some quiet time. On Sunday, it was my turn. William and James did some tool shopping while I chilled for a bit then they picked me up for dinner at the park. Monday we went to one of James’ coworker’s home for a BBQ and some time in the pool.

William did really well hanging out on the step and then in his float.

The dessert I took to the BBQ is the one pictured here alongside the apple pie and cookies….Mini Peach Cobblers. Oh my word. So good and so easy to make and transport and eat! They were a big hit with the other party goers. I didn’t make any of the mini sized one as mentioned in the recipe, just regular muffin tin size. They were were perfect. Loosening them as they cool is recommended. I didn’t have time to let them cool completely but they still came out ok. I served them upside down because the peaches looked so pretty. I could have eaten a dozen.

After his pool time, it was time for some Goldfish and Toasted O’s and a little poolside lounging. He also borrowed the baby doll from another little girl at the pool and held onto her until we left. The only time he let it go was when I offered him a bit of Snickerdoodle cookie.

Cookie crumbs…

I hope you all had great weekends as well. Hopefully surrounded by family, friends and good times.

Maple Banana Nut Muffins

May 23, 2013Tagged baking, breakfast, gluten free, home, iPhone, muffins, snackLeave a comment

I have had these on my menu to make for a couple weeks now and I finally made them yesterday. Not only did they sound yummy but I was excited to use some of the brown rice flour and xanthan gum I’ve had in my pantry for a few months now.

Recipe | Maple Banana Nut Muffins via A Full Life

The only tweaks I made were adding cinnamon and not as much nutmeg. I also left off the topping since William would be eating these too. I didn’t want to add any additional sugar. I made 12 regular sized muffins and then a pan of mini muffins. They turned out great and are really moist. I was worried the molasses would be too strong but it’s not at all. A very easy recipe I’ll definitely make again!

Apple Almond Squares | Clean Eating

May 17, 2013March 14, 2019Tagged almond, apple, baking, clean eating, food, gluten free, muffin, paleo, recipe1 Comment

Apple Almond Squares
12 squares

1/2 c almond flour
1/2 c brown rice flour
2 T stabilized rice bran, optional (I did not use)
2 organic evaporated cane juice (I didn’t have this so I used 2 T sugar, probably didn’t need it at all)
2 T ground flaxseed
1/2 t baking soda
1/2 t baking powder
1/2 t ground cinnamon
1/4 t sea salt
Pinch of ground nutmeg
1 egg plus 1 egg white
1/2 c unsweetened applesauce
2 T sunflower oil (I used grapeseed oil)
1/2 t vanilla extract
1 McIntosh apple, peeled, cored and chopped (I used a Gala)
1/2 c unsweetened raisins (I didn’t have any, don’t care for raisins in baked goods)
1/4 c sliced raw unsalted almonds (also didn’t use, none on hand)

Topping (Since I didn’t have either of these, I just sprinkled a little cinnamon on the top before baking)
1 T plus 1 t Sucanat
1/8 t arrowroot powder

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 9 inch square baking dish with parchment paper, leaving 1 to 2 inches of overhang on opposite sides.

In a medium bowl, whisk flours, bran, cane juice, flaxseeds, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, salt and nutmeg.

In a large bowl, mix egg, egg white, applesauce, oil and vanilla. Add flour mixture and stir just until combined. Fold in apple, raisins and almonds. Spread evenly in dish. Bake for 25 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean when inserted in center. Lift edges of parchment paper to remove bars from dish. Cut into 12 squares (I made them a bit smaller and got 16).

Prepare topping: In a spice grinder, pulse Sucanat and arrowroot into a fine poweder. Sprinkle over bars. Store in refrigerator for up to 1 week or freeze for up to 3 months.

Recipe from Clean Eating Magazine | June 2013 Issue

Here are a few of my other favorite clean eating, gluten free recipes.
Healthy Almond Meal Banana Muffins
Maple Banana Nut Muffins

Enjoy!!