Muesli bars

Lately I've been trying to use what we have at home instead of popping to the shops every day(we live about a two minute walk away from a major supermarket). Our pantry, fridge and freezer are constantly full to the brim like we are stocking up for some sort of world ending event. When we run out of something I pop to the shops to get it and end up loading four more bags of groceries into the car. 

My first effort in doing this, has been preparing Tom and my lunch's on a Sunday, saving time and money and leaving out the option of a 'grab and go' not so healthy lunch (mine is usually toast with peanut butter!). I recently tried these Burrito Bowls and they were delicious.

So this morning when I realised I had run out of some school lunchbox bars, I had a poke around and found enough ingredients to make my own, they were a winner with the kids (and big kids) and so easy to make. 

What you'll need:

2 cups of oats

1 cup rice bubbles

1/2 cup of your choice, I had pretzels in the cupboard so I crushed them up and used those, but you could use nuts, m&m's, or dried fruit.

1/4 cup butter

1/4 honey

1/2 brown sugar

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

What to do:

In a bowl combine oats, rice bubbles and extra of your choice (I chose pretzels as my children attend a nut free school).

In a small saucepan on high add butter, honey, brown sugar, stir until melted. Then simmer on medium for 2 minutes.

Pour butter mixture and vanilla into bowl and press firmly (really firm so the bars don't fall apart) into a slice tray lined with baking paper.

I topped mine with half mini m&m's and half melted chocolate. You could top yours with white chocolate, mini marshmallows, nuts, pretzels, sultanas or anything floating about in the pantry.

Place in the fridge to set. Mine took about 30 minutes.
Cut into bars, wrap in lunch paper and serve.

The bars we get at the shop can be priced up to about $1.00 a bar. This recipe made 12 bars and cost about $0.20c a bar, and I know exactly whats in them!

Now I just hope there is some left come Monday morning!

Mexican Brownies

I made this easy brownie for my up coming Mexican 30th. We have already had a few pieces and I can tell you it's a total winner.

What you'll need:

1 1/2 cups unsalted butter

3 cups white sugar

6 eggs

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

1 1/4 cups unsweetened cocoa powder

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 3/4 teaspoons ground Mexican cinnamon (canela)

1/2 teaspoon ground pequin chile pepper

3/4 teaspoon kosher salt

3/4 teaspoon baking powder

What to do:

Preheat oven to 180 degrees C. Line a slice pan with baking paper.

Place the butter in a microwave-safe bowl, and cook on Medium until the butter is about half melted, about 1 minute. Mash the butter with sugar until well combined, and stir in eggs one at a time. Mix in vanilla extract.

Sift the cocoa, flour, cinnamon, pequin pepper, salt, and baking powder into a bowl. Mix the flour mixture into the butter mixture, stirring to blend well, and pour the batter into the prepared slice pan.

Bake in the oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out with moist crumbs, 20 to 25 minutes. Let cool in the pan.

Enjoy. x