Banana Parfaits with Chocolate Granola

chocolate1

chocolate1What You Need:

1 C of rolled oats
1/2 C of toasted almonds, sliced
1/3C of toasted walnuts, chopped
1 1/2 C of unsweetened coconut, toasted and shredded
1 T of brown sugar + 1/4 C of brown sugar, packed and divided
1 t of cinnamon
2 T of unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 C honey, divided
1/4 C semisweet mini chocolate chips
1/2 C of raisins
1 (32 oz.) container of vanilla yogurt
Zest from half of an orange
6 T of unsalted butter
4 ripe bananas cut into 1/4 inch slices

How to Make It:

Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and place the rack into the center of the oven.
Allow the oven to preheat to 350 degrees.
Toss together the oats, almonds, walnuts and coconut in a mixing bowl.
Sprinkle 1 T of brown sugar, the cinnamon and the cocoa powder over the top.
Toss until all the ingredients are mixed together well.
Spread 3 T of the honey over the mixture and toss until well covered.
Spread the mixture evenly over the prepared baking sheet.
Bake the granola 15 without stirring.
Allow the granola to cool.
Dump the chocolate chips into a mixing bowl.
Add the raisins and the remaining honey and stir until well combined.
Fold in the granola mixing until all the ingredients are blended together well.
Whisk together the yogurt and orange zest.
Cover the bowl and refrigerate until ready to use.
Melt the butter in a skillet over medium heat.
Stir in the remaining brown sugar.
Cook 2 minutes, stirring constantly, until the sugar is dissolved.
Lay the banana slices into the skillet and stir gently to coat.
Cook 1 minute or until the bananas just begin to color.
Place one spoon of warm bananas into the bottom of the parfait glasses.
Add 1/2 C of the yogurt mixture.
Top with the chocolate granola.

Makes 8 servings

Crispy Chocolate Snack Balls

chockrisp

chockrispWhat You Need:

8 T of unsalted butter
1/3 C of unsweetened cocoa powder
2 (10 oz.) bags of mini marshmallows
10 C of rice crispy cereal
3/4 C of semisweet chocolate chips

How to Make It:

Heat the butter in a saucepan over medium high heat until melted.
Stir in the cocoa powder.
Place the marshmallows into the pan.
Heat for 5 minutes or until melted, stirring often.
Remove the pan from the heat.
Fold in the cereal until completely coated.
Place half of the chocolate chips into the mixture.
Stir until melted.
Add the remaining chocolate chips and stir until blended in well.
Cover a baking sheet with wax paper then lightly oil your hands.
Form the mixture into golf ball size balls.
Place the formed balls on the prepared sheet.
Cool to room temperature before eating and storing.

Makes 80 balls

The more chocolate the better don’t you agree. Use chocolate flavored cereal instead of just plain rice cereal. Keep these little treasurers fresh for up to 4 days by placing them in an airtight container. Leave them stored at room temperature. Chilling will cause them to harden and they will not be eatable.

White Chocolate Almond Nibblers

wchocolatedrop

wchocolatedropWhat You Need:

1/2 C of flour
1/4 t of baking powder
1/8 t of salt
1/2 C of light brown sugar, packed firm
3 T of egg, well beaten
1 T unsalted butter, melted
1/2 t of vanilla extract
1/3 C of white chocolate chips
1/3 C of almonds, toasted and chopped coarse

How to Make It:

Preset the oven temperature to 350 degrees and preheat.
Adjust the oven rack to the middle of the oven.
Line a loaf pan with foil allowing it to hang over the short ends of the pan.
Spray the foil with a non stick cooking spray.
Place the flour, baking soda and salt into a mixing bowl.
Toss with a fork to combine.
Dump the brown sugar into a separate bowl.
Add the egg, butter and vanilla and whisk until blended together well.
Stir the egg mixture into the flour mixture until well blended.
Fold in the white chocolate chips and the almonds.
Spread the batter into the prepared loaf pan.
Bake for 22 minutes or until the top is golden brown and dry.
Place the pan on a wire rack to cool completely.
Remove from the pan using the foil handles.
Cut into bite size squares.

Makes 24 bites

These are perfect for gift giving. Place a few in a foiled lined box for friends and family. Be sure to keep a few for you to grab when the chocolate craving strikes.

Toffee Filled Chocolate Cookies

choctofecookie

choctofecookieWhat You Need:

12 oz. of semisweet chocolate, chopped
2 T unsalted butter
1/4 C + 2 T of all purpose flour
3/4 t of baking powder
1/2 t of salt
1 1/4 C of sugar
3 large eggs
1 1/2 t of vanilla extract
4/2 oz. chocolate covered toffee bars, chopped coarsely

How to Make It:

Place the chocolate and the butter into a microwave safe bowl.
Microwave on high power for 1 minute then stir until smooth.
Allow the chocolate to cool to lukewarm
Whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt in a mixing bowl.
Place the sugar and eggs into a separate bowl.
Mix on high speed with an electric mixer for 2 minute or until thick and pale in color.
Add the chocolate mixture and vanilla and beat to blend in well.
Reduce the speed of the mixture to and blend in the flour mixture for 30 seconds.
Fold the candy pieces into the batter.
Cover and refrigerate the batter for 25 minutes or until firm.
Place the oven rack into the center of the oven.
Set the oven temperature at 350 and allow the oven to preheat.
Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
Using a 1/4 C measuring cup transfer the batter by cups to the line baking sheet.
Press the cookies down with a spatula to flatten.
Bake 21 minutes or until the tops are just dry and cracked but he cookies are still soft to the touch.

Makes 18 large cookies

Use an ice cream scooper instead of the measuring cup to transfer the batter to the baking sheet. You can make smaller cookies if you prefer which should make another 6 to 10 cookies depending on how small you make them. If making smaller cookies bake for 15 minutes and then check to see if they are done.

Baked Cinnamon Crunch Poppers

cinnamonpoppers

cinnamonpoppersWhat You Need:

2 T of sugar
1/2 t ground cinnamon
1 (10.2 oz.) can refrigerated home style biscuits
2 T of margarine, melted
3/4 C of Cinnamon Toast Crunch cereal, crushed fine

How to Make It:

Allow the oven to heat to 400 degrees F/
A cookie sheet is sprayed with a non stick cooking spray.
Blend together the sugar and cinnamon in a large mixing bowl.
The biscuits are separated into 5 pieces.
Each of the biscuits is cut into 6 pieces.
In the bowl with the cinnamon put the biscuits pieces and coat well.
The melted butter is poured over the above pieces and stir until well coated.
In a plastic bag put the crushed cereal.
The biscuit pieces are put in the bag a few at a time, seal the bag and shake to coat.
The coated pieces are put on the prepared baking sheet.
Bake in the preheated oven 12 minutes or until golden brown.

Makes 32 poppers

Kids love to pop these little treats into their mouths. The leftovers can be stored in an airtight container. Warm them by putting in the microwave for about 30 seconds. These make a very good breakfast treat.

Preparation Time: approximately 10 minutes
Baking Time: approximately 12 minutes
Total Time: approximately 22 minutes

Nutritional Value per 4 bites: (approximate values)
Calories 70; fat 4 g; sodium 95 mg; carbohydrates 9 g; sugar 4 g; protein 0 g

Lil Smoky Snake Snacks

What You Need:

1 small red bell pepper, seeded and cut into strips
4 (11 oz.) cans refrigerated bread sticks
2 pkg. cheese smoky links
1 t of processed cheese spread
48 small raisins

How to Make It:

The oven is set to preheat to 375 degrees F.
Cut the bell pepper into 24 small pieces to look like a tongue.
The bread stick dough is removed from the cans but not unrolled.
Each bread stick roll is separated into 6 pieces.
1 roll of the dough is unrolled and press to seal the center perforation.
The dough is wrapped loosely around a smoky link with 1 1/2 in dough extending from each end.
Do this until all the smoky links have been wrapped.
On an ungreased cookie sheet put the wrapped links.
Place small balls of foil under the extended ends of the dough to form the heads and tails while baking.
Make a mouth by making a small slit in each piece of dough.
Put in the preheated oven for 15 minutes or until dough is a golden brown.
Place a dab of the cheese spread on the head of each snake where the eyes and tongue are to be placed.
On each snake put two raisins for the eyes and a piece of the bell pepper for the tongue.

Makes 24 servings

These sneaky snakes are loved by kids. In place of the smoky links you may use regular hot dogs.

Preparation Time: approximately 30 minutes
Baking Time: approximately 15 minutes
Total Time: approximately 45 minutes

Nutritional Information per serving: (approximate values)
Calories 290; fat 16 g; sodium 910 mg; carbohydrates 29 g; sugar 6 g;
protein 9 g

Fudge Topped Chocolate Cookies

cookies

cookiesWhat You Need:

1/2 C of peanut butter chips
1/2 C whipped ready to spread chocolate frosting
1 (18 oz.) pkg. refrigerated chocolate chip cookie mix

How to Make It:

Set the oven and allow to heat to 350 degrees F.
In a saucepan put the peanut butter chips.
Stirring constantly over low heat cook for 5 minutes or until the chips are completely melted.
Take form the stove and stir the frosting in the melted chips until blended well.
Cool the mixture 10 minutes in the saucepan.
On an ungreased cookie sheet put the cookie dough pieces 2 in apart.
The cookies are baked 12 minutes or until set.
Shape the cooled peanut butter mixture into 20 even shaped balls.
The baked cookies are removed from the oven.
Press l peanut butter ball into the middle of each cookie while still hot.
Cool on the cookie sheet 2 minutes then finish cooling on a wire rack.

Makes 20 cookies

You may use any type of chips in these cookies.

Preparation Time: approximately 20 minutes
Baking Time: approximately 12 minutes
Cooling Time: approximately 12 minutes
Total Time: approximately 44 minutes

Nutritional Information per cookie: (approximate values)
Calories 180; fat 8 g; sodium 110 mg; carbohydrates 23 g; sugar 14 g;
protein 3 g

Vanilla Applesauce Dip

applesaucedip

applesaucedipWhat You Need:

2 C of applesauce
6 T of vanilla yogurt
1 t ground cinnamon

How to Make It:

In a serving bowl put the applesauce.
The yogurt is folded in until combined well.
Stir in the cinnamon and mix well.
Put in refrigerator covered tightly for at least 1/2 hour before serving.

Makes 8 servings

Serve this to the little ones who can’t handle the other snacks and appetizers. For the little ones use animal crackers, graham crackers or vanilla wafers for dipping.

Preparation Time: approximately 10 minutes
Chilling Time: approximately 30 minutes
Total Time: approximately 40 minutes

Nutritional Information per 1/4 C serving: (approximate values)
Calories 170; fat 4 g; sodium 115 mg; carbohydrates 33 g; sugar 21 g;
protein 2 g

Baked Kabob Appetizers

biscuits

biscuitsWhat You Need:

4 (8 ct.) refrigerated home style biscuits
24 frozen meatballs, thawed
6 T of Parmesan cheese, grated
1 sweet red bell pepper, seed and cut into 12 chunks

How to Make It:

The oven is set to preheat to 375 degrees F.
Each biscuit is cut into 4 equal pieces.
In a mixing bowl put the biscuit pieces.
The Parmesan cheese is added and the biscuits tossed until coated.
On a metal skewer put one biscuit and one meatball.
Add a biscuit and a chunk of pepper.
Add another biscuit and another meatball and end with another biscuit.
Continue making 11 more with the ingredients in the same order.
Place in a 15 x 10 baking pan.
Bake for 15 minutes or until the biscuits are a golden brown.
Cool the kabobs slightly before serving.

Makes 12 kabobs

Kids love these kabobs served with tomato sauce, pizza sauce or a cheese dip.

Preparation Time: approximately 20 minutes
Baking Time: approximately 15 minutes
Total Time: approximately 40 minutes

Nutritional Information per skewer: (approximate values)
Calories 580; fat 29 g; sodium 1,730 mg; carbohydrates 57 g;
sugar 17 g; protein 24 g

Not So Spicy Taco Dip

chips

chipsWhat You Need:

3 C of prepared bean dips
1 1/2 C of chive and onion sour cream
2 tomatoes, chopped
1 1/2 C of Mexican cheese blend
1 large bag of tortilla chips

How to Make It:

In the bottom of a serving bowl put the bean dip.
Over the bean dip spread the sour cream
The tomatoes are sprinkled over the sour cream.
Over the tomatoes spread the cheese.
Serve as a dip with the chips.

Makes 12 servings

This recipe will satisfy any kids taste for tacos. A few ideas for additions to your dip are taco flavored meat, olives, onions and lettuce.

Preparation Time: approximately 20 minutes

Nutritional Information per 1/2 C serving: (approximate values)
Calories 350; fat 25 g; sodium 820 g; carbohydrates 27 g; sugar 5 g; protein 10 g