Granola Bars

You know I’ve got a freezer full of Peeps. I buy them the Monday after Easter; that’s National Peep Day, dontcha know? Peeps freeze beautifully and thaw out fresh tasting.

Throughout the year, I use them in recipes or pop a few in a hot cup of coffee.

Today, stuck in the house because of the rainy weather, I got busy in the kitchen, and yes, Peeps jumped out of the freezer and into the mixing bowl. Peeps Granola bars for a quick breakfast, lunches and afternoon coffee are ready for the coming week.

Ingredients:

2 cups quick oats

1 cup chopped nuts (I used a combination of pecans and walnuts)

1/2 cup Allergen Free Chocolate chips

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Dash salt

1/4 cup Smucker’s Peanut Butter

1/4 cup honey

1/4 cup corn oil

One whole pack of Peeps ( any flavor, cut into smallish pieces)

What to do:

Preheat oven to 300°. Line a 9×9 baking dish with parchment paper.

In a large mixing bowl, combine first five ingredients in the list.

Next, in a small microwavable bowl zap the peanut butter, honey and oil for one minute in the microwave. Yes. Stir together and then pour over the oatmeal mixture. And the cut up Peeps? Fold them in.

Pour the granola into the parchment lined baking dish, pressing all the way to the sides and corners. Bake for 45 minutes, till the oats are browned. Cool and cut into bars or squares. Place into an air tight container.

Peep Granola Bars/Squares/Whatev’

Blessings from the Exile’s Kitchen. 

National Peeps Day

The day after Easter is National Peeps Day, dedicated to those sugar coated marshmallows shaped like chicks and bunnies this time of year. I had bought several packages in different colors, thinking I’d have a weekend with my granddaughter and we would make those cute little bunnies-in-Twinkies-with-chocolate-dipped-miniature-pretzels-for-steering -wheels-and-halved-tiny-sandwich-cookies-for-wheels-race cars. You can look on Pinterest and find them. So, I had all of these bunny peeps; what to do with them?

Well, it’s coffee time. Floating a few on top is cheering, after a long day at work. Waste not want not goes the old adage. Of course, I don’t believe Peeps ever really go bad.

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Twin Peeps in my afternoon cup of coffee.

Springtime blessings from the Exile’s Kitchen.