Sweet Potato and Apple Bread

A few weeks ago, when my family was in Philadelphia for Netty's funeral, my sister-in-law and I made some sweet potato and apple bread. It was warm, comforting, and great to eat for breakfast, snack or whenever you need something to cheer you up (without being overly indulgent). Today, after learning that another storm was headed our way, I figured it was time to make this recipe again. So, for all you sweet potato lovers out there, here is a recipe for Sweet Potato and Apple Bread:

NOTE: This recipe makes two loaves. For one loaf of bread, just halve the specified measurement for each ingredient, as I have done.

Ingredients

2 1/3 cups sugar
2/3 cups water
2/3 cup oil
4 eggs
2 cups mashed sweet potatoes
1 apple, peeled and diced
3 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup coarsely chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

In a large bowl, combine sugar, water, oil, eggs, apple, and sweet potatoes and mix thoroughly. In a separate bowl, mix together the dry ingredients and then add this mixture to wet ingredients. Add walnuts and mix well. Divide between 2 greased loaf pans and bake for 60-65 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean after testing the middle of the bread. Cool in pan to room temperature.

Cheerios and Peanut Butter Granola

Once again I was in the kitchen this afternoon, brain storming ideas for healthy snack foods. I came up with the recipe for Cheerios and Peanut Butter Granola:

Ingredients

1 1/2 cup Cheerios
1/4 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup salted peanuts, chopped
3 Tablespoons brown sugar
3 Tablespoons butter
1/2 cup rolled oats
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
2 Tablespoons flour
3 oz. chocolate, chopped into small pieces

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a 8 x 8 pan with parchment paper and put aside. Put peanut butter and butter in a large microwave safe bowl and heat in microwave for 40 seconds. Add in Cheerios, oats, brown sugar, flour, cinnamon and peanuts. Stir until well blended. Add in chocolate. Pour mixture into prepared pan and bake for 20 minutes. Cool for about an hour on a wire rack, without touching it. Then, break up the pieces of granola into chucks.

There you have it...a yummy, peanutty, relatively nutritious treat that will help you go for hours and hours!

Strawberry Granola Bars

Today, I continued my "health kick" momentum and made a homemade version of a snack I've eaten regularly since my son was born: granola bars.

In addition to the daily rigours of taking care of a baby, breastfeeding eats up an extra 500 calories a day. So you need to stay well-nourished and hydrated during this time. Granola bars have been a staple snack in the realm of my hectic day, especially when I'm on the run and need something to keep my blood sugar up.

I did a little research and came up with my own version of a granola bar recipe that I found on www.cookiemadness.net (the main difference between the recipes is that I used fresh fruit and added sugar instead of using preserves--this way I can control how much sugar is added to the bars):

Strawberry Granola Bars

3/4 cup walnuts
1 1/3 cup all purpose flour
1 1/4 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
3/4 cups firmly packed brown sugar
1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon of salt
12 tablespoons cold, unsalted butter
1 cup apple sauce
1 cup frozen strawberry plus 1-2 tablespoon of sugar
1/8 cup of cornstarch mixed with 2 tsp. of cold water

First, toast the nuts. To do this, spread the nuts on a cookie sheet and bake at 350 degrees for about 8 minutes. Let them cool completely before chopping them up.

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Spray a 13x9 inch pan with flour added cooking spray or grease and flour as you wish.

In a mixing bowl, mix together the flour, oats, and brown sugar. If you are using salt, add it. Cut in the butter with a pastry cutter. Alternatively, dump flour, oats and brown sugar in a food processor and cut in the cold butter by pulsing the processor. Stir in the coconut and chopped up nuts.

Pat a little more than half of this (about 3 cups) mixture into the pan and bake for 10-15 minutes or until lightly browned. Meanwhile, put strawberries and sugar in a saucepan and bring to a boil. Take off heat and add cornstarch and water mixture. Cool in refrigerator for 10 minutes and let mixture thicken. Add it cools, add the apple sauce and then spread the strawberry and applesauce mixture over partially baked crust. Sprinkle remaining oatmeal mixture over top and return to oven. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes or until top is golden.

Cool completely before cutting. If you don't, they won't hold up so well! You can chill them a little to quick-cool.

This makes 12 3-inch squares or 24 2-inch square bar cookies.

I was pleased with the result and would definitely make them again!

Have a great weekend all. Don't forget, the Oscars are on Sunday night, 8pm Eastern Time!!