Cooking with Kids ~ No Bake Bars

Cooking with kids is a new feature on Kid Friendly Asheville. Right now we are "compacting" in our home teaching our kids about wants vs needs. It's a valuable lesson for kids to be taught.

I added up how much we spend buying store bought organic granola bars and apple snack bars. They are a convenience food and add up costing way too much.

One box of 5 organic granola bars will cost you about $5.00 a box. There are usually 3-4 boxes in our cabinet at any given time. That's about $15.00 every grocery visit. Not much you say. Multiply that by 4. $60.00 a month. Multiply that by 12. $720.00 a year. OMG! Is that right? Let me do my math again. For GRANOLA BARS/APPLE BARS!!!!!!!!!! You've got to be kidding me. I spend that a year (give or take) on convenience snack bars?!?!?!?!? That's way to much. For a "compactor"or any other type person that's too much to spend.

I was sent a no bake recipe and adjusted it my way.

My helper.


Some are organic and some are not. Somethings aren't worth it and everything doesn't have to be organic. :) I was going for cheap and even bought store brand if I was able to find it.



* 2 1/2 cups crispy rice cereal
* 2 cups quick-cooking rolled oats
* 1/4 cup chopped pecans
* 1/4 cup chopped walnuts
* 1/2 cup chocolate chips
* 1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
* 1/2 cup light corn syrup
* 1/2 cup peanut butter
* 1 teaspoon vanilla
* 1 tablespoon maple syrup

Directions

1.In large bowl, combine cereal, rolled oats, chopped nuts & chocolate chips; set aside.



2.In small saucepan, combine brown sugar and corn syrup.



3.Bring to a boil, stirring constantly.
4.Stir in peanut butter, maple syrup and vanilla; blend until smooth.



5.Pour over cereal mixture; mix well.
6.Press into ungreased 13"x 9" pan. I lined mine with wax paper to get it out easier. I sprinkled chocolate & peanut butter chips down first to add more taste.







7.Cool; cut into 24 bars.





As you can tell the bars were a HIT!! They are a bit crumbly so next time I will adjust the liquid part to make them more "hard".

I added up the expenses. $18.00 was spent on groceries to make the bars. I figure I can get three different batches from all of those ingredients. Lets say I get 24 bars times that by 3 then you get 72 bars for $18.00. Not bad at ALL! That's averages $216.00 for a year to make these bars!!!!! WE HAVE A WINNER!!!!!

These bars were sweet and can substitute the place of store bought cookies. They are perfect for small snacks as well! They aren't all that healthy but not everything has to be. I am going to add dried fruit to a batch. There are so many different ways to make them. Just be sure to adjust the liquid part so they don't end up dry and crumbly.