Peanut Buttter Granola Bars

I was recently asked to re post my recipe. My book Save Your Money, Save Your Family is now available
serves 18

1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1/3 cup honey
1 egg
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 1/2 cups rolled oats quick cooking
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
3/4 teaspoon salt
2/3 cup milk chocolate chips (optional)


1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Beat together peanut butter, honey, egg, vegetable oil, and vanilla blend well.
3. Mix oats, sugar and salt together and mix well.
4. Add oat mixture to peanut butter mixture mix until batter becomes sticky.
5. Stir in chocolate chips (optional)
6. Press into a 13" x 9" pan coated with cooking spray. Use a piece of wax paper to press mixture into an even layer in the pan
7. Bake 12-15 minutes. Cool completely and slice into bars. Makes 18.

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8 Reasons to Eat Breakfast

Children who eat breakfast perform better on standardized achievement tests and have fewer behavior problems in school.

1. A Harvard University/Massachusetts General Hospital study of children in Philadelphia and Baltimore schools discovered that students who usually ate school breakfast had improved math grades, reduced hyperactivity, decreased absence and tardy rates, and improved psycho-social behaviors compared with children who rarely ate school breakfast. (Pediatrics, January, 1998; Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, February, 1998)

2. Tufts University, in published statement on the link between nutrition and cognitive development in children, recognized that "Children who participated in the School Breakfast Program were shown to have significantly higher standardized achievement test scores than eligible non-participants."

3. Eating breakfast has an advantageous effect on late-morning mood, satiety and cognitive performance.

4. "Eating breakfast of any kind prevent(s) many of the adverse effects of fasting," such as irritability and fatigue, according to Bonnie Spring, Ph.D. , University of Health Sciences/Chicago Medical School.

5. "Breakfast can establish the tone for the next 16 hours (of each day after eating it). Why not treat yourself to a nice meal and a quality hour to collect yourself and focus on what's important?" (Ask Mr Breakfast, Where does the word "breakfast" come from?)

6. Eating breakfast keeps you thin.

7. Researchers from the National Weight Control Registry, a database of more than 3,000 people who have lost at least 60 pounds and kept it off for an average of 6 years, found that eating breakfast every day was a weight control strategy for 78% of the people in the registry. People who kept off weight long-term also reported eating a low-fat diet and exercising for an hour or more each day.

8. Breakfast is delicious.

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Soup for the Cold Winter Days yum! yum!

Hearty Vegetable Beef Barley Soup

serves 10: cooking time 60 -90 minutes

1 pound cut up or shredded roast beef left overs
1 minced garlic clove
1 12-ounce can undrained whole tomatoes unsalted cut into pieces
1/2 cup sliced celery
2 beef bouillon cubes
1 bay leaf
1/2 cup chopped white onions
7 cups water
1/2 cup medium barley uncooked
1 10 1/2-ounce can beef broth
1/2 cup sliced carrots
1/2 teaspoon crushed dried basil
1 9-ounce package frozen mixed vegetables
Vegetable oil


In a 4 quart saucepan or Dutch oven use enough oil to sauté onion add garlic and meat sauté until onion is tender. Stir in Remaining ingredients except frozen vegetables. Cover bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer 60 - 90 minutes , stirring occasionally. Add frozen vegetables; cook about 10 - 15 minutes or until vegetables are tender. Additional water may be added if soup becomes too thick upon standing.
Serves approximately 10.
You can also use this recipe in slow cooker. Medium heat 4-6 hours.

Create Healthy Habits for you and your family:

Eat Breakfast:

According to a Harvard University/Massachusetts General Hospital study of children from Philadelphia and Baltimore, there was a clear link that showed children who usually ate breakfast performed better in mathematics and they had fewer cases of hyperactivity in the classroom. The children also attended school on a more regular basis, compared to their peers who missed out on breakfast. (Pediatrics, January, 1998; Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, February, 1998) Suite101.com
Preparing breakfast takes very little effort: It will take a little more organization and 10 more minutes in the morning:


Make sure you have several breakfast items on hand: Not just cold cereal.


Oatmeal eggs
cream of wheat bread
pan cake mix butter
syrup jam/jelly
yogurt
fruit/fresh/frozen
milk
juice

when making pan cakes make them 3" in diameter. make 2 dozen more than you will eat and freeze them. When you are short on time pop them in the microwave for a couple of minutes.