Brown Butter Quinoa Bars

Pinterest has done it to me again! I really waste too much time browsing and pinning and never actually using what I have pinned.  However, this recipe intrigued me enough that I actually took action so let's get right to the point.

No bake. Browned butter. Game changer.

The taste of browned butter is amazing. It is hard to describe but it is sweet.

If you have never browned butter before don't be afraid. It is really quite simple. Put it on the stove in a pan and turn the heat up to medium. Stir it frequently and just don't leave. You will start to see little brown specks at the bottom of the pan, then a few more, and a few more. Take it off the heat a little before what it looks like in the last picture. It will still brown slightly off the heat. Let it cool.

While the butter is cooling add oatmeal, flax, ground almonds, and cooked quinoa to a bowl and give them a good stir.

The only other things you need are some honey, vanilla, and.........

Delicious dark chocolate chips!

Add the honey, vanilla, browned butter, and chocolate chips to your dry mixture and stir well. You may need to add a little more honey if it looks to dry.

Press the mixture firmly into a pan. I used this one that I believe is 9x7 but an 8x8 would work well too. Use the back of your hand and really press down hard. Because these are no bake you need the mixture good and firm. Put the pan in the fridge for a couple hours to set them. The longer you leave them in the fridge the easier they will be to cut. When I get too anxious they end up just being a crumbled mess that is more like granola than a bar. While that would be good too, do try to be patient.

After your have waited patiently you can then cut into these little pieces of heaven. Miles and I could seriously sit and eat the pan in one sitting if no one would know or if I wouldn't suffer from guilt or weight gain!

These really are so simple you must give them a try. I have tried a few other Pinterest recipes that have been not so hot but this has turned out to be one of our very favorite snacks and I love the ingredient list!

 Here is the link to the recipe that I found on this blog How Sweet It Is through my endless hours of Pinteresting. Guess what? I didn't change anything! If you want a little more detailed instructions go over there. Her bars seem to hold together very nicely.

No-Bake Brown Butter Quinoa Bars

1 1/4 cups old fashioned rolled oats

1 cup cooked quinoa (cool it off)

1 cup chopped almonds

1/2 cup ground flaxseed

1/4 tsp. salt

1/3 cup honey

1/4 cup unsalted brown butter (allow to cool slightly)

1 tsp. pure vanilla extract

3/4 cup chocolate chips

Directions:

Add butter to pan and cook over medium heat stirring frequently until it begins to brown. Remove from heat and set aside to cool. In a large bowl add oats, quinoa, almonds, flaxseed, and salt and stir well. Add honey, browned butter, and vanilla and stir well. Fold in the chocolate chips. Press the mixture firmly into a pan (8x8, 9x9, 9x7 will all work) and refrigerate for at least 2 hours. Cut into bars and enjoy.

Carmalized Onion Tartlets and Other Super Bowl Food

Looking for a few Super Bowl Food ideas??????

I made these for small group and the hubster said, "I wouldn't mind having those for some game day food." I received the hint and promised to make them for him.

They are fairly healthy and pretty easy.

Simple Instructions

1. Get some puff pastry dough from the frozen section of the grocery store.
2. Unroll square of pastry dough and use a circular cutter to make rounds.
3. Make them big enough to put one slice of a Roma tomato on them. (The instructions I followed said to use a 1 1/2 inch cutter and that was not big enough! Save yourself some time and just make them bigger.)
4. Put them in the fridge and caramelize 2 large yellow onions with 4 garlic cloves in a bit of olive oil for about 15 minutes. Slice your tomatoes while they cook.
5. Take pastry out of fridge and brush with egg wash.
6. Top with a bit of fresh Parmesan cheese, the caramelized onion, tomato round, fresh basil and feta or goat cheese.
7. Bake at 425 degrees for 15-20 minutes.

For more detailed instructions and a few more ingredients visit Mini Baker where I found this recipe.


As for what else I am making it may or may not include a few of the following:

Black Bean Chili Dip

8 Layer Mediterranean Dip

Of course I will make the sweet potato fries to go with this dip.

Granite City Copycat Fry Dip

Miles would love for me to make these again I am sure.

Veggie Filled Wontons

Chilled then sliced into pinwheels would be good for this wrap. Everyone likes to eat mini food like I always say.

Wrap with Mediterranean Spread

Perhaps I should make it really easy and just pick up a bag of these. Everyone in our family really LOVES these large sprouted grain pretzels.

It would be really easy to do something like this. Miles and I would love it but the kids probably not so much. (saw this on Pinterest)

Of course I won't forget the veggies! This helps me feel a bit better about some of the junk we tend to consume on a day like Super Bowl Sunday. Plus if I put the veggies in my mouth first I fill up quicker and can't consume as much of the other food.

Evan would love for me to make these again. Cheesecake is his favorite dessert.

Cheesecake Tartlets

I found this recipe on Pinterest and would love to try it!

Chocolate Banana Bites

These also look heavenly and were found on Pinterest.

Healthier Reeses Peanut Butter Cup

If you would still like more ideas here is a link also found on that glorious site, Pinterest, that will lead you to a ton of GREAT and pretty healthy appetizer ideas.

Tons of Appetizer Ideas

Enjoy the weekend everyone and the big game. All I really care about are the funny commercials and the fun food. Although all the inappropriate commercials frustrate me enough that the day is coming when I probably won't watch at all. I have a 12 year old boys mind, eyes, and ears to protect and I don't need any wardrobe malfunctions if you catch my drift!

I do love the fact that the two teams playing means two brothers will be coaching their teams to victory against each other. I don't envy their parents!