Back To School: After School Treats
Didn’t the kids JUST get out of school? I swear, in ways it seems like it…and yet in ways, I can’t believe the summer I’ve had. So many wonderful thins packed in to just under 3 months: a trip across country for a few weeks, a trip to the Florida Keys, 2 Panic at the Disco Concerts, lots of fun days at the park, and a tan that I am pretty darned proud of.
Me. With a tan. This is not normal.
But alas, the summer HAS come and gone, and here we all are, headed back to school.
My son, Seven, is off to second grade on September 2nd, a couple of days after his seventh birthday. (Don’t even get me started, I thought I would have a lot longer to prepare for that day. He was JUST BORN. Really. Just born a few days ago it seems.) So, to hopefully continue with my “good mom” status that I’ve managed this summer thanks to vacations and spaghetti taco night and pizza and creeks and days upon days at the pool, I’ve decided I’ll try my hand at keeping him in After School Snacks.
He comes home famished from class – I think all kids do, I remember being starved by 4pm – so why not have some things at the ready? A cookie, a brownie, something to hold him over for a couple of hours until dinner, and to keep him out of my hair while I work.
Makes sense, no?
Of course it does.
So here is a recipe of mine, plus a few recipes I dug up to give me a jumpstart on the school year. They can be made on the weekend, then stored for the rest of the week.
I think my “good mom” status will be just fine. And if not, heck, I’ll just eat it all myself.
Oatmeal Nut Bars
- Rich and nutty, a family favorite…perfect for back-to-school and packed lunches!
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Bake Time: 30 minutes
Yield: 16-20
Ingredients
- ½ cup old-fashioned oats
- ½ cup roasted peanuts
- ½ cup crushed almonds
- 3 tablespoons safflower or vegetable oil
- ½ cup Dixie Crystals Light Brown Sugar
- ½ cup peanut butter
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 large egg white
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 300. Line a 8×8 baking pan with parchment paper, leaving an overhang for easy removal.
2. In a large bowl, combine oats, peanuts, and almonds.
3. In a small saucepan, combine oil, brown sugar, peanut butter, salt, and a tablespoon of water. Whisk over low heat until sugar has dissolved and incorporated, roughly 5-7 minutes. Allow to cool slightly before whisking in egg white.
4. Pour warm mixture over oats and nuts, stir until moist. Spread evenly in the prepared pan, smoothing the top.
5. Bake 30 minutes, or until firm. Allow to cool; remove from pan with the parchment. Cut into bars.
Here are some more great After-School treats to check out, just click the picture for the recipe!
