{Homemade Granola}

This was my first time making homemade granola, I will never go back to store bought! This stuff is amazing as a snack, in yogurt, as cereal in the morning. Love it. I made mine into bars and also crushed some up after it came out of the oven. YUM

6 cups Rolled Oats (not Quick Oats)

4 Tablespoons Butter, Melted, Plus More For Greasing

1/4 cup Vegetable Or Canola Oil

1 teaspoon Salt

1 cup Brown Sugar

1/2 cup Honey

1/4 cup Apple Juice

1/4 cup Molasses

3 teaspoons Vanilla Extract

1-1/2 cup Rice Krispies

1 cup Wheat Germ

1/2 cup Finely Chopped Pecans

1/4 cup Roughly Chopped Almonds

8 ounces, weight Milk Chocolate Or Chocolate Almond Bark, Melted (optional)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

In a bowl, toss the oats with the canola oil, melted butter and salt. Spread the mixture out on 2 baking sheets and toast in the oven for 15 to 20 minutes, shaking the pan twice and making sure they don't burn. Remove from the oven and set aside.

Reduce the heat to 325 degrees F.

In a medium saucepan, combine the brown sugar, honey, apple juice and molasses. Heat the mixture slowly, stirring until all combined. Stir in the vanilla.

Toss together the toasted oats, rice cereal, wheat germ, pecans and almonds. Pour in the sugar mixture, stirring as you pour. Toss to combine; it will be sticky!

Press into 1 baking sheet (thoroughly greased with butter, or line pan with foil and grease foil) and bake until golden, about 20-25 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool. Cut pieces with a sharp knife and remove from the pan.

OPTIONAL

Dip the cooled granola bars straight into the melted chocolate so that the top is plain and the bottom is chocolate-covered. Set on parchment until set, sticking in the fridge to hasten this along if necessary.

Recipe Source: The Pioneer Women

{Healthy Chocolate Banana Shake}

These shakes are purely amazing and I love that they curb my appetite for most of the morning and into the afternoon. They taste delishious and I am getting a ton of nutrition when my kids or husband and I drink them. For more information or to read success stories click HERE

2 scoops chocolate Achieve 

1 cup almond milk

1/2 banana 

1 cup ice

Blend all together in a blender and serve. Delish!

{Reese's Peanut Butter Shake}

This nutritious shake is so yummy! I have a 5 year old that doesn't eat very well and is extremely picky but will beg me for one of these...at least I know she is getting all the nutrition she needs. Read about achieve and how to get some here and click on the buttons on the top right of my page.

1 Cup almond breeze vanilla milk
2 scoops chocolate achieve
1 to 2 Tbs organic or regular peanut butter
6 ice cubes

Blend all together in a blender and serve.

{Achieve: Nutritious Alternative}

Achieve by Zrii

This stuff is amazing! I am so glad I found it. I have tried a ton of different meal replacement solutions to incorporate into recipes and achieve has it all. Where do I began...

Here are just some of the benefits: 

• Promotes fat metabolism/weight loss 

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• Provides optimal nutrition 

• Boosts and sustains energy levels

• Improves digestion, blood sugar regulation, and nutrient absorption

• All-natural and free of artificial ingredients

• 22 vitamins and minerals

• Preservative free 

• More info

I have even found ways to incorporate this glorious powder into my meals to replace the bad stuff with  nutritious ingredients and you can't even tell the difference. Many great recipes to come! 

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