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Back to School Recipes
After School Energy Boosters
Whether your child makes it home after
school before diving into homework or spends the immediate
after school hours immersed in after-school sports and
other extracurricular activities, it is important to make
sure that he or she eats an energy filled snack at that
time of day. Afternoon snacks help kids battle the grumpy
after-school monster inside by supplying them with the
energy to carry them through the afternoon. Store-bought
snacks are often very expensive and tend to be packed with
sugar, fat, salt and preservatives! To save money and
promote healthy eating, we recommend spending some time
making homemade snacks that out-delicious and
out-nutritious store-bought varieties.
Carry Along Energy Boosters
On the days that your child will spend the immediate
after-school hours away from home, be sure to stock their
backpacks with a snack well suited for after-school
consumption.
Fruity Granola Bars
INGREDIENTS
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3/4 cup packed brown sugar |
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<1/2 cup honey |
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1/4 cup water |
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1 teaspoon salt |
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1/2 cup butter |
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3 cups rolled oats |
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1 cup toasted and sliced
almonds |
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1 cup wheat germ |
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1/4 cup sesame seeds |
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1/2 cup dried cherries |
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1/2 cup raisins |
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1/2 cup chopped pitted
dates |
DIRECTIONS |
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1 |
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In a large saucepan or
electric frying pan, combine sugar,
butter, honey, water, and salt. Bring to a
simmer and cook for 5 minutes. Stir in
oats, almonds, wheat germ, and sesame
seeds. Cook, stirring frequently, for 15
minutes. Remove from heat and add fruits. |
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2 |
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Pour into a jelly roll pan
lined with wax paper or parchment. Score
deeply into bars of desired size. Allow to
cool for 30 minutes. Break along score
lines. Store in an airtight container. |
Makes 12 servings |
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Oatmeal Peanut Butter Bars
INGREDIENTS
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1 cup peanut butter |
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1/2 cup packed brown sugar |
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1/2 cup corn syrup |
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1/3 cup butter |
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2 teaspoons vanilla extract |
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3 1/3 cups rolled oats |
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1/2 cup flaked coconut |
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1/2 cup sunflower seeds |
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1/2 cup raisins |
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1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips
DIRECTIONS |
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1 |
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Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
(175 degrees C). |
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2 |
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In a large bowl stir together
the peanut butter, the butter or margarine,
the brown sugar, the syrup and the vanilla
until smooth. |
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3 |
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Add all the other ingredients.
Stir well. |
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4 |
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Press the mixture into 13 x 9
inch greased pan. Bake for 20-25 minutes. Let
cool on wire rack before cutting into bars. |
Makes 32 servings |
Chewy Granola Bars
INGREDIENTS
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4 1/2 cups rolled oats |
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1 cup all-purpose flour |
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1 teaspoon baking soda |
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1 teaspoon vanilla extract |
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2/3 cup butter, softened |
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1/2 cup honey |
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1/3 cup packed brown sugar |
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2 cups miniature semisweet
chocolate chips
DIRECTIONS |
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1 |
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Preheat oven to 325 degrees F
(165 degrees C). Lightly grease one 9x13 inch
pan. |
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2 |
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In a large mixing bowl combine
the oats, flour, baking soda, vanilla, butter
or margarine, honey and brown sugar. Stir in
the 2 cups assorted chocolate chips, raisins,
nuts etc. |
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3 |
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Lightly press mixture into the
prepared pan. Bake at 325 degrees F (165
degrees C) for 18 to 22 minutes or until
golden brown. Let cool for 10 minutes then cut
into bars. Let bars cool completely in pan
before removing or serving. |
Makes 18 servings |
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Banana
Bread
INGREDIENTS
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1 1/2 cups all-purpose
flour |
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1 teaspoon baking soda |
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1/2 teaspoon salt |
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1 cup white sugar |
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2 eggs, beaten |
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1/4 cup butter, melted |
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3 bananas, mashed |
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DIRECTIONS |
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1 |
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Grease and flour two 7x3 inch
loaf pans. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175
degrees C). |
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2 |
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In one bowl, whisk together
flour, soda, salt, and sugar. Mix in slightly
beaten eggs, melted butter, and mashed
bananas. Stir in nuts if desired. Pour into
prepared pans. |
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3 |
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Bake at 350 degrees F (175
degrees C) for 1 hour, or until a wooden
toothpick inserted in the center comes out
clean. |
Makes 16 servings |
Banana-Orange Smoothie
INGREDIENTS
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1 banana, peeled |
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1 large orange, peeled and seeded |
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2 cups vanilla-flavored soy milk |
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1 teaspoon ground ginger
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DIRECTIONS |
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1 |
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Place banana, orange, soy milk,
and ginger in an electric blender. Process
until ingredients are blended and smooth |
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