Granola Bars meets Protien

After playing with the chocolate peanut butter crunch recipe, I found a recipe for chewy granola bars.   SCORE!  Then suddenly I wasn't satisfied with my previous creation.  Yes it tasted yummy, but could I amp up the protein and turn it into a granola bar style.  So my kitchen has been transformed into a test kitchen yet again.  (Why is good never good enough?!?  I really ought to think about it, but today I am cooking...)

Homemade low calorie granola (check) (I wouldn't eat it for breakfast but it is good for this purpose!)
Protein Powder (Check)
Peanut Butter (Check)
Apron (check)

Let the play time Begin!  I feel like I am back developing recipes for my cooking classes-- ingredients scattered, apron smeared, sticky fingers, children neglected, no they are at school, dog neglected.  I.E. all around crazy fun in the kitchen.

My kitchen gets trashed

I started with the idea from back to the cutting board using granola and rice crispies for the bulk of the bar.  I added some peanut butter and protein powder, but it was way too dry.  Added some milk.  Ooops too much.  New batch.  On batch #3, I figured out the ratios.  (Good thing I buy protein in bulk)

Here is the finished product


Peanut Butter Protein Granola Bar
 2 Tbsp milk
1 Tbsp peanut butter
1 scoop vanilla whey protein powder
1/4 cup rice crispy cereal
1/3 cup plain granola
10 chocolate chips
Melt peanut butter in a small bowl.  Stir in milk and protein powder.  Add granola and rice cereal.  Form into a granola bar shape.  Dot with chocolate chips.  Enjoy responsibly.

Nutrition facts: 375 Calories, 11 grams of fat, 15g carbohydrates, 27 grams protein

Plain Jane Granola (good for making granola bars, but not breakfast worthy)
5 cups quick oats
1/2 cup applesauce
1/2 tsp salt
1 Tbsp honey
1 Tbsp oil
Combine all ingredients in a large bowl.  Spread onto a cookie sheet.  Bake at 325 for 50-60 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes, or until it is a deep golden brown color.  Allow to cool.  Use it to make granola bars.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Protien Crunch Bar

Special K's Bar

I love my post workout recovery shake.  But for days when I am on the run (literally post workout running or errands)  I need something quick, easy,  very portable and tastes good at room (car) temperature (few things are worse than a room (car) temperature smoothie.  YUCK!)  But I hate paying $1.25 or more for protein bars.  Solution?

Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Crunch Bar.  The goodness of oats and peanut butter combined with chocolate and crispy cereal make this good enough to eat!  This recipe was DEVOURED by my kids before I could even take a picture of it.  Lesson learned:  Hide these from the kids!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Crunch Bar
1/2 cup milk
1 cup crunchy peanut butter (can substitute with almond butter)
2 Tbsp honey
1 Tbsp cocoa powder
1 1/4 cup vanilla whey protein powder
1 cup quick oats
1 - 1 1/2 cup rice crispies cereal

Combine peanut butter, milk, honey and cocoa powder in a medium sauce pan.  Heat over low to melt peanut butter.  Stir in whey protein powder and oats.  Remove from heat.
Grease up (spray with non-stick cooking spray) 2 loaf pans.  Grease hands.  Knead in as much rice cereal as you can.  Divide dough into the 2 loaf pans and push down  and spread evenly.   Let cool. Cut into bars.  Wrap in plastic wrap.  Room stable.  Makes 16 bars.
HIDE FROM CHILDREN!
160 calories, 8 g fat, 0g cholesterol, 10g carbohydrates, 13.5 g protein