I want to be Ina for a day and her Homemade Granola Bars

I want to be Ina Garten. Just for one day, I want to be The Barefoot Contessa. I want to live in a huge house in The Hamptons, have a brand new barn built as my new kitchen, I want to flit around town and go the the coolest food stores, where everyone knows my name. I want all my food to always look and taste as fabulous as hers does. I want to have fab friends who are always having parties and need my help to make it perfect. I want her collection of white dishes. It also wouldn't be bad to have a husband who works in another state during the week and only comes home on weekends. Oh, what a perfect wife I would be then. (just kidding, honey!!) I want her collection of pots and pans and her beautiful herbs that are waiting so patiently on her counter for her to use. I love Ina and how idyllic her life seems, but I would only trade it for one day, because I would miss my own disorganized, chaotic and kid filled life too much. A girl is allowed to dream. Now that I got that off my chest, I can move on to her Homemade Granola Bars, the original recipe can be found here. I saw her make these last week on TV and had to make them immediately. They were easy and so good and the ingredients can be interchangeable, I think, so if you don't like something, change it to something else. A Barefoot Contessa recipe has never let me down, and this one is no different.



Homemade Granola Bars


2 cups old fashioned oatmeal
1 cup sliced almonds
1 cup shredded coconut, loosely packed
1/2 cup wheat germ ( I did not use, because I didn't have any)
3 tbsp unsalted butter
2/3 cup honey
1/4 cup light brown sugar, lightly packed
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup chopped,pitted dates
1/2 cup chopped, dried apricots
1/2 cup dried cranberries


Directions:

Preheat oven to 350.

Butter an 8x12 inch baking dish and line it with parchmant. I used a 9x13 and it was perfect. Do not skip on the parchmant paper, it will help you remove these later.


Toss oatmeal,coconut and almonds together on a sheet pan and bake 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned.

Transfer to a large bowland stir in wheat germ. Reduce oven to 300.

Place butter,honey,brownsugar, vanilla and salt in a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat.


Cook and stir for a minute, then pour over oatmeal mixture. Add the dates, apricots and cranberries.

Stir very well.

Pour the mixture into prepared pan, please use the parchmant paper. Wet your fingers and lightly press the mixture evenly into pan.

Looks good, no? Bake 25-30 minutes, until lightly browned. Cool at least 2-3 hours before cutting into squares. Serve at room temperature.

The parchmant paper made this so much easier for the whole thing to come out when I flipped it over.

These were so good and my coworkers inhaled them. I was really impressed. They were so easy to make and they made alot and I think for the upcoming school year they would make a great snack or quick breakfast. I think you could substitute any dried fruit or nuts you like to make it work for you, but definately try them. They are a keeper.

As you can tell by my picture, I did not let them sit for 2-3 hours, so they drooped a little for this shot. Ina would have never done that, she would have known better. Oh well.

My kid's Favorite meal...Easy, Peasy Chicken Legs

I am almost embarassed, really to share this recipe, because it is just my way of cooking my kids favorite dinner...Chicken legs. They love them. I don't know if it is because they can use their hands and not worrry about making a mess, but I really don't care, this is the one thing I make that they are guarranteed to do the happy dance for. I do not have to beg, cry or bribe them to eat. They happily come to the table and stuff themselves, it is such a relief, really. This can be adapted a million different ways, The Pioneer woman has a recipe for spicy,roasted chicken legs that is also really good. I have made that numerous times, but it may be a little too spicy for the little ones. Anyway here it is, it is not exact and it is not written in stone. Interpret it the best way to suit your family:





Easy, Peasy Chicken legs



1 jumbo package of chicken legs( usually contains around 14 legs)

olive oil

salt and pepper

garlic powder



Preheat oven to 400.

Place chicken legs in large bowl and drizzle with olive oil, enough to cover them all, generously.

Sprinkle with salt,pepper and garlic powder.

Place on large baking sheet and bake for 1-1 1/2 hours, turning them to ensure crispiness on all sides.

Serve with french fries and get out of the way..


Can you see the joy on their faces, or maybe it is annoyance because Mom is trying to take their picture while they are eating, I haven't decided yet.
Like I said there are a million different ways to do this. You can use lemon pepper,adobo, if you like it hot, use cayenne peper, or maybe go with oregano or just lawrys seasoning. whatever works for you. These legs come out so tender on the inside, with a nice crispy skin outside, who doesn't like crunchy skin. These are also good the next day for lunch.

So if you are ever stuck for an idea for a cheap, easy dinner( chicken legs are always on sale) try these, I bet your kids will love them as much as mine. This is an all-time keeper in our house.