HEALTHY SCHOOL SNACKS

Well it's time to get busy baking again, and what better way than to start baking healthier snack food for the families' school lunches.  I have always had a problem putting in packaged snacks into the children's lunches as there are so many preservatives and chemicals and sugars in most of them that they really are not contributing to the much-needed brain food the kids need to consistently learn at school.  With a Nutrimill grain mill and the Bosch Universal Kitchen Mixer we can make whatever we need to fast and easily.  These recipes are from our Sensible Cooking Cookbook which is a compilation of Bosch dealers and distributors favorite recipes.

Monster Muffins :  This recipe can be changed many ways by just adding a different fruit or nut to the ingredients.  If you grind your own wheat and roll fresh oats with a Flaker, the flour includes the bran and the wheat germ.  If you are using store-bought whole wheat flour measure 2 Tbsp. of wheat bran and 1 Tbsp. of wheat germ in a measuring cup and add to that whole flour to make 1 1/4 cups of flour

Preheat the oven to 325 F. degrees.  Mill wheat.  Measure flax into your Bosch blender and blend on speed 1 for a few minutes, or until there are no whole seeds left.  Soften cranberries and raisins by placing them in a bowl and covering with boiling water for 10 min.    Place ingredient list 1 in the Bosch blender and blend until smooth.  If you are using Xagave or honey add that to the blender ingredients as well.  Place all the List 2 ingredients along with the ground flax, in the Bosch Universal Plus mixing bowl fitted with the wire whips and splash ring.  Mix well.  Add blender mixture slowly into a bowl and mix on speed 1 or jog until just combined.  Fill greased muffin cups almost full.  Bake at 325 degrees F. for 20 to 25 min. or until set and golden.  Make 6 Monster Muffins or 1 doz.. medium size muffins. 

Click here for Monster Muffin printable recipe!

Energy Bars :  These are great for a quick breakfast or a healthy after-school snack for the kids (or adults)  They are also easy to make in the Bosch Mixer with the cookie paddles.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and grease an 11"x15"pan.  In the Bosch Mixer equipped with the wire whips or cookie paddles (these are better to use)  cream sugar and butter.  Add honey, peanut butter, vanilla and egg.  Blend together.  In a separate bowl stir flour, cinnamon, soda, salt, rolled oats, rice crispies, sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds.  Add to creamed ingredients.  Switch to dough hook and add chocolate chips, coconut and frozen or dried berries.  Turn into pan.  Press and bake 22 min. and cut into bars while still warm.

Click here for printable Energy Bar Recipe

Quinoa Currant Scones -  This is  another great family pleaser that again is low in sugar and high in both protein and fiber and made with the super grain Quinoa.  They are called "Currant Scones" but the recipe calls for Sultana raisins.  You could substitute currants in place of the raisins if you are so inclined.

In the Bosch Universal mixer with cookie paddles, mix above ingredients until moistened.  Place dough on lightly floured board and roll to 3/4 " thick.  Using a 2" round cookie cutter, cut out circles of dough.  Place on parchment paper.  Brush tops with buttermilk.  Preheat oven then bake at 425 degrees F. for 12 to 15 min. or until golden brown.  You can add a treat to scones by serving a berry butter.  I combine 1/4 cup of any kind of berry in the processor attachment for the Bosch with 1/2 cups unsalted butter and 1/8 tsp. salt.  It will keep in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days or you can freeze it for up to one month.  Click here for printable Quinoa Scones recipe.

I encourage you to try all or one of these great recipes.  I know the kids will love them and you will be happy knowing they are getting better nutrition than the package snacks.