Some of you readers out there might remember my granola recipe that I posted a while back - I think there are even some who adopted it. Anyway, I got tired of not being able to take it with me to work (the logistics of taking milk with me for the granola were just too much of a PITA), so I decided to make my next culinary adventure...granola bars. Every bit as good and completely portable. Ta-da!
Anyway, I found 4 recipes online and finally decided to make the peanut butter-chocolate chip ones. I substituted natural peanut butter for regular and Splenda brown sugar. I am trying really hard to keep the sugar content down in our diets. I also decreased the amount of corn syrup, which may have been a bad choice as they are a bit crumbly. I'll have to rework the recipe a bit - maybe decrease the corn syrup but add a little honey. BTW, anyone know if corn syrup or honey is better for you? Instinctively, I want to say that honey must be better, but I really don't know. Is light corn syrup in the same class of evil foods as high fructose corn syrup? Another thing I need to find out...if I only knew where!
Since we have a lot of granola eaters out there, I'll try to post a recipe when I find one that it scrumptious. I think my next batch of bars will be coconut-almond-cranberry....mmmmm.
No work tomorrow - but a few errands to run. I have to go to the bank to get a cashiers check for $130 to pay DH's speeding fine. I also have to set up an eye appt. as I am on my last pair of contacts. I have been putting this off for several months now as I know it will cost me about $290 out of pocket. I splurge on the Night and Day contacts ($240 for a years supply), but I absolutely love them and will never go back. I could save money by going to a network eye doctor, but I have been going to the same place since 6th grade and don't want to change. I guess some things are worth a little more.
Took a real beating in the market today, especially with Apple dropping almost $6. Right now, we hold only stocks, no funds, a strategy that my parents swear by (although they have enough to be sufficiently diversified, whereas we do not). I told DH (the investor) that I want to start looking at mutual funds - I think when we can start putting money away again, I'll need to hit the forums for suggestions. I have a lot to learn.
one step beyond granola
January 19th, 2007 at 03:33 am
January 19th, 2007 at 03:09 pm 1169219353
January 19th, 2007 at 04:51 pm 1169225482
As far as sweeteners, i think in the end, sugar is sugar and eating excess amounts of any of them will cause blood glucose problems, etc. When given a choice, i always stick with the more 'natural' form though, so i'd stick with honey.
Splenda is not without controversy if you do a google search on splenda health risks.
January 20th, 2007 at 03:54 am 1169265244
January 21st, 2007 at 03:04 am 1169348693
Fern: I have only tried one recipe so far - but I have a few more to try out soon. None of my new recipes use corn syrup (mostly honey and/or maple syrup). I have to get rid of this first batch before I make any more though or I will end up throwing them away. I'm aware of the controversy on Splenda...sigh. It's something or other that's going to get you. I do limit my sugar intake overall, so my Splenda use is limited (pretty much only in granola or occasional baking).
LuckyRobin: Thanks for laying it all out for me - that was helpful. I am going to shy away from the corn syrup. Your post reminded me that we have several gallons of pure maple syrup sitting on a shelf. My parents get some every year for Christmas from a friend, but to be honest, we all prefer the fake stuff on our pancakes (I know, I know...). I made some granola today with the syrup in place of white sugar and part of the honey (I ran out) and tasted no difference. Now I have something to do with all that syrup!