Chocolate Popcorn

This probably sounds a bit weird, but it's yummy. Or at least I think it's yummy. I've been craving chocolate like crazy lately. Popcorn is a filling snack, and low calorie depending on how you cook/top it. Chocolate popcorn was the answer to my cravings. It satisfies that chocolate craving without me gobbling down several candy bars. Lol.

Chocolate popcorn

6 tablespoons popping corn (found near the microwaveable calorie dense popcorn in plastic bags or jugs)
1 paper bag, lunch sack size (found in the grocery store on the isle with trash bags/zip lock bags, etc)
1 square of chocolate almond bark (just one square, not the whole bar)

Put the 6 tablespoons of popcorn into the paper bag. Close the bag by folding the top over tightly, twice. Lay the bag on it's side in the microwave (or instead you could use a hot air popcorn maker instead of this method) and cook on high. With my microwave I normally set it for 3 minutes and when I stop it (when you have pauses between the popcorn popping you want to stop it so that it won't burn), I have about 15-45 seconds left. Pour out the popcorn and remove the unpopped kernels.

Now heat up your almond bark in the microwave for 10-15 seconds in a glass or ceramic bowl/cup. Stir and if still lumpy, heat for another 10-15 seconds. Put melted chocolate in a piping bag, or a sandwich bag with a very tiny (important!) hole cut in the corner.

Now what I do next is to start layering my popcorn in the bowl that I store it in. It's about a gallon size bowl. I pour a layer of popcorn to cover the bottom of the bowl. I then drizzle chocolate all over that layer. I then layer more popcorn and repeat with chocolate a second time. And I find that I'm done with this with three layers of popcorn/chocolate. Now all you have to do is put the lid on (so your popcorn doesn't go stale) and set it aside and wait for the chocolate to cool and solidify again.

So yummy! I find that I can make a bowl of this and just grab a handful here and there to satisfy my chocolate cravings and it'll last me about a week or so before it either starts to go stale or I have eaten it all.

Chewy or Crunchy Granola Bars

We go through a LOT of granola bars in my house. Both of my older kids absolutely love chewy granola bars and both my husband and I have a soft spot for them too. Although my husband prefers crunchy granola bars the most, but that recipe is to be tried another day.

I followed the recipe as-is (except I didn't use gluten and dairy free products, and I doubled it to the quantities below), and we LOVE it!!! If you want Oats & Honey, just skip the chocolate chips. If you don't want chocolate chips, but another flavor, mix it up. These were extremely easy to make, and well worth it. I doubt that I'll be buying any more granola bars any time in the near future.

Oh, and next time I make these, I might add in one more cup of crispy rice cereal just to make them crunch a bit more. They were perfect as-is, but I want to see how they'll turn out with a little more crisp to them.


Source: Once A Month Mom

Granola Bars
(Oats & Honey or Chocolate Chip)

1/2 cup butter (needs to be full fat)
1/2 cup honey
2/3 cup brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups crispy rice cereal
4 cups quick cooking oats
4 tbsp. mini chocolate chips*

Combine butter, honey and brown sugar and melt together until bubbling. Cook for two more minutes. Add vanilla.

Combine crispy rice cereal and oats. Mix wet and dry ingredients together until well mixed/coated.

Spread into a greased jelly roll pan. Press down firmly. You must press this extremely well for the bars to hold together.

Sprinkle with chocolate chips and press them into the granola mixture.

For chewy bars: Cool for several hours at room temperature for several hours before cutting into bars.

For crunchy bars: Preheat oven to 350 degrees and bake for 25-30 minutes or until edges start to brown. Cut into bars immediately and then wait for bars to cool (if you wait until cooled to cut, you will have an extremely hard time).

Homemade Potato Chips

Homemade Potato Chips
Source: Allrecipes for inspiration

Ingredients:
1 potato (for a single serving)
Seasonings

Directions:
Cut potato into extremely thin slices. I used what I had on hand, and a suggestion of a tip on allrecipes, and sliced mine with my vegetable peeler. Since this was the method I was using, I peeled my potatoes and dispossed of the peel. I then "peeled" the rest of my potato into thin slices.

Line microwave tray with parchment paper. Spray lightly with cooking oil (just to keep from sticking). Spread out potato slices in a single layer without touching. You may spray lightly with cooking oil (I don't), and sprinkle with seasonings. I just use a little bit of sea salt.

Cook on high until chips are browning. They are done then. Well, at least that's when I think they taste the best. For my slicing method, and my microwave, it's about 5 to 7 minutes when mine are done. Keep in mind the more potatoes in there the longer it takes, therefore the less slices, the shorter the cooking time. Let cool for about a minute and dig in. They are heaven!