Feel-Better Snacks

Our dear friend recently had surgery and I decided to bake her some goodies to speed up the recovery process.  I made two treats, both based on recipes from Giada.  The first is oatmeal almond bars.  Here is the link to Giada's recipe:

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/apricot-oat-bars-recipe/index.html

To start this I combine the dry ingredients: 

• 1 3/4 cup flour
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 3/4 cup rolled oats
• 1 cup chopped walnuts

 Then I add the wet ingredients into the dry:

•  2 sticks melted better
• 1 egg 
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract 

Last, I make the apricot filling:

• 12 oz jar of apricot preserves
• 10 dried apricots chopped into small cube-like pieces 

Take half of the crust batter and press it onto the bottom layer of the baking pan.  Then spread the apricot filling over it, and finally place the remaining crust batter on top of the filling.  

Bake in a 9 x 13 pan at 350 for 1 hour.  

These bars are dangerously good!  I had some left over and froze them for my husband's lunches!


The second feel-better snack that I made is peanut-butter chocolate cookie drops.

To start I assemble the dry ingredients:

• 1 cup flour
• 1/3 cup cocoa power
• 1/2 tsp baking soda

Next, combine the wet ingredients:

• 1 stick room temp butter
• 3/4 cup chunky peanut butter
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar 
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract 
• 1 egg 

Next, add the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, and beat on a low speed for 1-2 minutes.  Using a mini-ice cream scoop scoop take batter into your hands and roll into a ball.  Have a small bowl filled with sugar next to you, and roll the ball of dough in the sugar then place on the cookie sheet.  Go through this process until completed.  Bake for 15-18 minutes at 375 degrees.  

You could use creamy peanut butter in this recipe, however I find that using crunchy peanut butter adds nice texture, and makes it taste like a Reese's peanut butter cup!  Enjoy!