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Monday, May 12, 2014

{Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Granola Bars With Pumpkin and Chia Seeds}




Hi, All!   I hope you all had a wonderful weekend, and hope you all got to spend time with loved ones and celebrate some special women in your life this past Sunday for Mother's Day!  I was so happy to be able to spend the entire weekend with my family and I have to say that this weekend was one for the books!   I mentioned on Friday that my family was coming up to celebrate Mother's Day and go wedding dress shopping, and I can honestly say that I had a blast trying on white dresses for my big day!  And even more happy to report that I said YES to the dress!  Ah, hard to believe that I have picked out my wedding dress, the dress that I will walk down the aisle and marry Derek in!  I had the best entourage with me as I set out to find the perfect dress!  I feel truly blessed to have been surrounded by love and support as I set out on the hunt for the perfect dress!  I had the "this is the dress moment" and cried when I realized I had found my dress, and even made my sister cry!   The day was special and one I will remember for a long long time! 


Saturday's dress shopping extravaganza was a long one, and I can honestly say I wish I would have packed some healthy snacks in my purse!  These granola bars would have been the perfect healthy pick me up snack!  What I love about these granola bars is you can really mix and match ingredients!  You literally could throw whatever you have on hand into the mix and they would be delicious!  These granola bars are sweet, slightly crunchy and have just enough chocolate to satisfy a chocolate craving!  They make a perfect on the go breakfast, or a hearty snack to keep you full and energized all afternoon! 


Peanut Butter Chocolate Granola Bars with Pumpkin and Chia Seeds 
Brunch N'Cupcakes 
Make 12 Bars 

Ingredients: 
1 1/2 Cups Rolled Oats (not quick cooking) 
1/2 Cup Puffed Brown Rice Cereal 
1/2 Cup Mini Chocolate Chips 
1/2 Cup Pumpkin Seeds
1/4 Cup Chia Seeds 
1/2 Cup Honey (or agave) 
3/4 Cup Peanut Butter

Directions: 
1- In a large bowl melt peanut butter and honey (about 45 seconds).  Stir honey and peanut butter until well combined. 
2- Add Rolled Oats, Brown Rice Ceral, Pumpkin Seeds and Chia seeds to your peanut butter and honey mixture.  Stir until peanut butter and honey is evenly distributed. 
3- Stir in chocolate chips. 
4- Press granola bar "dough" into a greased 9x9 in glass baking pan.  Cover and place in freezer for 30-45 minutes to harden. 
5- Once granola bars have set cut into 12 bars and enjoy!  

**Note - I store mine in the freezer and enjoy them cold but they can easily be left out on the counter in a sealed container. 

Enjoy!