Pumpkin Granola Bars

An on the go breakfast option!

Ingredients
3 1/4 cups old fashioned oats
1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
¾ cup brown sugar
½ cup pumpkin puree
¼ cup applesauce
¼ cup honey
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup chocolate chips
directions:


1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray an 8 by 8 baking pan with cooking spray and set aside.

2. In a large bowl, whisk oats, spices, and salt together. Set aside.

3. In a medium bowl, whisk brown sugar, pumpkin, applesauce, honey, and vanilla extract until smooth. Pour over oats and stir well, until all of the oats are moist. Stir in chocolate chips.

4. Evenly press oat mixture into prepared pan. Bake for 30-35 minutes or until golden brown. The pumpkin keeps the bars moist, so make sure they are golden and set-you don't want them to be under baked. Remove from oven and let cool on a wire rack for 5 minutes.

5. Using a sharp knife, cut into bars. Remove from pan and let cool completely. Wrap individually in cling wrap and keep in fridge.

From Two Peas and their Pod

Lemony Spring Soup with Chicken

This was delicious on a grey and rainy day in March.

Ingredients:
2 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 leek, quartered, white part sliced
2 carrots, peeled and diced small (if you can find multi-colored carrots, those are beautiful)
2 cloves garlic, pressed through garlic press
Salt
Black pepper
1 teaspoon herbs de Provence
4 cups chicken stock, hot
1 cup fresh English peas (or frozen peas)
1 cup baby zucchini, small dice
2 cooked chicken breasts, shredded or cubed (you can use rotisserie chicken for convenience)
2 teaspoons lemon zest
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
2 cups cooked quinoa
¼ cup chopped, fresh basil leaves
4 lemon wedges, garnish

Place a medium-large soup pot over medium heat; add in the butter and olive oil, and once melted, add in the sliced leek and diced carrots, and sweat for about 3-5 minutes, or until slightly tender and the leeks are becoming translucent.

Add in the garlic, and once that becomes aromatic, add in a pinch or two of salt and pepper, and the herbs de Provence; stir to combine.

Next, add in the hot chicken stock, and bring to a gentle simmer; cover partially with a lid, and cook for about 15-20 minutes, or until carrots are tender.

Turn the heat off; add in the English peas (or frozen peas), the diced baby zucchini, the shredded or cubed chicken breast, and the lemon zest and juice; stir to combine, and allow the peas/zucchini to become crisp-tender and bright green in the hot stock, about 3-4 minutes; check to see if additional salt or pepper is needed.

To serve, add about ½ cup of the cooked quinoa to a bowl, and ladle some of the soup with the veggies and chicken over top; sprinkle over some of the fresh basil, and squeeze in some additional lemon juice from the lemon wedge garnish, if desired.

From The Cozy Apron

Ranch Dressing

2/3 cup sour cream
1/4 cup buttermilk
2 tablespoons minced fresh cilantro leaves (or dill, tarragon, or parsley)
1 tablespoon minced shallot
2 teaspoons white wine vinegar
1/2 teaspoon granulated garlic
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
Sugar to taste

Whisk ingredients together until smooth. Add sugar to taste.

Cucumber Salsa

Ingredients:
2 cups finely chopped seeded peeled cucumber
1/2 cup finely chopped seeded tomato
1/4 cup chopped red onion
2 Tbsp minced fresh parsley
1 jalepeno pepper, seeded and chopped (optional)
4-1/2 tsp minced fresh cilantro
1 garlic clove, minced or pressed
1/4 c reduced-fat sour cream or greek yogurt
1-1/2 tsp lemon juice
1-1/2 tsp lime juice
1/4 tsp ground cumin
1/4 tsp seasoned salt
Tortilla chips

In a small bowl, combine the first seven ingredients. In another bowl, combine the sour cream, lemon juice, lime juice, cumin and seasoned salt. Pour over cucumber mixture and toss gently to coat. Serve immediately with chips.