The Money Mustache Community
Learning, Sharing, and Teaching => Ask a Mustachian => Topic started by: Manguy888 on December 23, 2014, 12:21:37 PM
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My wife and I are planning big changes in spending for 2015. As we pored over our budget, whittling away at whatever we could, we noticed that a shocking percentage of our grocery bill goes to granola bars.
I eat one every day at work. They are kashi, have little chocolate bits, and make me so happy. But at $30-40 per month (bought in bulk) they're far too expensive, especially when compared to the low cost of the base ingredients.
So 2015 will be all about making our own granola or granola bars. Does anyone have a favorite recipe or link to one?
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http://happymoneysaver.com/no-bake-homemade-chewy-granola-bars/ This website has alot of great recipes!
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I can't find the recipe, but we have a very very easy, no-bake recipe we use at home. Penaut butter, honey, oats, and flax seed make up the body, with cranberries and chocolate chips as optional sweetness. No sugar or syrup necessary. I'll keep looking for that recipe.
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I love baking, and find homemade things are much cheaper- and the added bonus of knowing what's exactly in them! I have a "foodie" blog- and breakfast is one of my favorite things- here's my Oatmeal Breakfast Bar Recipe : http://www.foodiecycles.com/2013/04/22/happy-earth-day-2/
Homemade granola bars are the best because you can really substitute whatever you have on hand- any dried fruit and any nut/seed would work, also instead of regular milk you could use coconut or almond milk. the possibilities are endless! Happy baking :)
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Thanks everyone! I'll try bake and no bake and post my results
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One tip - find a website thatll calculate nutrition value from the recipe if it's not included. A lot of granola recipes are packed full of sugar and fat (about as bad as a candy bar). I found a great one with natural peanut butter and have experimented with agave (vs honey), but you do need honey as a binder unless you like crumbly granola.
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Try sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds and shredded coconut in the toaster oven for as long as you would toast a slice of bread. While that is toasting, put a little yogurt (I like plain coconut yogurt ) in a bowl and put about a teaspoon of honey on it. Add a few raisins, unsalted almonds and unsalted peanuts. When the toasted coconut and seeds are done add them to the top.
I have been eating this little mix for two years. It is the best breakfast ever in my opinion.
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http://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/share-your-badassity/brought-breakfast-and-lunch-to-work-for-60-days-straight/msg377219/#msg377219
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http://forum.mrmoneymustache.com/ask-a-mustachian/biking-and-breakfast/msg116346/#msg116346
This one looks super easy and easy to modify based on what is in the house.
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Roughly:
1 cup oats
1/2 cup ground flax seed
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1/3 cup sunflower seeds
1/3 cup coconut
1/2 cup nut butter
1/3 cup honey or agave
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt
You can change dry ingredients to your liking (add fruits, nuts, etc).