Instant Oatmeal Packets - YUM!

Easy to make, fun to make, & cheap to make! Did you know that quick oats are simply chopped regular oats? To make your own "instant" oats, just put them in a blender for a few seconds, & voila! I like to blend my oats long enough to almost powder them, because it makes a creamier bowl of oatmeal!

I finally got around a few months ago to making my own instant oatmeal packets. Something I've wanted to do for a long time... but just didn't. I'm reeeeeaaaaalllllyyyy glad I did!

These are so yummy. And surprisingly, they're MUCH more filling than the store bought ones, which we usually ended up eating 3 or 4 of to fill us up!

Assembly line style makes this way fast. Just line up your little baggies & ingredients, & scoop one ingredient at a time over & over till you're done... Then move on to the next ingredient. It takes just minutes to make 30 or 40 packets!

AFTER you've gotten all your basic flavor bags made, go back through & add your favorite flavors to them. Variations are listed below the basic recipe:

ORGANIZING YOUR PACKETS (without having to label every single bag)... put all the bags of each different flavor in a plastic shoe box & label just the box. This way, you'll know which is which just by looking at the container.

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Instant Oatmeal Packet Basic Recipe - & Varieties: (Per ONE Packet)

Mix the following in snack or sandwich baggies to make individual oatmeal packets:

¼ c. powdered oats (reg. oats lightly powdered in blender)
1 T. powdered milk
1 T. brown sugar
pinch of salt (optional)

I just add a little hot water & let it sit for a minute, but you can microwave it too, if you want!

Sometimes, I also add 1 T. of non-dairy creamer to each packet. It makes the oatmeal even creamer!

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VARIATIONS - (Adjust to your own taste... Or your kids own taste!)

Don't forget to double or triple the flavor ingredients, depending on how many packets you put in each bag!

Apple-Cinnamon - To each packet, add 1 Tbsp. sugar, 1/4 tsp. cinnamon, and 2 Tbsp. chopped dried apples.

Apple Pie - To each packet, add ¼ tsp. apple pie spice

Brown Sugar/Cinnamon - To each packet, add 1 Tbsp. brown sugar & 1/4 tsp. cinnamon

Raisins & Brown Sugar - To each packet, add 1 Tbsp. packed brown sugar and 1 Tbsp. raisins.

Health Nut - To each packet, add 1/2 Tbsp. each wheat germ, ground flax seed, chopped almonds

Honey Nut - To each packet, add 1 Tbsp. honey powder & 1 T. chopped pecans/almonds

Fruit & Cream - To each packet, add 1 Tbsp. non-dairy coffee creamer and 2 Tbsp. dried fruit & / or powdered fruit flavor

Confetti - To each packet, add 1 tsp. decorative cake/cookie sprinkles.

S'Mores - To each packet, add 6 miniature marshmallows and 1 Tbsp. Milk Chocolate Chips to each packet. (can also add Golden Grahams cereal for a little crunch)

Cookies n Cream - To each packet add 1 crushed Oreo cookie and 1 Tbsp. non-dairy coffee creamer to each packet.

Candy Bar - To each packet add 2 Tbsp. Crushed Butterfinger (or other candy bar) to each packet.

Maple & Brown Sugar - To each packet add powdered maple flavoring & extra brown sugar

Maple Pecan - To each packet add powdered maple flavoring & chopped pecans

Pumpkin Pie - To each packet add ¼ tsp. pumpkin pie spice

Oatmeal Raisin Granola Bars

I FOUND THE RECIPE!!!


OK... After DAYS of searching for the recipe I used to make these, I finally found it buried under a pile of papers. I guess I should clean up, huh! So here it is:

2 c. oats
3/4 c. wheat germ
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 c. sunflower seeds (I used 3/4 c. & I thought it was too much)
8 oz. raisins or craisins

2/3 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. honey
4 Tbs. butter
2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. sea salt

Mix sugar, honey, butter, vanilla, & salt. Melt in microwave for about 2 minutes & stir well.

Mix melted items & remaining dry ingredients in large bowl & stir well. Keep stirring! It may seem dry, but it WILL get sticky if you keep going..... :)

Line casserole dish with large piece of waxed paper.

Dump mixture in casserole dish & spread. Fold wax paper over top, OR add a new piece on top. Using hands, press hard to flatten & compact mixture.

Let cool completely!

Lift granola bars out of dish with waxed paper & cut into bars or squares. (Or, if you didn't use waxed paper, just cut in the dish & remove.)

Store in air tight container or wrap individually in plastic wrap.

How easy is that!?!?

Granola Bars Revamped -

The original version was pretty good, but you gotta try this:

I reduced the amount of peanut butter, added marshmallows, & also added ground flax seed & wheat germ for more fiber & nutrition. Can't even taste it in there, so the kids won't know! Here's the basic recipe. I don't usually measure exactly. I kinda guess on the liquid stuff. MORE of the items to melt is better than less, because it's the glue. You don't want it dry & crumbly.

(I've changed a couple of things from the old version, and it seems to work a little better for me. AND - I usually double this recipe, cause we eat them a lot!)

3 c. regular oats
1 1/2 c. rice krispies
1 c. chocolate chips (semi sweet)
1 c. mini marshmallows
1/2 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. honey
1/4 c. peanut butter (smooth or crunchy)
1 tsp. vanilla
1/4 c. wheat germ (optional)
1/4 c. ground flax seed (optional)

Mix oats, rice krispies, wheat germ, flax seed, and HALF of chocolate chips in large mixing bowl.

Mix other half of chocolate chips, brown sugar, honey, marshmallows, peanut butter, & vanilla in microwaveable bowl. Microwave on high for 2 minutes. Stir well. Microwave for an additional 1-2 minutes, or until completely melted & pourable.

Pour over top of dry mix. With large sturdy spoon (wood or stainless work best) - mix until well coated & gewey.

Transfer mixture to large casserole dish or jelly roll pan & spread to edges. Top with a large piece of wax paper, & begin firmly pressing granola bars flat. The wax paper keeps your hands clean :)

Allow to cool (about 1/2 hour or so)... then cut into bars. I cut mine into small squares.

You can individually wrap each bar in saran wrap for a quick grab & go snack, or store them in an airtight container.

*If you want them to look more 'chunky' - like rocky road style, add an extra 1/2 cut of marshmallows to the dry ingredients. They'll melt a little, but there will be small areas of white marble mixed in. The kids will love it!

The Most Awesome Granola Bars!!!

I have been searching for a good granola bar recipe forEVER! I've made lots of different varieties, and I've finally found the one I think tops them all. At least at our house! They're sooo yummy & everything comes from your food storage. The BEST part? They're no bake!

I cut them into little 1 inch bite size pieces, & they last longer that way. My kids will get 1 or 2 & that satisfies them. So here goes:

(I have changed this recipe a little since I first posted it, and it works better. Here is the updated version):

1 1/2 C. RICE KRISPIES
3 C. REGULAR OATS
1/2 C. CHOCOLATE CHIPS

(Mix the above ingredients in a large bowl)

1/2 C. BROWN SUGAR
1/2 C. HONEY (OR CORN SYRUP)
1/2 C. PEANUT BUTTER (WE LIKE CRUNCHY!)
1/2 C. CHOCOLATE CHIPS
1 TSP. VANILLA

MIX SUGAR, HONEY, PEANUT BUTTER, VANILLA, & CHOCOLATE CHIPS IN A POT OR MICROWAVE JUST UNTIL MELTED.

***I HAVE FOUND IF I ADD A LITTLE MORE THAN 1/2 C. OF THE WET INGREDIENTS, IT HOLDS THE BARS TOGETHER BETTER. HEAP THOSE HALF CUPS!

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Pour over dry mix & stir well. It's ok if the chocolate chips melt, because it will help hold the granola bars together better.

SPREAD MIX IN A LIGHTLY GREASED 9X13 PAN & PACK VERY FIRMLY!!! ***I LIGHTLY GREASE MY FINGERS & PRESS THEM DOWN AS HARD AS I CAN :)

Let cool & cut into squares or bars. Store in air tight container or wrap each bar in plastic wrap.

*OPTIONAL INGREDIENTS - TO YOUR OWN LIKING:
WHEAT GERM
COCONUT
CINNAMON
RAISINS / CRAISINS
CRUSHED PECANS
CRUSHED ALMONDS

YOU CAN PRETTY MUCH MAKE ANY FLAVOR YOU WANT TOO! I LIKE TO DOUBLE THE RECIPE, WHICH MAKES MY BARS THICKER.

NOW, IS THAT EASY, OR WHAT!!!

Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies!

These are so yummy! My 11 year old daughter got out the mixer the other day & made them herself, from start to finish! The best part is we use whole wheat & oatmeal, so they're "half way" healthy! So here's the recipe:

1 1/2 c. whole wheat flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 c. butter (softened)
1 large egg
1 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 c. rolled oats
1/2 c. packed brown sugar
1 c. white sugar
1 c. chocolate chips

(a few chopped nuts are optional... we didn't use them)

Mix butter, sugars, egg, & vanilla.

Add flour & soda. Mix till blended.

Add oatmeal, then chocolate chips & mix till blended - again!

Drop onto cookie sheet & bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes.

Let cool on baking rack, then eat away!