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Well, this kind of bites.
What bites?
Well for one, the mosquitos here in Oregon. I honestly hate their tiny little guts. Those things are awful. I have bites all over me, and the itch. I swear I am going to scar my skin from all the scratchingI am doing. So annoying.
Two?
Fourth Of July was yesterday and today’s another workday. I feel like we got duped out of a true full on holiday weekend. I mean we had Thursday off, but then we have to go back on Friday?
Such a bummer.
Why not just make it a four-day weekend. Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Ah yes, please!
Really though I know who is bumming way more than me right now.
My oldest brother, Creighton.
Today is his Birthday and I am pretty sure the last thing he wanted to do today was get up and go to work. No, I take that back I am positive the last thing he wanted to do today was go to work. The Fourth of July is one of his favorite holidays. Mostly because it is back to back 4th of July parties coupled with birthday celebrations the next day.
To celebrate his birthday I really wanted to make him a cake, but I am a lousy little sis and never got around to it…..
Yet!
Trust me there will be a cake on this blog sometime this summer. To me summer is just not complete without at least a few good layer cakes. Every summer party my mom ever threw had a least one chocolate layer cake. She is famous for her chocolate cake. Trust me it is so darn good. It has been known to convert vanilla cake eaters to full and hard-core chocolate cake eaters.
I am telling you, it has magic powers.
So no cake today, but I still have something awesome and easy.
Which I am guessing is pretty much all you guys want to hear today. Late night fireworks and stomachs full of burgers, corn, cake and ice cream are probably leaving you a little tired.
Or at least I am tired.
I pretty much spent all day playing around with my camera and trying to figure out this new lighting I have here in Mt. Hood.
So not fun and way too stressful.
Ugh, there is no light here.
So frustrating.
Anyway, these granola bars are far from frustrating.
They are delicious and healthy and energy boosting. Okay, well technically that is not proven, but I think so!
The popcorn is well, just awesome. White chocolate, vanilla, coconut oil and coffee. SO good.
Plus they take like 10 minutes to make. YES!
Author: Tieghan Gerard
Prep Time 15 minutes minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes minutes
Refrigerate 1 hour hour 15 minutes minutes
Total Time 1 hour hour 35 minutes minutes
Servings: 10 Bars
Calories Per Serving: 414 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
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Ingredients
- 2 cups rolled oats
- 1 cup rice crispies
- 1/4 cup shredded unsweetened coconut
- 1/4 cup sliced almonds
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup almond butter you can also sub peanut butter
- 1/2 cup honey
- 1 1/2 teaspoons instant coffee
- 1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- 3/4 cups dark chocolate chips melted
Popcorn
- 3 1/2 cups popped popcorn stove popped works best
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil melted (or you can use butter)
- 1/2 teaspoon instant coffee
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 ounce white chocolate melted
- 1/2 cup dark chocolate melted, for drizzling
- sea salt for sprinkling (optional)
Instructions
Line an 8x8 square Pyrex pan with wax or parchment paper.
In a large bowl combine the oats, rice crispies, coconut, almonds and salt. Mix together.
In a small microwave safe bowl combine the almond butter and honey. Microwave for 30 second to 1 minute or until the mixture is hot and pourable. Add the instant coffee and mix until dissolved. Add the vanilla and mix again.
Add the honey mixture to the dry oat mixture and mix until everything is moist and combined. Press the mixture into the prepared pan and then using the back of a measuring cup press the mixture into the pan until it is tightly packed. Cover and place in the freezer for 30 minutes or the fridge for an hour.
Well the bars harden make the popcorn. Place the popcorn in a large bowl. To a small bowl add the coconut oil and white chocolate. Microwave until smooth and melted about 30 seconds. Add the instant coffee and stir to dissolve. Add the vanilla.
Toss the popcorn with the melted white chocolate mixture until the popcorn is completely coated in the white chocolate.
Remove the granola bars from the freezer and cover with the 3/4 cups of melted dark chocolate. immediately press the popcorn into the melted chocolate. Drizzle on the remaining dark chocolate and if desired sprinkle with sea salt. Return to the fridge for 15 minutes so the chocolate can harden. Cut into bars and eat!
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Oh and happy, happy Birthday Creigh! To the rest you? Happy Friday, thank goodness!