Back on the date coolalong, I asked for a date bar recipe and Steve/Skeip gave me this one, which is a family recipe that he loves. Oatmeal and dates. Sounds like a pretty healthy alternative to me. Smiles.

DATE BARS

Filling:
2 Cups Dates, cut up 1/2 Cup Brown Sugar 1 1/2 Cups Water 1 Tablespoon Flour Grated Zest from one Orange 1/8 Teaspoon Salt 1 Teaspoon Vanilla

Combine all the above ingredients in a heavy sauce pan, and cook over low heat until the dates are soft, and the mixture has thickened. Remove from heat, mash any remaining whole Dates. Set aside to cool.

Crust:
1 Cup All-purpose Flour 2 Cups Quick Cooking Oatmeal 1 Teaspoon Baking Soda dissolved in 2 Teaspoons HOT Water 1 Cup Brown Sugar 3/4 Cup Melted Butter

Combine all of the ingredients for the crust and stir until well blended. Press 2/3 of the crust mixture into the bottom of a 9x13 cookie sheet. Top with the date mixture, and sprinkle the remaining crust mixture over the top of the dates. Bake 30 minutes in a preheated 350 o F oven.

Steve

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I think it's the right amount of filling but I suppose you could skimp on it if you think it's too sweet. I don't... just sayin.

Quite some time ago,
Probably a year or more ago,
Someone (I don't remember who)
posted the recipe in this link
From "The Smitten Kitchen".
It has apparently been adapted from King Arthur.
They are very good,
And probably about as healthy/wholesome
As that type of food can get.

It says the nut butter is optional,
So you could leave it out
If in doubt about using any type of nuts.
I made them using Hazelnut butter,
and we loved them.
I imagine they would be very good, too,
Using all dried fruits and no nuts,
Just depends on what you like
Or are allowed to use.

Rusty

Here is a link that might be useful: Thick Chewy Granola Bars

Alton Brown has some, and if you are making them yourself, you can easily leave out the nuts.

Brown Rice Crispy Bar

Granola Bar

Do you have to put a disclaimer on your son's lunchbox that his food was prepared in a kitchen that has nuts in it?!!

Good luck

Here is a link that might be useful: Homemade granola bars

Can you sub other nut butters like cashew, sunflower, almond?

I make rice crispie bars with brown rice crispies, not the Kellog's stuff. I also add some other types of cereals to the mix such as Cheerios or Grape Nuts. After all, it's just cereal held together with marshmallows!

Pinky:
I do not know if this is the same, didn-t have time to read it thru.

FOAS:
You can leave out the Almonds if you have to. ???

I have a good Fruit filled Cookie Recipe.
Have to find it.

LOU

Thanks for the suggestions so far. I think it might not have been clear - the peanut bars I've been sending are store bought. Nature Valley. The "bar" aisle isn't impressing me, so that's why I'm considering switching to homemade.

Obviously it doesn't have to be bars per se, I'm just trying to find a snack that he'll like but will also be at least somewhat healthy. Don't feel bad for him that I want a healthy snack; he gets to eat PLENTY of junk food, starting with the cafeteria lunch.

I was watching the Phillies game and forgot to put in the recipe.
LOU
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Coco Dynabits Treats

Here is an updated recipe . Everyone liked this one better.

The basic recipe is on the Kraft Marshmallow bag.
I just altered it a little, to fit in a 10 inch Pizza pan.

One half stick of Butter
4 cups of Coco Dyna Bits ( Walmart ) or Coco Krispies
5 cups of miniature marshmallows
Three quarters teaspoon of Almond extract
One third cup of crushed Almonds ( three tablespoons )
( I used a zip loc bag and rolling pin or the edge of my small cutting board)
Didn�t want it too fine.

Line a 10 inch round pan with Parchment paper and have a extra piece,10x10,
For flattening.

Micro wave the butter in a microwaveable bowl , 45seconds, until melted.
( I used a 2 Quart Princess House , Nouveau Saucepan), because it retains heat.
- - - - - - - -
I heat it a little on the Range before I put it in the micro wave with the butter.
And I keep the Range on low to reheat later.
- - - - - - - -
Add the Almond Extract and Crushed Almonds to the butter. Stir to mix.
Add the Marshmallows and mix to coat.
Microwave until Marshmallows are melted, about one and a half minutes,
stirring a couple times while heating.
Sprinkle in the CoCo Dyna Bits.
Mix well . If it starts to get too stiff, Micro Wave a few seconds,
Or place on the range while mixing.

Scoop it into the Pan and level as quickly as possible.
Lay the extra piece of Parchment on top and tap it flat with the edge of a small cutting board, or
a large can
Set in the fridge to cool.
When cool turn it over on a cutting board , cut into 1 inch wide strips.
Cut across the opposite way diagonal, making diamond shaped pieces.
Enjoy !!!

You could use standard rice krispie bars and sub a healthy(er) cereal for the rice krispies...a cereal like honey nut cheerios or even Kix...not that they are very healthy.

And I just filed this from a friend...
Cookies oatmeal coconut Joyce Nicholson
1c.white sugar 2c.oatmeal
1c.brown sugar 2c.flour(or slightly less)
1c.butter(part 1 tsp.baking power
shortening) 1 tsp.soda
2eggs 1 tsp.vanilla
1c.coconut
mix in order given.roll into balls,dip in sugar and flatten on cookie sheet.bake at 350 for 8 to 10 minutes until golden brown and set.

You could also sub something like cashew butter in any bar that calls for peanut butter...and you could do things like melt chocolate chips, fill graham crackers with cashew butter, or tahini and dip in melted chocolate chips....with a little parrafin added so it really hardens well.....and if they pass muster....make a slew and freeze.
Or make your own granola...being a little stingy with the sugar.....and make some caramel...like for caramel corn....stick the gran ola together with that and bake in a slow oven until crisp.
In fact that sounds so good I may have to make some for me!!
Good luck with little Picky-pants!LOL!

I emailed you a couple of lists that are really long, but may have some ideas for you...

Alexa

coconut, I've been looking for this recipe for a year now. Someone must have posted it ages ago, and I've made them several times. They're always well received. I lost the recipe and haven't been able to find another that cooks the dates like this recipe does before assembling and baking. The crust is good, too.

Thanks for posting it.

My daughter would make the following bars and send them to me in care packages while I was riding my bicycle across the US.

Such a sweetie!!!

Lori's granola bars

I heard there were a few requests for my granola bar recipe that I've been using when sending my mom supplies. Here it is. The "*"'s are recent additions to the original recipe.

Granola Bars

2 c golden grahams cereal or other non sugar-based cereal (meaning no fruit loops) 4 graham crackers 2 c oatmeal (I do not use the quick oats) 1 c raisins 1/2 c honey 1/4 c light corn syrup 1 c peanut butter

In a medium bowl, crumble cereal into tiny and small pieces. Add graham crackers... crumble more. Add oatmeal and raisins... mix. In a separate bowl mix honey, corn syrup, and peanut butter. Add this to the dry mixture. This will be difficult to mix, but adding more liquid will make them sticky, and too gooey.

**If you happen to have a Kitchen Aid mixer, I've found mine works well for this. I don't even pre-mix the gooey ingredients anymore. I have a mini loaf pan that has 8 small slots. I've used this, also a mini muffin pan, I've also simply hand formed the mixture into several granola bars. Putting it all into one dish works too, but it does not cut well after cooking. Advice is to find a way to make separate bars. Form and pack them well, so they don't fall apart while eating.

**I also now hand pack individual bars and place on a stoneware pizza pan covered in aluminum foil, and the bottoms no longer get too brown this way. Place into a preheated oven of 250 degrees for 15 minutes. Once done, let cool, and store in an airtight container.

** Note there is no actual granola in the original recipe. I have since found granola at health stores, and substitute granola for some of the cereal... about 1 cup. If you've added to much dry ingredients simply add more liquid stuff so you can get them to hold together. Vice versa if it's too sticky.

** You can also substitute dried apples or other such fruit for the raisins. I've also made them with mini chocolate chips and mini marshmallows.

happy eating, -Lori

Whole classroom bans are MUCH easier than Whole School Bans. It's happened in one of my schools. Absolutely NO fun for any of the parents who have to watch everything their kid brings and eats because of another child, and accidents will happen, but they do try.

Some of those recipes up there sound GOOD!

Donna

There are commercial chewy bars for the nut-allergic. E.g. link below.

Other stuff you could send for a snack, but it will depend entirely on his tastes, kids being so picky, and maybe your requirements for "healthy":

- Yoghurt & granola & berries, chilled in a mini thermos.
- Bready sandwichy things, like a small French roll with prosciutto and Brie, a grilled cheese, a sausage & egg muffin - but small, to distinguish them from actual "lunch")
- Pastry things, like a chocolate croissant or a ham & cheese bagel
- Beef jerky (very popular in my house!)
- Pita and hummus
- Egg roll, dumpling, shao mai - if he has access to a microwave at school
- Fruit rollups

Here is a link that might be useful: Peanut free bars

How about some Date and Nut Bread. Just made two loaves tonight. Very little fat.

Date and Nut Bread

1 1/2 C chopped dates
1 1/2 C hot water
2T. butter, softened
2 1/4 C flour
1 1/2 C sugar
3/4 C. coarsely chopped walnuts
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 1/2 tsp. salt
2 eggs, beaten
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla

Preheat oven 375...grease and flour 2 loaf pans.

Combine dates, water and butter. Let stand 5 minutes. Combine flour, sugar, walnuts, baking powder and salt. Stir in eggs, vanilla and date mixture. Stir just until moistened. Pour into loaf pans. Bake 375 45 - 50 min. Check after 35 minutes. If top browns too quickly, cover loosely with foil and continue baking another 10 -15 min. Cool in pan 10 min. Remove from pans and cool on wire rack. Freezes beautifully. can serve with cream cheese or just plain.