Was it the trip to the bakery that got me going? What ever it was, I felt the need to whip up goodies and invite people over for coffee and treats. Beth was coming over for Sewing Day Part Two, so I told a group of friends to come by before we got started and visit a while.
At the grocery store the other day, this bottle caught my eye, it is "English LUXURY Clotted Cream". Not typically something that I buy at the market, I'm more of a low fat, healthy food shopper. But I'm glad I got some, it is just wonderful, served with fresh pecan scones, cherry jam and Devonshire butter. Yes, I know, not low fat, and not healthy at all!
We hung out in the studio and ate out there, with all of the baked goods and a thermos of hot tea in the 'treat cabinet'.
For those who wanted to have something on the healthier side, I made up some granola bars. Lately, I've been making a lot of these. They seem really expensive to make, but if you figure how much you pay for a box of snack bars, and how little is in the box, and all the artificial ingredients put in those boxes, these really aren't too bad and once you have the ingrediants, it is usually enough to make two batches. I buy as many of the items as I can in the organic version.
There has been a lot of experimenting with making granola in my kitchen, and this is about the best way I came up with, with just enough of the goo mixture of peanut butter, sugar and honey to keep it together. But if you make some and it falls apart, the crumbles are great on yogurt.
I make them a little different each time, but here is how I mixed up this batch:
Tasty and Toasty Granola Bars
Stir together in a large pot and melt:
2 cups chunky peanut butter
3/4 cups brown sugar
1 cup honey
Let cool.
Toast 4 cups of oats in a shallow pan in the oven at 350
Add 2 eggs, 1 table spoon of cinnamon, 1/2 cup whole wheat flour and 1/4 cup of flax seed to the peanut butter and sugar mixture
Stir in the toasted oats
Add nuts- I used:
3/4 cup pumpkin seeds
3/4 cup of crushed pecans
3/4 cup of sunflower seeds
3/4 cup of flaked unsweetened coconut
Its hard to mix, you'll want to use your hands.
Press into a greased pan and then press down more! If you don't get it good and smashed, it will all crumble after it is baked.
Bake for 20 minutes at 325 degrees
Wow- does all that look yummy!! Arwen is in the kitchen right now making “healthy” chocolate chip cookies. I have a big pot of homemade organic chicken veggie soup simmering. I will have to try your bar recipe. I love finding stuff like the English clotted cream. Arwen made us Bananas Foster Crepes’ with creme freche’. It was like a rich, yogurt creme. I do try to use organic ingredients as often as I can. I hope you had lots of fun with all your friends!
Blessings- LillySue
Oh, Yummy! Seeing the clotted cream brought back so many memories to me. Years ago, I used to do a high tea at least once a week for my hubby and me.
Hugs!
Nancy
Nice recipe. I think I might try it.
I always know I’m in for some eye candy when I come over here..but today the goodies.. literally have me drolling. And at 11pm , that’s not a good time for a sweet attack. You always have so many beaufiful things to share. Thanks I enjoyed the tour!
Hey Karla! My mother in law and I went to a tea recently at the local historic mansion where I got married and she is a docent, and one of the goodies was two kinds of scones with clotted cream and strawberry jam…I would have eaten a plateful, I swear, but people were starting to look at me funny…..Your friend, Bobbi
Well I sure wish I was closer I would have loved to stop by. Everything looks so delicious. I am going to have to give that recipe a try. Thanks for sharing. Now I am going to check out the boutique
Hugs, Diane
I wish I live close enough to drop in for a visit.
Everything looks so yummy!
~elaine~
these look si yummy!!! TFS!
xoxo, Tiffany
Thank you for the recipe! And it looks like you ladies had a delicious time together!
OMGoodness Karla!! I think I put on a few pounds just looking at all of your wonderful goodies!! Yummy!!
Thanks for the granola bar recipe, I’m definitely going to give that a try.
Have a wonderful week,
Debi
I think it’s very good to treat yourself once in a while on clutted cream and scones with home made jam!
Yum! Rachaelxo
that all looks really yummy!!!
Man lady, what a spread. It all looks so yum!!!! Hope you had a great day!! We all deserve a little break from the ‘good food’.
Everything looks wonderful! Hope you all had a really nice time together.
Yum, sounds delicious 🙂
Thanks for the recipe! I am definetly going to try it. My youngest loves granola bars to take to baseball practice, but he has got to be sick of the oats and honey I buy in bulk at Costco!! Oh darn and it looks like I am going to have to make another trip to Henry’s Farmers Market;)
yum! we love the treat cabinet! how are the tablecloths coming?
Karla, can I come for coffee and treats tomorrow? It all looked and sounded just yummy. So, you are not only talented in artsy things but cooking as well.I know you all had a great visit, and I am so envious. Have a wonderful day.
Jean in Virginia
Your treats look lovely and I bet everyone had a wonderful time.
Ooooooh! Love the granola recipe. Thanks for sharing. I now need to go and make some.
Hugs 🙂
Irma
I was googling for a recipe and found this, thank you!
are these hard or chewy after baking? I love the hard ones and can’t seem to find organic ones so I want to make my own.