Granola Cups & Almond Date Balls

I guess I am in a baking kind of mood. This is a recipe 2 for 1 post! :) Not that either of these are actually "baking". However, I did stick them both in silicone baking cups, so I guess that makes it qualify. I made the granola cups for the girls for breakfast or snacks. I figured making them is a LOT less expensive than buying granola bars.. because these girls can go through some granola bars!

I also decided to make the Almond Date Balls in honor of Tamar (and because I had a huge box of Rice Krispy Cereal) :) I am reading a book right now that was recommended to me from a friend.

Lineage of Grace by Francine Rivers.

Product Description

2009 Retailer's Choice Award winner!
In this compilation of the five books in the best-selling Lineage of Grace series by Francine Rivers, we meet the five women whom God chose—Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba, and Mary. Each was faced with extraordinary—even scandalous—challenges. Each took great personal risk to fulfill her calling. Each was destined to play a key role in the lineage of Jesus Christ, the Savior of the World.

This book is actually only about $9 on the Kindle and it's one download for all 5 books. Lineage of Grace is a book with all of them combined into one. So far, I am really enjoying it!

Anyway, Tamar's name in Hebrew means "Date Palm"....so it made me think of making something with dates. See how no matter what I do, the thought of food just creeps in there??! :) I actually made my grandmother's recipe, but her recipe called for pecans, not almonds. I had almonds on hand so that's what I used, and they turned out FABULOUS.

My recommendation is to make some of these Almond Date Balls and download the book on your Kindle or iPad and RELAX! It's a good combo. :)

Granola Cups

Printable recipe

INGREDIENTS

2.5 cups of quick oats

1/2 cup rice krispy cereal

3/4 cup brown sugar

3/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

3 tablespoons of ground flax seed

1/2 cup mini chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS

• Mix everything together in a large mixing bowl, except for chocolate chips.
• Once everything is well incorporated, mix in your chocolate chips.
• Spoon mixture into your silicone baking cups.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 12 minutes.
• Let cool, and enjoy!

Almond Date Balls

Printable Recipe

INGREDIENTS

1/2 stick of butter

8 oz. package of dates

1 cup brown sugar

2 Tablespoons Karo syrup/.

1 cup finely chopped almonds

3 cups of Rice Krispy cereal

Powdered sugar

DIRECTIONS

• Mix all ingredients, except for the rice cereal in a saucepan on the stove.
• Cook for 3 minutes.
• Remove from heat and transfer to a large mixing bowl and add the 3 cups of Rice Krispy Cereal.
• Mix everything together well and let cool a little so it will not burn your hands.
• Once cooled, roll mixture into balls
• Roll in powdered sugar.

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