No-Bake Chewy Granola Bars (5 variations, same base)

I saw this recipe on FB, looked for it on Pinterest, saved a few pictures of it to our iPad, and now I've finally found it on the internet so I'm creating a pin for my own dark purposes. I took this recipe from My Kitchen Escapades. This recipe makes a 9x13 pan-full :)

INGREDIENTS:
2 cups quick cooking oats (or pulse whole oats in a food processor a bit)
1 C rice crispy cereal
1/4 C shredded coconut
1/4 C butter
1/4 C honey
1/2 C brown sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp vanilla

DIRECTIONS:
1. In a large mixing bowl, mix together the oats, cereal and coconut. Set a small saucepan over medium high heat and melt the butter. Add the honey, brown sugar and salt. Stir together then leave it alone as it comes to a boil. Once the boil has reached all the way around the edges of the pan, begin timing. Allow this mixture to boil for 2 minutes and 15 seconds. During this time, you may need to turn the heat down a bit so it doesn't overflow, but be sure it keeps boiling.

2. Add the vanilla then pour the mixture over the oats, using a rubber spatula to get all the sugar mixture out of the pan. Mix the ingredients together until the oats are completely coated. Add in your desired mix-in then press very firmly into a lightly greased 9x13" pan. If you like your bars thicker, you can use a smaller pan. If you do not press firmly enough, the bars will fall apart when you eat them. Place them in the fridge for 20 minutes then cut to size.

Chocolate Chip
Add 1/2 C of mini chocolate chips to the finished mixture before pressing into the pan, allowing it cool just a bit or you will end up with melted chips. Sprinkle on a few extra chips over the top after they are pressed into the pan.

White Chocolate Cranberry
Add 1/3 C of white chocolate chips and 1/3 C of Craisins to the finished mixture before pressing into the pan, allowing it to cool just a bit first or you will end up with melted chips.

Candy Bar
Add 1/3 C of Heath bar pieces, 1/3 C of mini M&M's and 1/3 C of chopped pretzels to the finished mixture before pressing into the pan.

Peanut Butter
Add 2 Tb of peanut butter to the finished sugar mixture before pouring it over the oats. Once mixed with the oats, add 1/2 C peanut butter chips before pressing into the pan.

Raisin Nut
Add 1/3 C of chopped raisins and 1/3 C of chopped pecans to the finished mixture before pressing into the pan.

Swiped this pic from her website, too. Photo thief much? I know. At least I try to give credit where it's due.

Easy French/Cranberry Chicken

We got visited. It was super fun cramming 11 people into our tiny home. I love Chef Chris-teaux's huge family. Anyway, when it came to food, everyone pitched in and helped. My BIL made this dish (I'm pretty sure this is the recipe from the way he described it) and I was a huge fan. So I searched Lord Google and came across this recipe from Pam's Cooking. Thank you, Pam! Don't even know you, but your pin isn't working so I'm pinning your recipe on my own blog and making my own pin.

INGREDIENTS:
6 regular sized Chicken Breasts
1 can of Cranberry Sauce (I like mixed berry)
1 packet of Onion Soup Mix (I use my own recipe for this)
8 oz of French Dressing

You can bake this in the oven or crockpot depending on how busy you are. I generally prefer the crockpot method but I've included both in case you have a different preference.

DIRECTIONS:
Oven:
Mix 1 Can of Cranberry Sauce, the Lipton Onion Soup Mix, and 8 oz of French Dressing.
Grease a baking pan, lay out the chicken breasts and pour over the mixture over the chicken.
Bake at 350 for 1 1/2 hours.

Crockpot:
I generally start it around lunch time. I put the chicken in frozen, add all the other ingredients and start it on high for the first hour or two. That is mainly to help the chicken thaw! Then I turn it to low until it's time to eat! We eat around 6:00 usually. The chicken has always been good - never dry!!!

This picture is also stolen from Pam's Kitchen

Sweet & Tangy Chicken

I'm a huge fan of this recipe. It's simple, fast, and easy. This probably isn't the healthiest of recipes, but it definitely tastes good :) I'm throwing it up here because the pin isn't working and it makes me sad. I swiped this recipe from Syrup & Biscuits.

INGREDIENTS:
8 chicken thighs (you can use a whole chicken or other parts)
1 package dry French onion soup mix
1 (8 oz bottle) Russian dressing (you could use French or Catalina or Thousand Island)
1 small jar of apricot preserves (or about a cupful).

DIRECTIONS:
Mix all ingredients, except chicken, in a bowl.

Place chicken pieces in a baking pan. Sprinkle with pepper. No extra salt is needed (if you want you can adapt this recipe to a crockpot).

Pour sauce over chicken and make sure it’s coated well.

You can either choose to cook it in the crockpot or oven. I generally choose the crockpot but I'll include both sets of instructions:

Roast uncovered at 400 degrees for 1 hour to 1 hour and 15 minutes or until chicken is done. Baste several times during cooking.

OR

Simmer in the crockpot on high for 5 hours or on low for 8 hours.

Serve over a bed of hot rice.

She took this pic but mine looked just like this.