DarLee's Birthday Bars

These came from a Relief Society activity our stake did. They are homemade granola bars.

2 cups old fashioned oats
3/4 cups crisp rice cereal
1/2 cup flax seed
1 cup raw sunflower seeds
1/2 cup dried cranberries or cherries
1/4 cup toasted pumpkin seeds
1 cup unsalted roasted almonds

Mix together in a large bowl.

In a sauce pan, bring to a boil:
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/4-1/2 teas salt
2 Tbl butter
3/4 (+) raw honey

Boil 3 mins for soft bars or 6 for crunchy.

Remove from heat and add 1 tsp vanilla. Quickly stir into dry ingredients.

Shape into a rectangle on a piece of wax paper. (Use wax paper or buttered hands to do this.) Let sit for 5-10 mins. Cut with a sharp knife. Store in an air tight container. These can also be frozen.

Variations:
different fruits and nuts (or, omitting them all together)
cheerios instead of rice cereal
add 1/2 cup peanut butter when you add vanilla
mix cocoa in
use other flavorings
walnuts, dried apples, and sprinkle bars with cinnamon

Popcorn Cake

20 cups popped popcorn
1 bag marshmellows
1/2 stick of butter
1 bag M&Ms

Mix popcorn and M&M's in a large bowl. Melt marshmellows and butter like you would for rice krispies. Mix it together. Put it into a sprayed angel food cake pan. Let sit. Flip the pan over and take it off.

The longer you let it sit, the more solid (and easier) it will be to cut. That means that if you want to snitch little pieces, it's best to do that while it's all still warm. It's easier to hide the holes then.

Mothers' Day Salad

Chicken, Grilled and cubed (season with lime juice, chili powder, and salt)

Canned whole kernel corn
cherry tomatoes
sliced radishes
cubed avocados
mixed greens

Toss with spicy dressing - combine italian dressing with cumin, ground red pepper or chili posder, and black pepper.