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Quick Cereal Bars

School is starting soon or has started already and it's back to those crazy rushed mornings. Some folks might be inclined to skip breakfast.

Hey! That's the most important meal of the day. So if you're rushing out the door and need a quick breakfast, try these cereal bars. They're not the most healthy, and you'll need to grab a banana or yogurt with it. But it's better than skipping breakfast altogether.

You will need:

1 serving of your favorite cereal-I used multigrain cheerios

3 Tbsp mini marshmallows (original recipe calls for 2 Tbsp)

cooking spray

Spray a microwave ball with cooking spray. Put the cereal and marshmallows in the bowl. Microwave for 30 seconds. Stir.

Original recipe said to wait one minute and shape into rectangles with wet hands. I was able to shape mine with dry hands and with no waiting period.

wrapped in saran wrap

So easy kids can do this!

I found this fantastic recipe idea here. Her blog is incredible!



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This site has a whole list of things you can do with empty cereal boxes-check it out-my fave is the notepads craft:

Saved By Love Creations

  Great for when you're in a rush. Just keep the bottom milk part in the freezer, so it's ready to go when you're in a rush. I bought one a few years ago and we liked it so much, we bought more. They weren't easy to find.

Pizza Pockets

This is a really yummy lunch or snack idea. If you don't have a sandwich maker, they  are pretty inexpensive. I like the ones with the partitions.

     



I recommend this one, if you're going to be purchasing one, triple the functionality, this one has 3 interchangeable plates, sandwich maker plate, grill plate and waffle plate. Awesome!


we don't have this brand, but we do have a 3 in One.

or you can make it in the oven, although it won't be quite the same.


Pizza Dough-You can use your favorite recipe or use this really easy one that I used
1 C. lukewarm water
1T. instant yeast
1/2 t sugar
1 t salt
1/4 C. olive oil
2 1/2 C. flour

Mix yeast with flour. Add rest of ingredients & beat well. Knead in more flour ( you have to use your own judgement here-do it by feel, the dough should be elastic & soft, not too dry. Let rest 15 minutes.

Sauce-I used Barilla Marinara
Cheese-I used Shredded Mozarella
Optional: other fillings of your choice: meat, olives, peppers, tomatoes, spinach, etc.


Take pizza dough and roll it into a square of dough about the size of a square slice of bread. Roll out another square the same size.

(Optional: slightly bake the dough for a minute or two-I skipped this step)

one square

2 squares approximately the same size

 Spread sauce and sprinkle on cheese on one square. Place square on Sandwich maker. Take second square and place on top. Let the sandwich maker do it's job-you should end up with 2 pizza pockets

spread sauce on dough-mine could have used  more sauce

and  more cheese-here it's on the sandwich maker ready to be assembled

put the square with just sauce over the other square.
SEAL by pressing the edges of the dough together with your finger
to make it look even fancier, after pressing down, seal again with the tines of a fork

Close your sandwich maker, if you have a 3 in one
make sure it's set to sandwich, if you want it a bit crispier,
 then set it one number higher

it's cooking.
The sandwich maker will turn off or click when it's done.

It's ready, you can break/cut it in half & serve

Yum!
Someone wasn't very willing to let me get a picture,
 they wanted to eat it NOW!

Ideas for Sandwich Maker:

I have not made any of these, except the one they call pizza pockets with the bread. I do think the second link is a lot more creative with their use of the sandwich maker.

http://community.tasteofhome.com/community_forums/f/30/t/136055.aspx

http://voices.yahoo.com/ideas-using-sandwich-maker-536951.html

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