WALNUT-CRANBERRY NO-BAKE ENERGY MONKEY BARS (a 2 banana difficulty level)

A few weeks ago I made the basic Energy Monkey Bars recipe:  http://www.anymonkeycan.com/2014/08/no-bake-energy-monkey-bars-2-banana.html. They were pretty good so I wanted to try a version where I omitted the PB chips & added dried cranberries & walnuts. Just a bit healthier than the PB chips version! Well that's what we did today. I decided to double the recipe & use the bigger pan. Let's get started...

WHAT YOU NEED: (doubled recipe)
2 c Rolled Oats (I used rye rolled oats again. Old-fashioned oats are probably the most common)
1 1/3 c Unsweetened Shredded Coconut (toasted) - Coconut flakes can be used
1 c Almond Butter 
1 c Ground Flaxseed
1 c Cacao nibs 
1 c Dried Cranberries
1 c Walnuts (Ground)
2/3 c Honey
2 T Chia Seeds (optional)
2 t Vanilla

WHAT ELSE YOU NEED:
Large size mixing bowl
Large spoon
9x13" non-stick pan

WHAT YOU DO:
1. Place ALL ingredients in the medium bowl and mix well.

2. Place in 9x13" non-stick pan & press into the bottom.

3. Cover tightly and refrigerate AT LEAST 1 hour, preferable overnight.

4. Serve and enjoy!

Really simple to make! A bit of a messy clean up, but it's nice knowing everything that is in your energy bar. 

Until next time...your favorite neighbor-web monkey!

NO-BAKE ENERGY MONKEY BARS (a 2 banana difficulty level)

MONKEY BARS! I might need a whole section devoted to this...well at least a tag devoted to this! One of my favorite cookies growing up was some sort of no-bake variety. It probably came from the side of Hershey's Cocoa because I seem to remember it having Hershey's Cocoa and some peanut butter and probably sugar. I came across this not too long ago. Similar in concept to the no-bake cookie from my youth, but branded as an "energy" bar.

Hey, do you know the difference between a candy bar and an energy bar? Usually about a buck...hey-O!

It has the flexibility to substitute many of the ingredients with other ingredients that are similar in nature.

Today, 'this monkey' will show you how to make NO-BAKE ENERGY MONKEY BARS...let's get started!

WHAT YOU NEED:
1 c Rolled Oats (I used rye rolled oats because that's what I had. Old-fashioned oats are probably the most common)
2/3 c Unsweetened Shredded Coconut (toasted) - Coconut flakes can be used
1/2 c Almond Butter (or peanut butter)
1/2 c Ground Flaxseed
1/2 c Cacao nibs (or choc chips or Reese's peanut butter chips)
1/3 c Honey
1 T chia seeds (optional)
1 t Vanilla

WHAT ELSE YOU NEED:
Medium size mixing bowl
Large spoon
8x8" non-stick pan

WHAT YOU DO:
1. Place ALL ingredients in the medium bowl and mix well.

2. Place in 8x8" non-stick pan & press into the bottom. You can use a glass pan lined with wax paper.

I increased the ingredients by 50% in order to use a bigger pan.

 Also, I added BOTH PB chips AND cacao nibs

3. Cover tightly and refrigerate AT LEAST 1 hour, preferable overnight.

4. Serve and enjoy!

Pretty simple stuff! Flexible and delicious! These are a bit more healthy than straight cookies, but you don't want to consider them a health food.

Until next time...your favorite neighbor-web monkey!

Whole Wheat Pizza Dough

How many different combinations can be put on top of your pizza? What about different sauces? Before you even think about that, there needs to be the crust. Homemade from scratch pizza dough is fun and easier than you think. Here's how you do it:

To the Right is a Hummus-Turkey Pizza made after Thanksgiving:
Here's what you need:

1 packet (2 1/4 t) Active Dry Yeast
1 1/3 c Warm Water (around 110 deg)

3 1/2 to 3 3/4 c of flour (I used 2 c White Whole Wheat Flour and the rest All Purpose Flour)
2 T Olive Oil
1 T Salt
1 T Sugar (optional)

(***Note: This makes 2 - Twelve inch pizza crusts***)


1. In a large mixing bowl combine Yeast and Water and let stand
about 5 min to dissolve the yeast. Whisk if needed.

2. Add Flour, Oil, Salt, and Sugar and mix on low for about 1 min.
3. Knead about 10 minutes (dough hook on low) or until the dough is elastic and smooth.
4. Lightly drizzle some Oil along the side of the bowl and rotate the ball of dough until
coated with the Oil.

5. Transfer to another bowl, Cover with Plastic wrap and let rise in a warm place until it is twice the size (around 2 hours)

6. Punch down the dough, divide in half, and roll each into a ball.


7. Let the dough rest another 15 min.




8. Place oven rack 4-5" from top & Preheat the oven to 500 deg with the baking stone if you are using one.

9. Flour your work area, wet your hands with water, and work the dough into a 12 inch diameter pie & transfer to a Pizza Peel dusted with cornmeal/semolina flour.


10. Gently prick the dough multiple times with a fork & fold up the edge to form a crust and let rest for 10 min.

11. Add your sauce and toppings of choice. Err on the conservative side, less is better.
12. Transfer from the peel to the baking stone.


13. Bake until the crust is nicely browned (around 10-12 min)

Ok, monkeys, be creative and top your pizza!

Tomato Lentil Soup

Winter is such great soup weather. If I ever master growing tomatoes, then I'll be making this in the summer as well. I've always been a tomato soup fan, especially with a toasted or grilled cheese sandwich you can dunk! As a kid, I would crush as many Tollhouse Crackers as my mom would let me into the Campbell's Tomato Soup. Well, this is a homemade-from-scratch tomato soup. I decided to add the Lentils since they are an excellent source of fiber and protein! Seriously, anymonkeycan cook this delicious soup!

1 Yellow Onion, chopped
4-6 Garlic Cloves, minced
1-2 T of Olive Oil or Coconut Oil etc

6 c Tomatoes, diced (2-28 oz cans of diced tomatoes or about 12 regular sized fresh tomatoes
2 c Chicken Broth (use Vegetable to make this Vegetarian)
1 c Red Lentils, rinsed and pick over if needed

1-2 T Kosher Salt (to taste)
1-2 T Fresh Basil, chopped (can try other herbs)
Black Pepper (to taste)
1/2 c Half and Half (optional to make this a creamy soup)

1. Heat the Oil on Medium High heat & saute the Onion & Garlic until tender (about 8-10 min)
2. Add Tomatoes, Broth, & Lentils and cook over Medium heat for about 30 min.
3. Add Half & Half, as well as Salt, Pepper, & Basil (to taste)
4. Remove from heat and Puree until smooth with an Immersion Blender. You can transfer in batches to a blender as well.
5. Serve with crackers or bread or a grilled cheese sandwich.
And there you go! Anymonkeycan make homemade tomato soup from scratch!

Stovetop Popcorn!

Homemade Popcorn? Why even bother when there is microwave popcorn or a hot-air popcorn? I remember as kid, the popcorn maker. Then off to college it was microwave popcorn. Well I have been popping popcorn like Grandma used to and let me tell you, it is EASY and pretty cool to watch. This is pretty basic monkey business here. Let's get started.


3 T of Canola, Peanut, or Grapeseed Oil **Olive Oil is a NO NO, the smoke point is too low!!**

1/3 C Popcorn Kernels (about 2 servings)

Salt to Taste (I use Kosher) -Optional-

Melted Butter to Taste -Optional-

At least a 3 Q Covered Sauce Pan

Toppings that make you Happy- Cheese, yeast flakes, cumin etc.


1. Pour Oil, sprinkle some of the Salt, and place 2-3 test Popcorn Kernels in the pan & heat over Medium High heat. Be sure to put on the lid.

2. Once the test Kernels pop, remove from the heat and quickly pour in the remaining Popcorn Kernels. Replace the lid.

3. Gently shake the Kernels in the oil for 20-30 seconds to "warm up" the kernels, THEN return to the burner with the LID SLIGHTLY ASKEW. This allows steam to escape & therefore drier popcorn!

4. The popping will begin quite soon. Gentle shake the pan as it fills to allow more kernels to pop. Once there are longer pauses between pops (10-15 seconds), remove the pan from the heat and pour YOUR popcorn in a bowl.

5. Melt the Butter in the still hot pan if you desire. Add your favorite toppings! We used to do Junior Mints back in school!

There you go! I told you a monkey could do it!