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!

ROASTED CAULIFLOWER COUS COUS (a 3 banana difficulty level)

'This monkey' had something he had never eaten recently...Cauliflower "Cous Cous"! I like cous cous. Super simple to make & tastes pretty darn good with the right additions. I was intrigued by this faux cous cous. It's called cous cous because it looks & has the texture of cous cous, but it's not cous cous at all. It's grated cauliflower and it was delicious! So after some internet exploration I was ready to give it a go!

The cauliflower was the simple part, either box grater or food processor. How it is prepped is where the variance occurs. At its simplest, you grate the cauliflower & serve it as is (raw) with your additions. I tried this with cheese, olive oil drizzle, salt & pepper, avocado, & some trail mix & it was...well...edible. Raw cauliflower even when dressed up still has a pretty powerful taste.

Other recipes had you sauteing the cauliflower or boiling it with very minimal water. I decided to roast it since roasted cauliflower is magical! http://www.anymonkeycan.com/2011/01/roasted-cauliflower-with-arugula.html

It turned out pretty darn good! It cooks down quite a bit with the roasting so I'd be interested in seeing how it does with the "steaming" or the sauteing, but here's the Roasted Cauliflower "Cous Cous" recipe!

WHAT YOU NEED:

1 head of Cauliflower (box grated or pulverized in a food processor)
2-3 T Olive Oil
Kosher Salt to taste
Black Pepper to taste (freshly grounded)
1/2 Avocado (sliced)
1/2 c Parmesan Cheese (grated)
Roasted Mushrooms (optional)
1/2 c Trail Mix (optional)

WHAT ELSE YOU NEED:
Box Grater or Food Processor
Oven
Roasting Pan
Spatula

WHAT YOU DO:
1. Pre-heat oven to 425 degrees
2. Grate or Food process the Cauliflower to the size of cous cous

3. Spread cous cous size Cauliflower into a thin layer in the Roasting Pan. Drizzle with Olive Oil & Salt & Pepper to taste.

4. Roast at 425 degrees for 15 minutes. Be sure to stir every 5 minutes.

It really does cook down quite a bit

5. Serve and Enjoy!

This is a pretty interesting dish because you really cannot tell you are eating cauliflower. Using the box grater does take a bit of work especially since it cooks down. I think I'll try cooking in a small amount of water next. It won't give me the nuttiness of roasted cauliflower, but hopefully it will make the cauliflower taste a bit milder without it cooking down so much!

Enjoy and until next time...your favorite neighbor-web monkey!