Monkey See Monkey Do Some Monkey Munch

On Thursday one of my favorite food bloggers, The Food Librarian, posted a genius recipe called the Monkey Munch. On Friday I read her post and an hour later I was eating these little things none stop. It's cereal covered in chocolate and peanut butter. I think it's genius how Americans love getting perfectly un-sugared cereal and covering it in marshmallows and butter (rice krispie treats make my top 5 list of desserts), or in chocolate and peanut butter. Are there any other desserts I should know about that involves cereal? If so tell me PLEASE. The original recipe calls for chex cereal. I had 3 boxes of crunchy corn bran cereal so I used those instead. To see a way better picture of some Monkey Munch and for a more detailed post visit the Food Librarian.

Monkey Munch
4 cups Crunchy Corn Bran cereal
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1/4 cup peanut butter
1/8 cup butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup powdered sugar

1. Melt the chocolate chips, peanut butter and butter in the microwave. It took me 3 minutes because my microwave does not heat well. It should only take you 1-2 minutes
2. Stir till smooth than add the vanilla
3. Mix the cereal into the melted mixture and place the whole thing in a zip lock bag with the powdered sugar.
   
4. Shake and spread out on a cookie sheet and let cool for a couple minutes before storing it in an air tight container.

p.s I made this with my 2 year old and he wwas able to pretty much do everything by himself. It's a really fun recipe to do with kids

Pumpkin Seed Granola

I've been on the search for a good granola recipe for years now. I had one that always burnt and another that tasted so nasty it was impossible to eat. A couple weeks ago, in Enzo's preschool, a mom brought the most tasty granola I have ever had. I think it's the coconut and the salted roasted pumpkin seeds that makes this so delicious. She gave me the recipe and Enzo and I made it together. It's easy to make and yields about 8 cups. We go through a bag of Trader Joe's granola, which is about 4 cups, every week so I'm glad this recipe will last us a little more than the usual.

Crunchy Granola

• 4 cups oats
• 1 cup coconut slices
  
• 1 cup raw sunflower seeds
• 1/2 cup raw sesame seeds
• 1 1/2 cups raw almonds
• 1/2 cup flax meal
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1/2 cup coconut oil (I used melted butter because I was all out of coconut oil but I recommend using coconut oil. It's so much better for you and has a nice taste)
  
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 cup roasted salted pumpkin seeds
• 1 cup raisins

1. preheat oven to 250*
2. mix all the ingredients together in a large bowl except for the pumpkin seeds and the raisins. (this is the part that Enzo could do all by himself)
3. Place the mixture on a cookie sheet bake for 1 1/2 -2 hours mixing EVERY 2o minutes.
4. When done add the pumpkin seeds and the raisins.
5. Let it cool down completely before storing in an air tight container.
   

Brazilian Carrot Cake

I'm a carrot-cake-phile. So much so that my wedding cake was a carrot cake. So much so that my pregnant body craves it like a drug. So much so that I need to make this recipe again, and again, and again.

Brazilian carrot cakes are different from American carrot cakes. The texture is more like a coffee cake and the crispy chocolate topping is a trade mark of Brazilian cakes, especially the ones kids buy at bakeries after school.

Brazilian Carrot Cake

• 3 large carrots or 15 baby carrots
• 4 eggs
• 1/2 cup oil
• 2 cups sugar
• 2 1/2 cups flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder

topping

• 1/2 cup butter
• 3 tablespoons chocolate powder (I like using dark chocolate powder without sugar but most people use Nesquick)
• 1 cup sugar

1. preheat the oven to 350*
   
2. grate the carrots. (I used my food processor and then proceeded to make the rest of the cake in the food processor. If you don't have a food processor you can do the Brazilian style which is to grate the carrots by hand and mix the rest of the ingredients in a blender)
3. In a blender (Brazilian make everything in blenders. If your blender is the $10 kind like mine than use a hand mixer. If you have a powerful blender than I suggest using it) mix the carrots, eggs, oil and sugar. Blend it for 5 minutes on high speed.
4. Add the flour and blend well.
   
5. Add the baking powder and slowly mix it in using a wooden spoon.
   
6. bake for 30-40 minutes
7. Make the topping while the cake is baking. Mix all the ingredients in a small saucepan and bring it to a boil. Add the topping to the cake and wait until it cools down to serve.
   

Lucky You!

The lucky winner who will get to dress a baby in the cute sushi onesie is

CDStardust said...

I think the Tweet on You Bird Turquoise Organic Short Sleeve Onesie is adorable! Thanks for the giveaway!

My husband makes bread and it rocks my world every single time

Solving Your Kitchen Problems One Giveaway at a Time!

GIVEAWAY: Green Sushi Onesie by Oliver Lane

I'm in the mood for a giveaway. Especially because I had an ultrasound yesterday and saw my little peanut and am SOOOOO excited that, if all goes well, I'll be having a baby in September. I can't wait to dress my baby in a cute onesie like this and I also can not wait until I can eat all the sushi my cravings desire. Until then I get to give away a green sushi onesie by Oliver Lane

Oliver Lane specializes in baby and toddler clothes. Her stuff is high quality all around. The designs are tasteful and oh so sweet.

For a chance to win this giveaway visit the online Oliver Lane shop and leave a comment on this post about your favorite onesie or t-shirt from the shop by Tuesday February 10. I will announce the winner here next Tuesday and will also contact the winner directly through e-mail.

For extra comments you can

1-follow this blog

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3-post about this giveaway on your blog or twitter it.

Good luck!