Cinnamon Cherry Breakfast Bars (AND A Light Box!)

I am soooo excited to share what I did today.  After many recipes, and many pictures of each recipe, I have discovered I really need to improve my pictures.  I found a wonderful blog NeverHomeMaker that shared how to make a light box.  It really was easy to make, and so much easier when you have help during the process.

The supplies you will need:

18 x 18 x 18 inch box

3 cheap utility clamps for lights

White or silver duct tape

Velcro

Thin white fabric

Box cutter

Daylight 100 watt bulbs

Extension cord for all three cords

Side Note – Juno not included, just a very good helper!

Here is another helper, my handsome Tuki in the box.

You then cut out center of three sides.

I reinforced the edges with duct tape just in case they wanted tear. Next place the white fabric on both sides, keeping it held with duct tape.  The top piece of fabric you want to keep it held down with velcro.  The velcro is used if you decide to take a top view picture.

Then you want to take two chairs to each side, and clamp the light on the back of the chair.  The top light is tricky, in NeverHomeMaker they placed the chair on the table.  I may have to do this also, but for today I got a little creative.

Yes, I used my cats scratching post….

I bought pretty fabric that was more of a monotone for the back of the box.  I need to find some fun things to put on the bottom of the box, for now a white pillowcase will do.

Here is Tuki in natural light, with out any lights on yet.

Here is Tuki with the lights on, he tends to glow, but he is more crisp and sharp.

So after all this light box fun, I made you wait for the best part of the blog….

Do you remember what it was?  Cinnamon Cherry Breakfast Bars, Silly!!!

I love grape nut cereal, Hubby hates it though.  So more for me, WOO HOO!  However, he did enjoy the bars, Yay Me!!  On the back of the box there is a recipe for peanut butter bars.  BUT they cook them in the microwave, YUCK!!!  I don’t even own a microwave, and don’t like food cooked in a microwave.  Soooo I decided to have fun and make up a fun breakfast bar recipe of my own.

I am such a huge fan of cinnamon, and it is sooooo good for you, so enjoy to your little hearts desire!  I also think honey is pretty fantastic, love love the local beekeeper here.  Getting pure honey is so much better then the boiled down store-bought honey.  Once the honey is boiled down it loses all the nutritive properties that are so good for us.  So for honey, I say always buy local.

Here is the recipe:

1/2 cup of dried cherries

1/4 cup of raisins (if you don’t like raisins, use 3/4 cup dried cherries)

3 cups of grape nuts

1/2 cup packed brown sugar

4 Tbsp unsalted butter

1/2 cup honey

1 tsp vanilla

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 cup wheat germ

1/2 cup ground flax seed

1/2 cup toasted coconut

2 Tbsp cinnamon

1 tsp nutmeg

1/2 cup applesauce

1. Set oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease a 9 x 13 pan with butter.  Place coconut on baking sheet and toast.  It will take about 10-15 minutes, stir around a few times during cooking process.

2. In a large mixing bowl mix together the dry ingredients – Dried cherries, raisins, grape nuts, wheat germ, ground flax seed, toasted coconut, cinnamon, and nutmeg.

3. In small sauce pot melt butter down, then add in brown sugar, honey, vanilla, salt, and applesauce, stir until completely mixed together.

4. Pour sauce over dry ingredients, and mix well.  Place in pan, and press mixture down thoroughly.

5. Bake for about 20-25 minutes depending on oven.  Let sit to cool for 2-3 hours, or until completely cooled.

The bars are delicious alone, but even better with black cherry Chobani Greek yogurt, OH MY YUM!!!!

So here are my pretty pictures I took in my fancy new light box, so excited! I still need to work on some areas, but really happy with the outcome of the delicious breakfast bars.

So who wants some?

Do you like Grape Nuts cereal?

Until next time, Come on in, Have a seat,

Hugs, Terra

Tagged as: Baking, Cereal, Chobani Greek Yogurt, Cinnamon, Honey, Juno, Light Box, NeverHomeMaker, Recipe, Tuki