Flapjacks and muesli bars

The last two things I baked I didn't follow any recipes! I made flapjacks and muesli bars. First, the flapjacks. I took a large mixing bowl and rather than weighing everything out, I just poured in lots of oats, added some caster sugar, a few tablespoons of syrup, a touch of honey and then poured some melted butter over the top and mixed it all together and popped it into the oven. I was convinced that the mixture wouldn't stick together but amazingly it did! It also tasted delightful so I was very plesaed with my throw it all in recipe!

Next was the muesli bars (I made these on the same day using the same technique). Out came a large mixing bowl, in went a large amount of rice krispies, followed by some some pumkin seeds, some chopped nuts, a few chopped dried dates, shredded coconut, more syrup and honey, a little more melted butter and I mixed it all together, squashed it down into the tin and left it in the fridge! Wow, I couldn't believe how well they turned out!

The first baking rule my mum taught was 'when baking always measure out the exact ingrediants first!' This is definitely true for all cakes and most biscuits but not flapjack and muesli bars it seems...

Muesli bars

After making Nigella's breakfast bars and them being delicious I tried a similar recipe, this time from '101 cakes & bakes'. These are called sunshine bars in the book. They contain butter so I wouldn't exactly eat them for breakfast but they are the perfect snack on long country walks or during a busy working afternoon or to take along to a picnic (when the weather gets warmer). They will provide you with lots of energy and are also quite filling and they take no cooking!

All you need is:
100g/4oz mixed dried fruits
100g/4oz porridge oats
50g/3oz Rice Krispies
85g/2oz chopped nuts
50g/2oz sunflower and pumpkin seeds
100g/4oz light muscovado sugar
125ml/4fl oz golden syrup
100g/4oz butter

Using a large mixing bowl mix the oats, cereal, coconut, seeds and dried fruit together until they are well mixed.

In a medium sauce pan gently heat the sugar, syrup and butter using a wooden spoon to stir the mixture until it has melted. Simmer for 2 minutes and then quickly pour it over the other ingrediants and mix it all together making sure everything is covered.

Pour into a square tin and press down then leave it to cool and set. I put mine in the fridge. Chop into sqaures and eat! It should make about 18 squares! Enjoy!

Breakfast Bars

There is nothing like rushing out of the house in a morning trying to get to work with all the other millions of Londoners. Well, these muesli bars that I made using a recipe from Nigella Express will save you a good few minutes as they are homemade breakfast bars that you can eat on the way! They are so simple to make and relatively healthy if you add in lots of nuts and seeds. The main ingredients are oats and condensed milk and then it's pretty much up to you what you add!


All you need is:
1 x 375g can condensed milk
250g rolled oats
75g shredded coconut
50g raisins
50g dried cranberries
125g mixed seeds (I used pumpkin and sunsflower seeds)
100g mixed nuts (I used chopped hazelnuts and almonds)
I also added chopped dried apricots


Preheat the oven to 130c and lighty butter a medium sized baking tin.


Heat the condensed milk in a pan over a low heat (ooh I do love the taste of condensed milk, it's so sweet and sticky). In a bowl mix together all the ingredients and then pour over the condensed milk. Stir well until all the mixture is covered and then pour into your baking tin.


Bake for 1 hour (which means these are best to be made on a weekend!) and then remove from the oven and leave to cool in the tray. Cut into squares after about 15 minutes. Enjoy them on the way to work or at that time of day when your feeling sluggish!