Chewy Granola Bars to Help Kids with Cancer – Send your favorite kiddie recipe my way!
October 23, 2009 { }
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My Chewy Granola Bar recipe is at the bottom. The important stuff is between here and there.
Joe and I would love to have children – so far it just hasn’t happened. It’s been emotionally draining, and there was lots of sadness. It’s funny – everyone seems to tell you ‘how to make it happen’ as if we don’t know. I just smile and politely change the subject.
But to actually have a child and then watch her have to battle a life threatening disease has to be even more heart-wrenching. Or to be a precious little child – as young as two or four – and have to endure what no child should ever have to – is more than I can wrap my heart around.
Once Joe and I accepted that having a family of our own might be more difficult than we initially hoped, we decided to help people who have kids and need the help. After investigating different charities, we decided on St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, a haven for children affected by cancer and other life-threatening illnesses. No child is ever turned away due to inability to pay. Watch this short video about their philosophy and accomplishments.
We support St. Jude on a monthly basis, and it’s not a life-shattering amount but we give what we can. We get monthly information about the children we’re helping – the last six months alone 5 out of the 6 kids have been 4 our younger and one family had two children with cancer.
Sean, a 4-year old boy with a form of brain cancer, is currently undergoing treatment at St. Jude. He’s had 2 brain surgeries and 30 rounds of chemotherapy since August 2008. He’s still undergoing treatment.
What can you do to help?
On Saturday, November 21st Joe and I will be walking in St. Jude’s 7th annual “Give thanks. Walk.“ The best part is that it’s being held in 40 cities all over the United States so there is a good chance that it’s in a city near you.
I’m asking that you consider helping in one of the following ways:
- Send your favorite kid-friendly recipe to me: amy2804 (at) gmail dot com. I’m going to compile an e-book with great kid’s recipes from the blogosphere. People will be able to download the book and will have the option to donate to the Give thanks. Walk. Please include your name, your blog’s name and a picture of your recipe if you have one. I will include a link to your blog in the e-book. Deadline: Monday, November 2nd. I hope to have the book ready for download by Friday, November 6th.
- If you don’t have a blog, you can e-mail your original recipe. I will include your name and the city you live in if you choose.
- Join our team! Joe and I are the “Green Team” in Dallas, TX. (There is a “The Green Team” in Richmond – that isn’t us!) You can join our team – no matter where you live – by entering our team name in the registration field and walk in Dallas with us or anywhere in the country. Our goal is to raise $2000 for St. Jude’s.
- Create your own team and invite your friends and family to walk.
- Donate to St. Jude’s Give thanks. Walk. here.
Mother Teresa said, “We can do no great things. Only small things with great love.”
I have found it is true with all areas of my life – including donating. I used to think I didn’t have the money to give. But even $1 makes a difference. I didn’t always have $25 or $50, but I had an extra dollar. And I gave it with love. It wasn’t much but it felt good. Years later after giving small amounts I have found that I have more than $1 to give, and I do. With lots of love.
And there were those days, as humbling as it is to admit, that I didn’t even have a dollar. I had to find other ways to give. If you’re having that kind of day, you can help by sharing this with others via your blog, e-mail, Facebook, Twitter, StumbledUpon, and any other networking outlet. One person can’t make a huge difference but together I believe we can.
I am going to add my Chewy Granola Bar recipe to the e-book. Please take a few minutes and send me your recipe today.
A note about this recipe: These are a favorite of my husband’s. They aren’t overly sweet, but we like them that way. There is lots of sweetness from the figs and sultans. If you want yours a little sweeter, add more agave. If you don’t know how to make your own flax meal, I have a short tutorial here.
This post has been shared at Finer Things Friday, Fight Back Friday, and Foodie Friday.
Chewy Granola Bars
makes 12 (2 inch x 3 inch) bars2 cups gluten-free oats
2 tablespoons flax meal plus enough teff flour to make 1/2 cup total
1 cup walnuts, chopped to desired size
1/2 cup dried black mission figs, stemmed and chopped to desired size
1/2 cup sultans (a.k.a. golden raisins)
1/2 teaspoon good quality cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon good quality ginger
1/3 cup agave
2 extra large eggs
1 – 2 tablespoons waterPreheat oven to 350 degrees F. Prepare a 9×13 baking pan generously with cooking spray.
Mix oats, flax meal, teff, walnuts, figs, sultans, cinnamon and ginger in a large mixing bowl.
In a small mixing bowl, whisk together agave and eggs. Dump wet ingredients into dry and mix until combined. Add water 1 tablespoon at a time to help moisten granola.
Fit a food processor
with a steel blade. Put once cup of the mixture into the food processor. Pulse 3 seconds at a time until mixture is chopped and sticks together. You don’t need to make this too fine, but it needs to be a little sticky. It will help keep your bars from falling apart.
Dump the chopped granola into the remaining granola and mix with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula until combined. Turn into prepared pan. Using wet fingers, press granola into pan. Keep pressing until the granola covers the entire bottom of the pan. Check for any little gaps and push them together.
Bake for 15 – 20 minutes, or until edges are just starting to brown. Remove from oven and let cool in the pan on a rack for 15 – 20 minutes. Remove from pan and place on rack to finish cooling completely. Once cooled, use a very sharp knife to cut into 2 inch x 3 inch bars, or desired size. Store in an airtight container. These also freeze well.
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30 Responses to “Chewy Granola Bars to Help Kids with Cancer – Send your favorite kiddie recipe my way!”
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About Amy Green
Nearly 6 years of living free of refined sugars and gluten has stopped my food cravings enabled me to maintain a 60+ pound weight loss. Today I live with enormous freedom. Join me as I create healthier food that's SS&GF and delicious. I hope to help you do the same. Read more about my story here.
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All photos and text (unless otherwise noted) on Simply Sugar & Gluten-Free are my own creations - and my intellectual property, all rights reserved. Please do not publish my work without my consent. Of course, you can use my work as inspiration to build upon (what a gift it would be to inspire others!) and in that case a link back would be appreciated. Copyright 2009, all rights reserved.
October 23rd, 2009 @ 9:35 am
Not sure that I will make sense but I just wanted to let you know that I so admire you and Joe for taking your depression from infertility and turning it into this amazing thing of helping St. Jude’s. IF is so draining and it seems like your actions really lift you up.
You have inspired me. Thank you.
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Amy Reply:
October 24th, 2009 at 11:05 am
@Jendeis, I believe in my heart and I know from my experiences that there is a HUGE blessing in all things if we choose to find it. Being able to help St. Jude’s is one of our blessings in this situation. The other big blessing is that feeling of peace and calm in our relationship where there used to be stress and worry. We’ve taken the focus off our lack and started looking at how we can add to. It changes everything.
Thanks for your comment. Big hugs.
[Reply]
October 23rd, 2009 @ 10:12 am
This is a great thing you are doing. I think it is great that you have decided to take your pain and help others. And I know what you are going through. My story has a happy ending, in that I now have 3 children. But for quite a few yrs we did not think we would ever have any and I am unable to have anymore. I learned through it all, that I need to focus on what I do have and not what I do not have. Things like this project you are working on are good ways to do that. They don’t take away the pain, but it helps.
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October 23rd, 2009 @ 10:40 am
thanks for the recipe granola bars is one thing we can never get enough of
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October 23rd, 2009 @ 11:02 am
Amy, creating an ebook to benefit St. Judes is such a wonderful idea. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to be involved. The kids are very excited about being able to do something to help other children…they’ve started brainstorming recipes.
[Reply]
Amy Reply:
October 24th, 2009 at 11:07 am
@Fayinagirl, That’s wonderful to get your kids involved. I can’t wait to see what they come up with.
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October 23rd, 2009 @ 12:19 pm
Amy, you are such a sweetheart. I have no children to critique my work, but I will try to come up with a delicious kid-friendly recipe.
[Reply]
Amy Reply:
October 24th, 2009 at 11:08 am
@Sara, Anything that a kid would eat works. I’m sure you have something in your archives that would be perfect. Thanks for your willingness to help.
[Reply]
October 23rd, 2009 @ 5:28 pm
Good Luck Amy, I don’t know what you’re going through, but I admire your ability to turn the hurt into help. Children’s Hospitals are close to my heart, not only in my own experiences, but those of my best friend (who had heart surgery in the past year). I’ve heard of St. Jude’s, and it looks like a good one. I’m going to figure out a recipe to submit to this – its a great cause.
[Reply]
Amy Reply:
October 24th, 2009 at 11:08 am
@Lauren, Thanks so much! Anything would be perfect. I think that we all have the ability to turn hurt into help – isn’t that what our blogs were born out of? Hugs to you.
[Reply]
October 23rd, 2009 @ 7:24 pm
[...] for our help in promoting her St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital e-book. You can read all her details, and then be sure to send her your favorite kiddie recipe. I will be adding the very easy, yummy [...]
October 23rd, 2009 @ 7:29 pm
Amy, you really inspire me! I wrote a post for this, maybe you will get a few more recipes. I’ll be sending you the lollypop recipe.
Thanks for all you do!
~Liz
[Reply]
Amy Reply:
October 24th, 2009 at 11:04 am
@Liz@HoosierHomemade, Thanks so much – it’s neat to see that this cause matters to other people, too. It’s easy to put my head down and just think about me but it feels better when I remember that my life is of much more value when I am of service to others.
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October 24th, 2009 @ 8:58 am
Amy, what a great idea. I’m inspired by you and Joe and your decisions to help – and the ebook is a great idea. I’ll dig through my recipes and find a kid-friendly one to send your way.
[Reply]
Amy Reply:
October 24th, 2009 at 11:08 am
@Alta, I got the link to your recipe. Thanks so much! Your Kids in the Kitchen Spaghetti and Meatballs is perfect for this.
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October 24th, 2009 @ 10:13 am
Such a great way to give! I need to start making my own granola bars…
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Amy Reply:
October 24th, 2009 at 11:03 am
@Amy @ Finer Things, I have been thinking about other granola bar recipes…maybe pumpkin seeds or almond butter. And different dried fruits…once I got the bars to stick together the rest was easy. Honey would work instead of agave, too.
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October 25th, 2009 @ 8:59 am
How wonderful. Great ideas! Good luck!
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October 25th, 2009 @ 5:44 pm
You’re right, Amy. Sometimes the dollar donations are the most meaningful. My grandmother used to love writing letters. She had trouble writing them herself in the later years, so she would dictate them to me and I would write them for her. It was so interesting to hear what she wanted to tell people. She often sent dollar donations to various charities, along with eloquent letters of encouragement and hope. I learned a lot during those hours of letter writing with her. What a wonderful project you are working on! I regret that I don’t have a recipe to contribute (I’m not the most creative cook…) Also, thanks for stopping by my blog
[Reply]
Amy Reply:
October 25th, 2009 at 10:51 pm
@CELLULITE ANALYST, Thanks for sharing your grandma story. I have so many wonderful memories of hours in the kitchen with my grandma. More than anything, they always remind me to slow down and appreciate what’s right in front of me.
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October 25th, 2009 @ 9:18 pm
[...] If you have a kid friendly recipe you would like to share, my friend Amy is putting together an e-book to help St. Jude Children’s Hospital. You can read all about it, here. [...]
October 25th, 2009 @ 10:09 pm
[...] Amy @ Simply Sugar & Gluten-Free26. The Cozy Country Home (Our Sports Family)27. The 21st Century Housewife28. Katie @ Favorites and [...]
October 26th, 2009 @ 7:35 am
Very inspiring! I will send you a recipe!
[Reply]
October 26th, 2009 @ 7:14 pm
[...] for St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital. It’s as easy as submitting a recipe. Read all the details here. Bookmark It Hide Sites $$('div.d1458').each( function(e) { [...]
October 27th, 2009 @ 9:53 am
Hi Amy! I know what you mean about having sadness related to trying to start a family. This has been a tough summer for us too. This is a great way to help to keep that sadness at bay. I am sending you a recipe, I think will work!
[Reply]
October 29th, 2009 @ 8:26 pm
[...] Tara @ Feels like home (apple crisp)18. Local Nourishment (Reusable Shopping Bags)19. Amy @ Simply Sugar & Gluten-Free (Chewy Granola Bars)20. Dr. Ayala (Coke did make Anerica fat!)21. The Happy Dish: Sticks & Stones… (7 Ways to [...]
October 31st, 2009 @ 7:28 pm
Amy, I just emailed you a recipe for the e-book. As a parent of a child who has gone through cancer treatment I want to thank you for what you are doing. It really means alot. I pray that God will bless you and help you through your pain.
[Reply]
Amy Reply:
November 1st, 2009 at 7:53 am
@Janet, I have been completely humbled by your reply. I read it and took a deep breath – and though I’m struggling for the right words am just grateful that our paths have crossed. I’m even more grateful that your child has gone through the treatment and has recovered. Thank you for your prayers – I’ll keep your family in my prayers, too, for continued health and happiness.
Thank you so much for contributing to the e-book. I will let you know when it’s ready to go.
[Reply]
January 31st, 2010 @ 3:50 pm
I just found your site and this post today. Thank you for posting about St. Jude’s and your commitment to supporting their work. 2009 was a very difficult year of many losses, culminating in the loss by a co-worker of her 2 year old nephew to cancer late in 2009. St. Jude’s was a haven for that family. Thank you again for your support of a very worthy and compassionate organization and also for raising awareness that no effort is a wasted effort.
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February 2nd, 2010 @ 8:27 pm
[...] I got Amy’s e-book to raise money for St. Jude’s walkathon, the granola bars caught my eye for 3 reasons. 1. A good friend died of leukemia when I was in elementary school 2. a [...]