Welcome to So Think You Can Squeeze? Citrus Season 2!
Over the next three weeks YOU get to be the one in the judge's seat as you decide which of our two aspiring citrus chefs has done the best job with three fabulous recipes featuring Florida Citrus products. Your job is simple: check in each week and read both Gav's and Jen's recipe reviews, compare the pictures, and then vote by telling us what you think! We will be giving away one KitchenAid stand mixer (!!!!!) each week for three weeks! (That's THREE, if you are counting at home!) Your comment below is your entry to win this week's amazing prize!
And because we are in such a giving mood, we'd like you have a bonus entry to win! All you have to do is head on over The Florida Department of Citrus' blog post, Feel the Florida Sunshine, and leave a comment using your Urban Moms' username.
Click here for contest Rules and Regulations.
Click here for contest Rules and Regulations.
This week's recipe is: Fruity Granola Bars
A favourite snack for kids and adults alike, this bar can be made ahead and wrapped individually for lunches. The grapefruit juice infuses the cranberries to soften them and brighten their tangy bite.
Makes 12 bars
Ingredients:
½ cup (175 mL) Florida Grapefruit Juice
1/3 cup (75 mL) dried cranberries
2 cups (500 mL) store bought granola cereal
1 cup (250 mL) quick cooking oats
½ cup (125 mL) all purpose flour
½ cup (125 mL) chocolate covered raisins
½ tsp (2 mL) ground cinnamon
1/2 cup (125 mL) liquid honey
1 egg
¼ cup (50 mL) canola oil
¼ cup (50 mL) packed brown sugar
1 tsp (5 mL) vanilla
Directions:
In a small bowl, combine grapefruit juice and cranberries and microwave on High for about 1 minute or until bubbling. Set aside.
In a large bowl, combine granola, oatmeal, flour, chocolate covered raisins and cinnamon. In another bowl, whisk together honey, egg, oil, sugar and vanilla. Pour over granola mixture and add cranberry mixture and stir until well moistened. Scrape and press evenly into a parchment paper lined 9 inch (2.5 L) square baking pan. Bake in 325 F (160 C) oven for about 35 minutes or until lightly browned around edges and firm in centre. Let cool before cutting into bars.
Tip: Wrap bars individually and store at room temperature for up to 2 days or refrigerate for up to 5 days. To freeze bars, rewrap in foil or place wrapped bars in airtight container and freeze for up to 2 weeks. Frozen granola bars will be a bit softer in texture once thawed.
See what our Chef #1, JEN of Trend Watch, had to say:
We are big fans of granola bars in our house...but I had never thought of making them myself. It's just one of those things that I always just pick up at the grocery store. But I have to say, these bars were a huge hit in our house. The combination of chocolate covered raisins and grapefruit juice soaked cranberries in the bars made for real chewy deliciousness. I served these as part of a sweet treat to my girlfriends, as an after school snack for my kids, and as a pre-race breakfast for my runner sister. Everybody loved them and my friends and sister asked for the recipe.
They were also SO simple to make, what a pleasant surprise! And now I am much more inclined to make my own granola bars...I know exactly what's in them, and feel confident that I am serving my family and friends something that is both good for them AND tasty!
The recipe says that these bars can freeze nicely, but I didn't have a chance to test that out. These disappeared within 48 hours of being baked.
See what our Chef #2, GAV of Chef Dad, had to say:
Of all the citrus recipes our family tried this week, the granola bars were surprisingly the least popular. We all love granola bars and were looking forward to tasting something a little bit new and different. We would have never thought to put grapefruit juice in granola bars. Truthfully, it was a little difficult to really appreciate the grapefruit juice hiding behind the flavours of the chocolate and cranberries.
That being said, they were a huge hit with the kids, and they were a really great way to give the them a snack that we knew were made with ingredients we could trust because we made them ourselves.
I could definitely see my wife having these on hand when the kids come home from school. I know she'd rather fill them with oats and fruit than chips and pretzels! I am almost inclined to make them without the chocolate. I think the kids would still enjoy them...and you'd really be able to taste the citrus-y goodness.
NOW IT'S YOUR TURN! VOTE FOR WHO YOU THINK DID IT BEST!
(The content on this post is sponsored by Florida
Department of Citrus. Click here for
more information)
-thumb-130x130-34938.jpg)
Jens' bars look a bit more mouth watering to me
They both look great... I think Gav's have got me though. (But just barely.)
Jen's my vote and I am definitely going to try these. I think I am going to use dark chocolate covered cherries to replace the raisins though.
I will try a Gav's receip and I vote for his receipies.
Jen's look the best to me
Not sure i would do all that work for granola bars...but if i were to try it, i would try Gav's. His recipes have all been hits with my kids.
I vote for Jen. I liked her ingredients like cranberries,cooking oats and grapefruit juice.
I like Gav's
Definitely Jen's. And I like the idea of upgrading to dark cherries :-)
i like the Fruity Granola Bars
Jen! She sold it better saying how much everyone loved them. Also, her picture (#19) made them look delicious!
I love for Gav
A very difficult decision, but I will go with Gav's.
I definitely like Jen's version of the Fruity Granola Bars. I'm going to make them asap. My family loves granola bars and these should be a big hit.
Love Jen's granola bars they look crunchy and delicious!
I am going with Chef Dad; being a single Mom I have been teaching my son's to cook and bake and he tested his with kids
They both look great!! However Jen's bars do look "crunchier" so she get's my vote!
okay is it bad that in the picture I thought it was fried chicken??? I was PUMPED. they do look awesome and slightly healthier though!
The bars look yummy.
I vote for Gav!
I like Jen's granola bars.
I'm voting for Jen's. It's a tough call but yes to Jen's.
I'm am voting for Gav the granola bars look tasty.
Voting for Jen.
Gav's - they look super flakey, and it looks like his choco covered raisins were a luscious milk chocolate. Mmmm!
Jen did a better sales job this week - I like that she served them to "all ages" and they were a hit with all.
Jens wins by a hair.
I think Gav did it best!
Gav's have my vote
I will have to go for Gav's as they look yummy!
I like Jen's.
Gav's look delicious !
Going with Gav's on this one
i'm voting for Gav.
the granola bars do it for me
I vote for Jen's!
I think Jen's bars are the best
I vote for Gav's
They both look good, but I'll go with Jen's.
They both look good - I'd have to vote for Gav's.
I vote for Jen
I like Gav's
Jen has my vote! Yum!!
Jen has my vote! Yummy!
Sorry Jen, but my vote goes to Gav!
I will give Jen my vote this time.
My vote is for Jen
I'm going with Jens. They just look better to me.
Jen's recipe gets my vote although they both sound great
I think my vote goes to Gav.
Gav's would be my pick....
I'd have to go with Jen's, though they both look yummy.
My choice is JEN'S as I love all the ingredients and they look very yummy
I'm voting for Jen.
I think Jen's Look so good.. Why don't I have smellavision
Jen gets my vote this week!
They both look good to me but I think I will have to go with Jen.
I vote for Jen!
Gav's gets my vote
I'll vote for Gav's bars...they look moister to me as I prefer a chewy bar over
a crunchy one.
I vote for Gav's, they do seem moister and sweeter which is what we love!
I vote for Gav's. They seem more delicious!!!
jens
I vote for Jen's bars.
I go with Gav!
I vote for Jen's.
I vote for Gav.
Love the way Jenn made her recipe, will try it on the weekend
They both look great, hard to choose, bit I will choose Gav.
I cast my vote for Gav
I like Gav's, and his suggestion to make it without the chocolate. I just may try this.
gav's look just a touch better!
Jen's bars looked so tasty and chewy.
Jen's
I vote for Gav. Looks better.
I think Gav did a really great job. My vote is for him.
I vote for Gav's.
I vote for Gav's as well
I vote for Jen!
Both look yummy but I vote for Jen
I vote for Gave.
I vote Gav's. His look great!
Gav's my favourite.
I vote for Gav.
This was a tough choice because they both looked delicious. However, I think that Jen's were just a little bit neater looking. Looks like a delicious and nutritious recipe.
I'm with Gav regarding the chocolate covered raisins. When I was reading the recipe, I immeditately thought 'why the chocolate covered raisins? why not use plain raisins and if you want a chocolate taste, add some cocoa powder to the mix'. As far as looks, both Jen's and Gav's bars look equally good. I'll give the recipe a try myself and test it out on the neighbourhood kids.
These bars look awesome. I can't wait to try them. And lots of healthy in stuff in there that parents AND kids will like. Thanks!
I vote for Gav's version, especially his idea about the chocolate covered raisins. I might try yogurt covered cranberries instead.
I have to say Jen's is the better pic - makes granola bars look just like they should! That said, I thought Gav's was the more thoughtful and helpful review. I think I'll try them with half choc covered raisins and half plain ... hope for some of the grapefruit tangy goodness to come through!
If you like this kind of thing (I don't like the stuff in them), I would go with Jen's :)
I vote for Gav
I vote for Gav. They look delicious!
Jen's look appetizing...my vote is Jen.
Jen 4 the Win!
My vote goes to Jen. Her's look delicious.
I'd have to say I prefer Jen's. Sorry Gav!
I vote for Jen
I give Jen my vote.
Jen - makes me want to try the recipe now
Truth be told, Jen's looked more appetizing. Don't forget, we eat with our eyes, first!
Gotta give it to Gav!
I vote for Jen, I 'm going to make this today
I vote for jen.
A tough decision between the 2. If i could vote for both i would. But i will choose Jenas even the picture looks good also.
I voted for Jen's , although it was not easy to decide, I also, visited the Florida orange juice site , commenting and its a great site, thanks
its touch but i pick jenn, i never seen my comment so here i go again
I think I prefer Jen's - we love granola bars too.
Gav's look more moist, and you can see the texture better.
Jen's!
Gav has my vote
I think I like Jen's recipe better.
Voting for Jen's Sounds wonderful
I like Jen's recipe better
My vote is for Jen. The bars look great!
I vote for Jen's granola bars. They look delicious and I like the recipe.
both look great but I think jen's look just a bit more appetizing
Jens' bars are the best
If I saw both on a plate, I would choose Jen's.
Definitely Gav's! Yum Yum
I vote for Gav's.
Tough choice. I will choose Gav's
Chef #1
I like Jens the best. The recipe could use substitutions for variety.
I vote for Jen's bars
I like Gav's
i gotta go with jen! i chocolate covered raisins? yah!
It was tough, but I choose Jen
I vote for Gav
Jen gets my vote this time
Gav all the way, vote for Gav
Jens bars look and sound the yummiest
I vote for Gav
Jens' - lovely pics & lovely recipe
I voted for Gav. - thanks for the chance to win.
Kinda hard to tell in this one as they are just bars...so I'm giving it to GAV as I liked his plate better. Now going to check my pantry to see what I need to pick up to make these babies!
I vote for Gav!
Jen's bars look delicious.
Gav this time - his raw ingredients look great
I'm casting my vote for Jen's bars this week. I do love Gav's idea of leaving out the chocolate, though!
I vot Gav. The first photo looked like rice and beans but the photo of the bars was the best of all the photos. I think the starburst plate and the angle of the shot is what did it for me.
I vote Gav. For me his picture look the more appealing :)
I vote for Jen. Her bars look moist and chewy
I would say Jen's but I am swayed by the earlier photos
The kids have voted!! Gav :D Acutally, I kinda liked them myself.
I say Jen did the best.
I have to say Jen's look yummy, like bakery bought, oh so good. I would love to try these out on my kids, I think they would love them. We eat alot of homemade granola bars at our house.
jen's seems tastier
spynaert@hotmail.com
Jen's version of the granola bars appear to be a real winner. The photo presentation was enough to entice me to revise this week's shopping list and pencil in the grapefruit juice and cranberries.
I like Jens ingredient pic thought Gavs bar pic looks yummier. Thanks for the good work you two :)
I thought Gav's looked juicier. I think I'd go for his.
My vote this week is for Jen!!
I have to say Jen's... but it was close!
It was a tough choice, but I would have to say I vote for Jen's they just looked yummier (I know scientific choice) Since I have all of the ingredients I think I might try to make these this weekend
Jen 's granola bars looked better then Gav's when cooked and seen in the pan.
I vote for Jen's bars.
My vote is Jens :)
I will give my vote to Gav this time
my vote is for jen this week !
Gav has my vote this week. They both look mouthwatering, but I liked his photos just a little bit more.
I'm going Gav.
Since Gav and I go WAY back to when we were toddlers, I have to vote for him.
my pick is Jen, just like the comments she wrote
Both look good, but I'll go with Jen.
Love the idea of grapefruit juice - but I think I like Jen's recipe best!
I prefer Jen's granola bars, because it looks like contains a lot more fruit which I love!
My vote goes to Gav :)
My vote goes for Jen. Thanks
i vote for Gav this week....thought his close-up photo of the bars looked much yummier!!
I'm going to go with Gav. Both recipes are good though.
I like Jens recipe yummy.
Gav's look like the ones I'd go to first. :)
My vote is definitely for Gav. Great bars!!
I vote for the Gav. bars for sure...something I will try. My kids are always wanting snacks before and after sports.
I have to say I liked both but have to go with Jen's
Oh the granola bars with the chocolate covered raisins in it are definately the winner. You have your healthy stuff with your must have chocolate.
I think that the granola bars are the ones that I like best, that is what I vote for.
Gavin's granola bars got my vote! His look crunchier!
Really hard to decide but Jen's look moister. Have to go with Jen.
Jen's fruity granola bars have my vote. Sounds very simple.
I am going to have to go with Gav's although I would NEVER recommend leaving out the chocolate. I'm just saying......
Gav's recipe is my choice.
I have to chose Jen
My vote goes to Jen, (sorry Gav maybe next week!) :)
JEN HAS MY VOTE!
I vote for Gav!
Jen has my vote.
Jen's bars sound very tasty!
I like Gav's
I'm for Jen
They both look delicious, but I'm voting for Jen.
I"d say I like Jen's better. The pic. shows a more creamy texture whereas Gav's seemed to show a crunchier (fall-apart) type of texture. I love cranberries in almost anything,so will definetly give these a try.
My vote is for Gav Looks yummy !
I'm going to have to go with Jen's, they look pretty good.... which means now I'll be baking all afternoon! lol
I vote for Jen! I think her bars sound yummy :)
Although both look good I'm going to have to go with Gav. That being said, I'm now on my way to the kitchen to cook up a batch. They just sound too good and I love granola bars for a quick energy snack.
I think Gav has just barely eased out Jen in this one. I love grapefruit so I hope I can taste it when I try the recipe.
I like Jen's Fruity Granola Bars
I vote for Gav's bars. I also think I would skip the chocolate but just use plain raisins.
Gav has my vote.
I think Jen's Granola Bars look great.
I think I'll take Gav's comments into account and try without the chocolate.
I think I have to go with Gav's.
I vote for Jen. Would love to win the mixer/juicer :-)
Gav's got my vote! Love that citrus-y mixer too!
I appreciate that two people can try the same recipe but have varying opinions. I probably would vote for Gav's review, it seemed genuine. I don't think my kids would eat these without the chocolate though.
I vote for Gav!
My vote this wk goes to Gav
I vote for Jen.
thumbs up for Gav
My vote is with Jen. She sounded genuinely enthusiastic.Makes me want to try the recipe.
I vote for Gav's.
I would need a taste test for a more definite answer; but, I think Gav's look more appetizing.
I vote for Jen...yummers!
I like Jen's. Although they both look super yummy
the granola bars are amazing
I will vote for Jen's presentation. That being said I don't think they are very healthy.
Store bought granola is full of sugars and high glucose corn syrup, then you add more sugar and honey. Plus chocolate, plus sweetened dried cranberries.
My blood sugar just soared thru the roof
I vote for Gav's.
Jen's bars look very appealing - she wins my vote!
Jens by an oat.
Jen did the best job all the way........I wish we had the nutritional content here.....it would helpful for people that are dieting, but other than that I loved the recipe
I am going with Jen's, sound great!
I think Jen's is more appealing to me. I am going to try it today, and try Gav's tomorrow, then I may change my mind.
Jen has my vote as I am crazy about citrus fruit and HOW GOOD IS THIS FOR YOU
looks yummy
my vote is for Jen!
I vote for Jen's bars
I vote for Gav.
I vote for Jen's. Thanks
I vote for Gav's bars :)
jen has my vote
I vote for Jen's
Gav's bars appeal to me more.
Think I would vote for Jen's.
I vote for Jen's bars for sure! I'll be making these for my family and friends for sure. They are a yummy healthy treat for people of all ages
I vote for Gav's the pictures seems to make the bars look fresher. But I must admit I don;t think my daughter woudl like them, I am sure I would though....
I like Jen's the most
I vote for Gav 'cos I like the fact he was willing to try the odd grapefruit addition & then was surprised the kids liked them ... cooking is all about adventure
I vote Jen's bars, I like the ingredient better and they look Yummy.
mmmmmm fresh orange juice and granola - whats not to love? cant wait to try this recipe out.
and I'd meant to mention I vote for jen's bars!
I pick Jen's
I think Jen did the better job.
I like Jen's
My vote's for Jen
My vote is with Jen- I am going to try and make them now.
Jen gets my vote this week
My vote is for Jen.
Jenn's bars get my vote.
Both look delish...But, my vote is for Jen :)
I like them both but if I have to choose its Jen's.
I think chef jen's look yummy!
I vote for Jen
My vote is for Jen.
I vote for Gav's.